A recent LinkedIn post from Senior Horticultural Curator, Matt Coulter, at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, prompted investigation into the species of eucalypt with the largest blooms.
Matt posted photos of Eucalyptus youngiana, which he billed as the species with the second largest flowers in the genus. The flowers measure 75-100mm. Such a claim deserves a closer look at the flower size.
“Such a stunning species, this is generally the colour seen, however they can be cream to white in colour as well,” says Matt (see photos of the large red flowers). “These are wild-origin plants growing at Adelaide Botanic Garden.”
Its natural distribution is South Australia and West Australia, but it is not commonly found in its natural distribution notes Matt.
So, what are the largest flowers in the Eucalyptus genus and which flower takes number one spot?
Here are some top contenders (based on the diameter of the seed capsule): Eucalyptus caesia (Silver Princess) at 50mm, and Eucalyptus erythrocorys (illyarre or red-capped gum) – 35mm to 50mm. Both trees are native to Western Australia.
The crown however goes to Eucalyptus macrocarpa (commonly known as mottlecah or the rose of the west), which is also native to WA. Its flowers reach 100mm in diameter. The species name, macrocarpa, does give it away as macro means big and carpa refers to the fruit.
The tallest eucalypt, Eucalyptus grandis, doesn’t have the largest flowers. Although the tree reaches a massive 55m-75m high, its flowers are around 5-8mm.
Flower size is usually an indicator to the type of pollinator that frequents the flowers with large eucalypt flowers attracting birds and small mammals.
Join the conversation
If you have photos and information or an opinion about other large-flowered eucalyptus, feel free to send them in with a brief story (email jenniferrstackhouse@gmail.com) to include on the HMAA website and in the Friday Blast.
Jennifer Stackhouse
