As our delightful red flowering gum fades into the annals of summer it's not long after than it's replaced with another native beauty. For the past two months everything else in the indigenous garden has submitted to it's grandeur and allowed Corymbia ficifolia to express its virtue in the starkest of colour schemes. But, that time has now come to an end and the native garden is ready, almost anticipating, for a successor to take its place.

[Enter stage right: Eucalytpus erythrocorys]

While most plants are shutting down for the start of autumn, Eucalytpus erythrocorys commonly called the Illyarrie Red-Cap Gum, has taken over the spotlight with abandon. It could easily be far less conspicuous with its blooms and we would still appreciate this tree's beauty. But no...it has to go and blow any competitor far outside the realms of a healthy challenge.

In fact, I would even go so far as to say that if it were seasonally competing with C. ficifolia, the red flowering gum may show up looking a little naked. For this tree has three incredibly standout features while our summer flowering gum could only lay claim to one.

1. The first is obviously the flowers. If it came down to a judging competition between the two it could only be decided on the judge's preference - red or yellow? Their blooms are almost identical. The only variant that may favour C.ficifolia is that there are masses of them compared to smatterings of E. erythrocorys' flower display.
2. Where E. erythrocorys may fail in the flower department it makes up for with its gorgeous flower pod. The red-cap that stores the blooms, when contrasted against the yellow flowers, looks incredible and brightens the garden vivaciously. These pendulous ornaments decorate the Australian bush like one would expect to experience a Christmas tree against a backdrop of snow. They immediately capture your attention and demand your affection.
3. But the final feature that imbues the gardener's creativity is its growing habit. While it can grow from a single trunk, and usually does, E. erythrocorys has the ability to become a multi-stemmed shrub (albeit a large-ish one) offering gardeners a plant that can be shaped and contorted as desired. It's peeling bark on a grey-white background is as equally desirable and the whole tree makes for a beautiful specimen in any garden.

One other feature that it has is its growing height. Most specimens will only grow to 4m (13ft) but can reach 10m if conditions are perfect. This makes it a prime candidate for any home garden where the climate permits.

E. erythrocorys is well-suited to limestone soils which range in the upper alkali limits. It's especially drought-tolerant and improves with an annual pruning to keep the shape but also protect the limbs from breaking under the strain of its autumn flowers.

And, if you're keen to try propagating this beauty it can easily be done via seed propagation. Seed is readily available after the blooms are spent and collect inside bell-shaped nuts ready to be picked when dry and mature.