A very tall, stately tree, attractive in parks and large gardens and increasingly of interest to foresters for its vigorous growth. Also called Mountain White Gum or Broad-leaved Kindling Bark, for its readily shed fibrous bark, useful for starting fires. Some of the oldest British and Irish specimens were planted in the 1940s.

Native to eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Monoecious. Insect-pollinated. Tiny seeds are gravity- and wind-dispersed.

Large (40m), domed atop a straight trunk forming a basal lignotuber. Bark very smooth, orange-cream with salmon-pink and coffee tints, shedding in large patches to reveal white new bark, rougher at the base on older trees. Juvenile leaves green or glaucous, broad ovate to round (4-6cm), opposite, sessile. Adult leaves lanceolate, often sickle-shaped (10-20cm), alternate, flushing purple then dark grey-green, hanging heavily, on a 2-4cm petiole. Flowers green, clustered in threes. Fruit capsule (6-8mm), truncate-ovoid with a prominent convex disc.

Hardy to -12°C once mature, so less tolerant than some other featured species. Insufficient hardening can cause branch loss or dieback, but it regrows from its lignotuber if damaged or coppiced. Plant in full sun with shelter, avoiding frost hollows and waterlogging. High soil nitrogen may delay hardening through overly vigorous growth.

No notable associations where introduced.

Poor site selection and extreme winter cold.

An attractive large ornamental, especially for its striking pale bark and dark adult leaves. Only recently considered for timber potential, with pioneering growers reporting faster growth than Cider Gum, though more frost sensitivity. Its ability to regrow when cut may suit short-rotation coppice.