Eucalyptus leucoxylon aka South Australian Blue Gum

Eucalyptus leucoxylon is an evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It comes from southeastern Australia and is known as yellow gum. Other names include white gum, blue gum and white ironbark. Its range includes Victoria, southeastern South Australia and southern New South Wales. It grows in open woodland with hot summers. Winters there can be cool and frosty. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

This fast-growing tree reaches about 49 feet [15 metres]. Its crown may be oval, upright or weeping in form. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. Plants For A Future lists red flowers for this species. Its reported flowering season spans winter and spring. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers, and the tree attracts wildlife. The supplied sources give no species-level details of bark or leaf shape.

Choose a sunny site, as this tree cannot grow in shade. It prefers fairly fertile soil that drains well but holds moisture. Heavy clay suits it, though it also grows in sand and loam. It can cope with poor soils and with limestone. Its soil range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Once established, it tolerates dry ground and drought. It also grows well where summers are dry. These traits give gardeners some choice when selecting a planting site.

Cold limits its use in British gardens. Plants For A Future suggests trying only the mildest areas. One cited report gives frost tolerance near 18°F [−8°C]. The same source lists USDA zones 10–11, so its cold guidance is not fully consistent. Young trees need shelter from cold during their first winter. Seed is a means of propagation. Move seedlings into separate pots early, then plant out in early summer. The source lists specimen planting and street use among its landscape roles.

Leaves and green seedpods yield an orange dye without a mordant. The pale wood is tough, strong and durable. Oil from the leaves has a reported use in food flavouring. Products listed include baked foods, ice cream and sweets. This is not evidence that whole leaves are edible. Plants For A Future lists no known medicinal use. Its hazard notes concern eucalyptus oils in general, rather than this species alone.