Smooth-barked apple (Angophora costata)

When it flowers

January, flowering
February, not flowering
March, not flowering
April, not flowering
May, not flowering
June, not flowering
July, not flowering
August, not flowering
September, not flowering
October, not flowering
November, flowering
December, flowering

Photo taken by me in Garigal National Park, Sydney.. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Eug assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Angophora costata in the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.. Photo: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Angophora costata at Balls Head, Sydney, Australia. Photo: Poyt448 Peter Woodard, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Large gum-like tree with twisting limbs and smooth bark that turns salmon-pink each spring.

A big, characterful tree of Sydney sandstone country, with crooked limbs and smooth bark that sheds in late spring to show fresh salmon-pink to orange beneath. Masses of white flowers in early summer feed birds and insects. Only for large gardens and parks.

In the garden

Feature plant
Shade tree

Flowers: Clusters of fluffy white flowers.
Leaves: Glossy, lance-shaped leaves, red when young; smooth, dimpled bark, salmon-pink when fresh.
Attracts: Birds, pollinating insects and shelter for small wildlife

Growing conditions

Climate: Subtropical and temperate
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy and loam
Drainage: Needs good drainage
Frost: Moderate frost
Water: Very drought tolerant
Coast: Sheltered coastal gardens

Planting and care

Grown from: Seed

Planting

Full sun in sandy or well-drained soil. Allow at least 5 m from buildings, pipes and boundaries.

Pruning

Have an arborist check and prune large limbs.

Care

Hardy; needs little water once established.

Safety

Invasive roots near pipes and paving
Can drop branches

Can drop large limbs; keep away from houses, cars and play areas. Allow at least 5 m from buildings, pipes and boundaries.

Where it comes from

Family: Myrtaceae
Order: Myrtales
Native to: New South Wales and Queensland
Natural range: Sandstone country of coastal NSW, with scattered stands in south-east Queensland.

Widely available.

We don't have stockists listed for this plant yet. Local native nurseries are often the best place to ask.

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Smooth-barked apple Angophora costata