Eucalyptus camaldulensis aka Murray Red Gum

Eucalyptus camaldulensis, also known as the river red gum, is an iconic tree that is native to Australia. It typically grows to a height of 20 metres but can reach up to 45 metres and is often found along watercourses, providing shade in the extreme temperatures of central Australia. The tree has smooth white or cream-coloured bark that may have patches of yellow, pink or brown, and often has loose, rough slabs of bark near the base. The leaves are lance-shaped or curved, with juvenile leaves measuring 80-180mm long and 13-25mm wide, and adult leaves measuring 50-300mm long and 7-32mm wide. The flower buds are arranged in groups of seven, nine or eleven, with mature buds being oval to spherical and green to creamy yellow in colour. Flowers appear in summer and are white. The fruit is a woody, hemispherical capsule that is 2-5mm long and 4-10mm wide. It is important to note that limbs or entire trees of river red gums often fall without warning, making camping or picnicking near them dangerous, especially if the tree has dead limbs or is under stress. In contrast, Murray Red Gum is a rare houseplant that requires regular watering and long-lasting, direct light to thrive. It prefers soil that is well-draining and may benefit from organic fertilizer during peak growing season.