Eucalyptus lane-poolei, commonly known as salmon white gum, is a species of tree that is endemic to Western Australia. Eucalyptus lane-poolei is a tree or mallee that typically grows to a height of 3–12 metres high and 4 to 8 metres wide. It has smooth whitish grey to orange-brown bark, often appearing scaly due to partly shed flakes of older bark. Flowering occurs between January and April or June and September and the flowers are creamy white.
Eucalyptus lane-poolei was first formally described in 1919 by Joseph Maiden from a specimen collected in the same year at Byford by the Western Australian forester Charles Edward Lane-Poole. The specific epithet (lane-poolei) honours Lane-Poole “who collected this species, and who has done much to promote the study of this genus in his State”.
Salmon white gum is found on slopes and creek banks along the west coast in the Wheatbelt, Peel and South West regions of Western Australia extending from Coorow in the north to Busselton in the south where it grows in sandy or sandy-loam soils containing lateritic or granitic gravel. It is native through most of the range but has become naturalized elsewhere. A distinct population is found on the western side of the Darling Range. Associated species in the understorey include Banksia nivea or Baumea preissii. The species favours Guildford soil of the Perth metropolitan region, on the Swan Coastal Plain, and occurs on wetter sites that inhibit otherwise dominant eucalypts, Eucalyptus calophylla and Eucalyptus wandoo.
This small, evergreen tree is named after Charles Edward Lane-Poole, a Western Australian conservator of forests. It is well known for its distinctive, mottled bark which features in colours ranging from a whitish grey to an orange-brown.
The Salmon White Gum flowers in late summer, with a beautiful, yet subtle display of small, pale cream, bristle-like flowers. This tree is appreciated for the intrigue of its shape, as it tends to grow in an informal, abstract manner. There are distinct populations of the Salmon White Gum on the western scarp of the Darling Range and foothills, with some outlying populations extending to Jurien Bay.Grow the Salmon White Gum in groves, with an understory of Banksia nivea or Baumea preissii. Recommended for home gardens where an informal and artistic trunk formation will be appreciated. Grows in low nutrient sands and requires good drainage.
