Red-Flowered Yellow Gum – Eucalyptus petiolaris ‘Rosea’
At a Glance
Botanical name: Eucalyptus petiolaris ‘Rosea’
Common name: Red-Flowered Yellow Gum
Other species common name: Eyre Peninsula Blue Gum
Height: 8–15 m
Width: 5–12 m
Habit: Upright to spreading small-medium tree
Flowers: Rose pink, red to crimson
Flowering: Mainly late autumn–spring; may vary
Foliage: Green to blue-green, lance-shaped
Bark: Rough and flaky below, smooth pale bark above
Gumnuts: Large, ribbed, cup to barrel-shaped, in groups of three
Position: Full sun
Soil: Sand, loam and clay; acidic to alkaline
Water: Low once established
Frost: Moderate tolerance
Drought: Tolerant once established
Salinity: Tolerant
Pots: Not suitable for permanent container growing
Natural range: Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
Conservation: Species not nationally threatened; Eyre Peninsula Blue Gum Woodland is nationally Endangered
A Note on the Name ‘Rosea’
There has been considerable horticultural confusion around red-flowering plants in the Eucalyptus leucoxylon group.
Eucalyptus petiolaris was originally described as Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. petiolaris and has historically been sold in nurseries under names including Eucalyptus leucoxylon ‘Rosea’. Modern Australian treatments recognise Eucalyptus petiolaris as a distinct taxon, although some international taxonomic databases continue to place it at subspecies level.
Eucalyptus petiolaris ‘Rosea’ – Red-Flowered Yellow Gum is the colourful red-flowering form of the Eyre Peninsula Blue Gum, an attractive South Australian eucalypt valued for its spectacular flower display, handsome blue-green foliage and broad, open canopy.
While the naturally occurring species can produce flowers ranging from cream and yellow through pink to red, ‘Rosea’ is grown for the strongly coloured pink-red to crimson end of that range. Mature flowering trees can become a spectacular feature, with clusters of brightly coloured flowers standing out against the foliage.
Growing approximately 8–15 metres high and 5–12 metres wide, it develops into a substantial small to medium tree with an upright to spreading crown. It may develop a single trunk or several lower stems. The lower trunk generally carries rough, flaky grey-brown bark, contrasting with smoother pale grey, cream or yellowish bark higher on the tree.
It is particularly well suited to larger gardens, rural properties, habitat plantings, shelter areas and open landscapes where there is room for its canopy to develop.
Why Grow Eucalyptus petiolaris ‘Rosea’?
• Spectacular pink-red to crimson flowers.
• Attractive blue-green foliage.
• Flowers provide an important nectar source for birds and insects.
• Develops into an attractive shade and feature tree.
• Drought tolerant once established.
• Tolerates moderate frost.
• Performs across sand, loam and clay soils.
• Tolerates lime and moderately saline soils.
• Useful for larger habitat gardens, farms and rural properties.
• Naturally endemic to South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
• Much more visually dramatic than the cream-flowered forms commonly associated with many large eucalypts.
Flowers & Foliage
Flowers
The outstanding feature of ‘Rosea’ is its richly coloured flowers.
Flower clusters range through rose pink, deep pink, red and crimson, with Sylvaterre growing this form specifically as the red-flowered selection rather than the variable-coloured ordinary species.
Flowers occur in clusters of three, with relatively large buds and flowers held on stalks amongst the foliage. The strongly coloured stamens create the fluffy flower display characteristic of flowering eucalypts.
Natural populations of Eucalyptus petiolaris are particularly notable for their flower-colour diversity, with individual trees on Eyre Peninsula producing creamy-yellow, pink, red and deep crimson flowers. Deep crimson flowering is especially associated with some northern populations.
Flowering can occur from late autumn through winter and spring, with timing varying considerably between climate, provenance and individual trees. Eyre Peninsula records place flowering broadly between May and November, while cultivated plants may also flower outside this period.
Foliage
Adult leaves are green to blue-green, lance-shaped and often slightly curved, generally around 6.5–17 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide.
An important identifying feature is the distinct leaf stalk or petiole, reflected in the species name petiolaris.
Juvenile leaves are broader and also stalked, helping distinguish this species from closely related forms of Eucalyptus leucoxylon.
Bark & Gumnuts
The lower trunk develops rough, flaky yellow-brown, reddish-brown or grey bark, while the upper trunk and branches become smoother and paler, often grey, cream or yellowish.
The fruits are particularly distinctive. Large woody gumnuts occur in groups of three and are approximately 12–22 mm long × 10–15 mm wide.
They are cup-shaped to barrel-shaped, frequently with visible ribs, and have been compared in shape to tiny upside-down wine glasses.
Wildlife Value
The colourful flowers are rich in nectar and attract honeyeaters and other nectar-feeding birds, together with bees and other insects.
Flowering through the cooler months can make this tree particularly valuable in a habitat garden because it provides nectar at a time when many spring and summer flowering plants are not yet active.
Its spreading canopy also contributes height, shade and structural diversity to a habitat planting.
Best Position
Plant in full sun with plenty of room for the canopy to develop.
With a mature spread potentially exceeding 10 metres, this is not a tree for tight planting beside buildings or narrow suburban boundaries.
It is particularly well suited to:
• Rural properties
• Large gardens
• Habitat reconstruction plantings
• Farm shelter areas
• Open lawns
• Large nature strips and reserves
• Windbreaks
• Shade planting
Allow adequate distance from buildings, underground services, fences and other permanent infrastructure.
Soil & Water
Soil
Eucalyptus petiolaris adapts to a surprisingly broad range of soils, including:
• Sand
• Sandy loam
• Loam
• Clay
• Limestone-influenced soils
• Mildly saline soils
It tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions, with established trees displaying useful tolerance of lime and soil salinity.
Water
Water regularly while young until the root system is established.
Once established, the tree is drought tolerant and normally requires little supplementary watering.
Its natural populations are frequently associated with valleys, creek systems and lower landscape positions, so drought tolerance should not be interpreted as meaning that it can only grow on extremely dry sites.
Frost, Heat & Drought Tolerance
Frost
Moderately frost tolerant.
Young trees benefit from some protection during particularly severe frost while establishing, but established trees are suited to many temperate and inland Australian climates.
Heat
Well adapted to hot Australian summers once established.
Drought
Drought tolerant once established.
Deep watering during exceptionally prolonged dry periods can maintain stronger growth, particularly on very shallow soils.
Salinity
One of the particularly useful attributes of the species is its tolerance of moderately saline soils, making it potentially valuable on some rural properties affected by salinity.
Pruning
Little pruning is required once the tree has developed its basic structure.
Young plants can be selectively formative-pruned to encourage either a single main trunk or a desired multi-stemmed form.
Remove damaged or poorly positioned branches while they are still relatively small rather than undertaking major structural pruning once the tree is mature.
Pot Suitability
Not suitable as a permanent container plant.
Young trees can of course be grown in nursery containers while establishing, but with a mature size of approximately 8–15 metres high and 5–12 metres wide, this is ultimately an in-ground tree.
It is best selected for properties where its root system and canopy have adequate room to mature.
Garden Design Ideas
Use Eucalyptus petiolaris ‘Rosea’ as:
• A spectacular red-flowering feature tree.
• A nectar tree within a large habitat garden.
• A shade tree for rural and large residential properties.
• Part of a mixed Australian woodland planting.
• A colourful component of farm shelter plantings.
• A feature tree where silver, grey or blue-green foliage is wanted.
• A taller background tree behind lower habitat shrubs.
Its red flowers can create an excellent contrast with yellow, cream, mauve and blue-flowering native shrubs and groundcovers.
Natural Range
The underlying species Eucalyptus petiolaris is endemic to South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Natural populations occur primarily through the southern and eastern Eyre Peninsula, including the Koppio Hills, Cleve Hills, Tumby Bay district, Marble Range and associated creek systems and valleys, extending inland towards Carappee Hill.
It occurs particularly in hilly country, valleys, creek lines, floodplains and open woodland, often occupying lower positions where additional soil moisture is available.
‘Rosea’ is a horticultural red-flowering selection, so the cultivar itself should not be described as having a separate wild distribution.
Conservation Status
There is an important distinction between the tree species and the woodland community it forms.
Eucalyptus petiolaris itself is not currently listed nationally as a threatened species under the EPBC Act.
However, Eyre Peninsula Blue Gum (Eucalyptus petiolaris) Woodland is listed as an Endangered ecological community under the EPBC Act. The remaining woodland has been severely reduced and fragmented, with current estimates indicating only a small proportion of its pre-European extent remains.
The Endangered listing therefore applies to qualifying remnants of the ecological community, not automatically to every individual Eucalyptus petiolaris tree in cultivation.
Shipping Note
At Sylvaterre Native Nursery, every plant is treated with care and respect. Unlike many online nurseries that ship tubestock lying flat — often stacked on top of each other in standard Australia Post boxes — all Sylvaterre plants are shipped upright in custom-made cardboard plant boxes. This helps ensure they arrive healthy, happy, and ready to thrive in your garden or pots. See our shipping cartons in the image gallery.
