Corymbia tessellaris
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Overview
Corymbia tessellaris is a tree growing 30-100 feet (9-30 m) tall, with a straight trunk and an open, spreading crown. The lower 3-10 feet (1-3 m) of the trunk carries dark grey to black, hard bark broken into small squarish plates, forming a dark stocking, while the bark above is smooth and pale grey to white and sheds in patches. Adult leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, 2.4-6 inches (6-15 cm) long and about 0.4 inch (10 mm) wide, dull green and the same colour on both surfaces, hanging from slender stalks. White flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across are borne in branched clusters at the branch tips. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. The fruit is a woody, urn-shaped capsule 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) long with the valves enclosed near the rim. Growth is moderate to fast in warm climates. The tree is damaged by hard frost and is limited to subtropical and tropical districts. Foliage is held year-round, and the shed upper bark leaves the trunk mottled.
Native Range
Native to northern and eastern Australia, from Cape York in Queensland south to north-eastern New South Wales and west into the Northern Territory. Grows in open forest and woodland on sandy and alluvial soils, often on flats and along watercourses in seasonally dry tropical and subtropical regions.Suggested Uses
Grown as a shade and street tree in subtropical and tropical districts and in rural and parkland plantings, spaced 25-50 feet (8-15 m) apart. Used in revegetation on sandy flats and as habitat for nectar-feeding birds and insects. The timber has been used for general construction and tool handles.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 100'
Width/Spread20' - 50'
Reaches mature size in approximately 15 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring and summer, mainly September to February, with timing varying by latitude and rainfall. White flowers open in branched clusters at the branch tips over several weeks. Flowering is heavier in open, sunny positions, and a tree may not flower every year.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
dull greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun on free-draining sandy or alluvial soils in warm, frost-free climates and tolerates seasonal drought once established. Watering through the first one to two years aids establishment, after which the tree draws on a deep root system. Hard frost damages foliage and young stems, limiting it to subtropical and tropical districts. As with many eucalypts, it drops bark, leaves, and small branches, creating litter beneath the canopy. Lerp insects and leaf-eating beetles feed on the foliage at times. Growth is moderate to fast in warm conditions.Pruning
Formative pruning while young develops a single straight trunk and clear lower limbs. Dead and crossing branches can be removed at any time. Severe topping destroys the natural crown form and produces weak regrowth, so pruning is limited to branch removal.Pruning Schedule
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fall