Fauna
Plant

Scribbly Gum

Eucalyptus haemastoma

Also known as Broad-leaved Scribbly Gum

Scribbly gums are iconic Australian trees renowned for the pale, smooth bark etched with intricate winding patterns carved by burrowing moth larvae. Confined to sandstone plateaus and coastal ridges around the Sydney Basin, they thrive in nutrient-poor, fire-prone soils where few large trees prosper. During spring and early summer, clusters of creamy white blossoms erupt across the canopy, providing a crucial seasonal nectar pulse for native honeyeaters, lorikeets, and flying foxes.

EndemicFloweringTree
Scribbly Gum reference1 / 7
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic (sunlight, carbon dioxide, water, and soil minerals)
Predators
  • Scribbly gum moth larva
  • Swamp wallaby
  • Common ringtail possum
ThreatsUrban development, altered bushfire regimes, and climate-induced drought stress
HabitatsSclerophyll woodlands and forests on nutrient-poor sandstone plateaus and ridges
Life span100–200 years
Classification
  1. FamilyMyrtaceae
  2. SpeciesEucalyptus haemastoma
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for stunted to mid-sized trees on sandstone tops displaying silvery white bark covered in distinctive scribbles alongside thick, curved leaves.
Support conservation
Stay on marked trails to avoid compacting thin sandstone soils, and never carve into or strip the delicate scribbly bark.
Responsible observation
  • Bark examination: Look closely at the zig-zagging trunk tracks to spot the turnaround loops made by feeding moth caterpillars.
  • Bloom watching: Scan the canopy from late winter through spring to spot native birds and flying foxes feeding on the flowers.
  • Sandstone walks: Stick to designated bush tracks to protect fragile sandstone topsoils around root zones.
Related species
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