Angophora costata Gaertn., Britten 1916 subsp. costata

Common name(s): Sydney Red Gum, Rusty Gum, Smooth-barked Apple

Family: Myrtaceae Synonym(s): Metrosideros costata Gaertn., Angophora lanceolata Cav.
Print
Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 29th November, 2024 at Gawler, South Australia
Bark_lower
Bark (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower_bud
Flower Bud
Taken by Ken Harrington
Flower
Flowers
Taken by Ken Harrington
Inflorescence
Inflorescence
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit
Fruit
Taken by Ken Harrington
Stem_upper
Stem (Upper)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Expand all
Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Australia
  • NSW: NC, CT, CC, SC
  • QLD: LE, PC, BN, WB, MO
Plant Type
Evergreen Tree
Evergreen Tree
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Oceanic, Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub
Oceanic,
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full
Sun - Full
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Littoral, Open Woodlands, Sclerophyll Forest - Dry
Forest - Littoral,
Open Woodlands,
Sclerophyll Forest - Dry
Habitat Zone(s)
Forest Margins, Coastal margins, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Foothills, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hills, Lakes / Dams / Swamps, Landscape, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Riparian areas, Rivers / Creeks / Streams, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Water sides, Well drained, Windy
Forest Margins,
Coastal margins,
Exposed,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Foothills,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hills,
Lakes / Dams / Swamps,
Landscape,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Open areas,
Plains,
Ridges,
Riparian areas,
Rivers / Creeks / Streams,
Rock crevices,
Rocky,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Slopes,
Water sides,
Well drained,
Windy
Mature Height
20-25m, 25-30m
20-25m,
25-30m
Mature Width
10-15m, 15-20m
10-15m,
15-20m
Plant Shape
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad
Domed - Broad Domed - Broad
Growth Rate
Moderate, Fast
Moderate,
Fast
Maturity
8-10 yrs
8-10 yrs
Life Span
75-100yrs.
75-100yrs.
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Glossy, Green
Glossy,
Green
Colour (back)
Green
Green
Shape(s)
Falcate
Falcate
Lanceolate
Lanceolate
Falcate Falcate,
Lanceolate Lanceolate
Aroma
Spicy-Slight
Spicy-Slight
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Length(s)
70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm, 100-125mm, 125-150mm, 150-175mm, 175-200mm
70-80mm,
80-90mm,
90-100mm,
100-125mm,
125-150mm,
150-175mm,
175-200mm
Leaf Width(s)
10-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm
10-15mm,
15-20mm,
20-25mm,
25-30mm,
30-40mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Orange-brown , Pink
Orange-brown,
Pink
Colour(s) Lower
Grey, Grey-brown, Orange-brown
Grey,
Grey-brown,
Orange-brown
Texture(s) Upper
Smooth
Smooth
Smooth Smooth
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Lignotuber
Lignotuber
Wood Fibres / Solid
Wood Fibres / Solid
Lignotuber Lignotuber,
Wood Fibres / Solid Wood Fibres / Solid
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Trunk / Stem Feature(s)
Bark - Sheds, Short Strips , Trunk-multi , Trunk-single
Bark - Sheds, Short Strips,
Trunk-multi,
Trunk-single
Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter
400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-550mm
400-450mm,
450-500mm,
500-550mm
Flower Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Time(s)
Spring Mid - Summer Early
Flower Colour(s)
Cream-white, White
Cream-white,
White
Flower Shape(s)
Filamental Cyathiform
Filamental Cyathiform
Filamental Cyathiform Filamental Cyathiform
Aroma(s)
Sweet-slight
Sweet-slight
Flowers per Arrangement
3-4
3-4
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees,
Birds,
Butterflies
Fruit Properties
Type
Capsule
Capsule
Capsule Capsule
Outer Colour(s)
Brown-red
Brown-red
Outer Texture
Ribbed
Ribbed
Ribbed Ribbed
Ribbed-Slightly
Ribbed-Slightly
Aroma
None
None
Season of Fruiting
Summer Late
Summer Late
Maturation for Fruiting
4 yrs., 5 yrs., 6 yrs.
4 yrs.,
5 yrs.,
6 yrs.
Root Properties
Type
Plate
Plate
Plate Plate
Shallow
Shallow
Invasiveness
Medium-High
Medium-High
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Moist - Dry
Moist - Dry
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist,
Moist - Dry Moist - Dry
Fertile , Poor , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Soil / Water Contamination Tolerance(s)
Grey Water
Grey Water
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering
WR3 - never let soil dry out,
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Nectar, Insect, Seed, Nesting, Habitat
Nectar,
Insect,
Seed,
Nesting,
Habitat
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
Poor
Poor
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Maintenance(s)
Pruning - Canopy Lift, Pruning - Formative, Pruning - Shaping
Pruning - Canopy Lift,
Pruning - Formative,
Pruning - Shaping
Pests/Diseases
Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii), Borers, Eucalypt Sawfly, Myrtaceae Tip Blight, Psyllid
Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii),
Borers,
Eucalypt Sawfly,
Myrtaceae Tip Blight,
Psyllid
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Park land, Coppiced, Branch-dropper, Fire Resistant, Garden-Australian Native, Garden-Informal, Garden-Woodland, Sand Binder, Shade tree-Light, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Windbreak
Garden-Park land,
Coppiced,
Branch-dropper,
Fire Resistant,
Garden-Australian Native,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Woodland,
Sand Binder,
Shade tree-Light,
Shady Moist,
Soil Binder,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist,
Windbreak
Fertilising Requirements
FR8 - apply Australian Native Plant fertiliser every 6 mths
FR8 - apply Australian Native Plant fertiliser every 6 mths
Wind Tolerance
Strong Winds
Strong Winds
Weed Potential(s)
New Zealand
  • N.Z.: Naturalised

General Notes

A large, handsome tree often gnarled and crooked with pink to pale grey bark shed in spring showing new salmon-pink bark. The timber can be brittle so isn't used much in construction. As it can drop branches do not plant where it will overhang a building. Makes a nice specimen tree in a larger garden or landscape setting.

There is two sub species 

  • Angophora costata subsp. costata, no hairs on the flower and smaller fruit
  • Angophora costata subsp. euryphlla, hairs on the base of the flower, larger fruit