Plant
Smooth-barked Apple
Angophora costataAlso known as Sydney Red Gum, Rusty Gum
Smooth-barked apples dominate Sydney sandstone country, easily recognized by their sinuous, contorted trunks and dramatically fluted bark that sheds each spring to reveal vibrant salmon-pink underlayers. Unlike true eucalyptus species, their broad lanceolate leaves grow strictly in opposite pairs rather than alternating along the twigs. Heavy summer blossom clusters draw noisy flocks of lorikeets, flying foxes, and native bees that feast on copious nectar high in the canopy.
Native TreeFloweringWildlife Host
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil nutrients
Predators
- Psyllid bugs
- Longicorn beetle larvae
- Koala
ThreatsUrban development, altered fire regimes, and canopy dieback
HabitatsSandstone ridges, dry sclerophyll forests, and coastal woodlands
Life span150–300 years
Classification
- FamilyMyrtaceae
- SpeciesAngophora costata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Seasonal timing: Visit in late spring and early summer when the bark sheds, revealing rich orange and pink hues.
- Identification: Look for opposite leaf pairing and prominent ribs along the cup-shaped fruit.
Image unavailableFrequent Companion 
Pollinator (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Allen · cc-by
Frequent Companion (c) T. Hammer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by T. Hammer · cc-byClose Relative
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