Western coolibah, Smooth-barked coolibah (Eucalyptus victrix)
A small to medium tree that is relatively untried in urban landscapes.  It’s striking smooth white trunk and high tolerance of drought and heat suggest a tree of enormous potential for urban landscapes.

Specimen of Western coolibah growing in garden bed at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth.
Photograph: Jeremy Thomas. Arborist, Botanic Gardens & Parks Authority.

Origin

Western Australia and Central Australia, from Murchison River to Port Hedland and east into central Northern Territory.  Usually found on flood plains and low lying areas of red clay or clay loam.

Habitat:

Small to medium evergreen tree with a spreading form on a single trunk.  A mature height of about 5-15 m  x 5-10 m wide.

Description:

Dull light green to grey-green lanceolate foliage. Terminally held peduncles in groups of 7 with conical to rounded operculum.  Flowers creamy white, Nov–Mar.  Bark smooth throughout, white and powdery.

Tolerances:

Tolerates heavier soils and temporary inundation.  High tolerance of drought.  Generally free of any serious pests or diseases.

Root space:

Based on 75% of mature size tree would require approximately 98.5m2 area or 59m3 root volume (crown projection method).

Availability:

Uncommon in cultivation.  Seed available.

Uses & management:

Potential for use as a small specimen tree suited to dry conditions.  The startling smooth white trunk would highlight any garden.  Resistant to major pests.
Potential as street and open space tree.  ANPSA (2009) state that a dwarf form of Western coolibah can be found on the floodplains around the Murchison River and has potential for a small feature tree.  The tree grows readily from seed.

Featured Tree© Tree Logic Pty Ltd 2009
Ref:
Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) – ANPSA (2009) Eucalyptus victrix. Available at  http://asgap.org.au/e-vic.html  [Accessed 11/2/09]
EUCLID – Eucalypts of Australia. Third Edition 2006, CD-ROM, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research in assoc. with CSIRO Publishing
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