Distribution: Open forest in a very restricted area on the far south coast of Western Australia
A small tree with rough bark that is longitudinally furrowed, or often less tessellated on larger trees. The adult leaves are strongly discolorous, being darker green above, paler below, stiff with dense pinnate venation and usually lacking oil glands. The flowers are brilliantly colored red or pinkish orange while the seeds are prominently winged. The red flowering gum is one of the most widely cultivated of all eucalypts both in Australia and overseas. It often grows larger and more vigorously in cultivation than in its natural habitat. The species is best suited to temperate districts with low summer rainfall and humidity. It can be grown in sub-tropical areas in well drained, sunny positions but cannot be regarded as reliable in those areas. Even in temperate areas the species can be unreliable - in the Sydney region, for example, there are some excellent examples but there are probably just as many that fail to thrive. In suitable climates the tree is moderately fast growing and may eventually reach 15 metres but is often smaller. Foliage is dark, glossy green and the bark is rough and persistant (i.e. it does not shed annually).
The red flowering gum is one of the most widely cultivated of all eucalypts both in Australia and overseas. It often grows larger and more vigorously in cultivation than in its natural habitat. Eucalyptus ficifolia is very common and popular in horticulture, widely used throughout cooler coastal southern Australia as a street tree because of its massed colourful flowers that are highly attractive to humans, lorikeets and honeyeaters.
