13. Why are there white (or pink) flowers on my "Red Flowering Gum" ?

For that matter, why did your "Captain Cook" bottlebrush (supposedly a low-growing form) reach 4 metres?

Both of these questions have the same answer...they were grown from seed. To be sure that a plant will be genetically identical to its parent (ie to have red flowers or to retain a low habit of growth), it must be propagated vegetatively, usually by cuttings. Because of the genetic mix within seedlings, plants grown from seed will often show a significant variation from the parent. This is why named "cultivars" must never be propagated from seed.

In the case of the "Red Flowering Gum" (Corymbia ficifolia syn. Eucalyptus ficifolia), propagation from cuttings is not practical so, unless the plant is grafted using a known red flowering clone as a scion, a purchaser can never be absolutely sure that the flowers will be red. Colours such as pink, orange and white (as well as red) are regularly seen. Grafted plants of the "Red Flowering Gum" are available commercially.

The "Red flowering gum", Corymbia ficifolia is probably the most spectacular of the Bloodwoods and displays its red, pink or white flowers at Christmas in southern Australia even on quite small trees [43k]. Click the thumbnail image or plant name for a higher resolution image.