Eucalyptus mannifera (Brittle Gum)

Eucalyptus mannifera – Brittle Gum

Eucalyptus mannifera, widely known as the Brittle Gum or Red Spotted Gum, is a beautiful small-to-medium Australian native tree prized for its smooth, powdery white bark that sheds in patches to reveal fresh cream, grey and striking red tones. It forms an elegant, open canopy of slender grey-green leaves, making it a superb shade, screening or feature tree for larger gardens.

Why you'll love it

• Stunning smooth bark – powdery white-grey trunk with red-spotted and orange patches, beautiful year-round and especially showy in low winter light
• Frost hardy – copes with hard frosts and cold-climate conditions, ideal for frost-prone gardens at higher elevations
• Wildlife magnet – white nectar-rich flowers attract honeyeaters, parrots and beneficial insects, and the foliage feeds native butterflies and moths
• Low maintenance – drought tolerant once established and happy in poor, well-drained soils
• Compact gum – smaller and tidier than many gums, at around 6–10 m tall and 4–6 m wide

Growing conditions

Plant Eucalyptus mannifera in full sun in a well-drained position. It is very frost tolerant, handles dry periods once established, and suits cold inland districts such as Ballarat and central Victoria. Give it room to develop its natural open habit and water regularly through the first summer while it establishes.

Supplied as a healthy nursery-grown tube or pot-grown plant, ready to plant out.