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Ghost Gum

Corymbia aparrerinja

iNaturalist Wikipedia

An iconic symbol of the Australian desert, the Ghost Gum is famous for its hauntingly beautiful white bark and its ability to provide life-saving shelter in the arid Outback.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Height 15-20 metres (50-65 feet); trunk diameter up to 1 metre (3.3 feet)

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Colors

Brilliant bone-white to creamy-grey bark; dull grey-green foliage

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Key Features

Smooth, powdery white bark that persists year-round
Lance-shaped or curved leaves with a drooping habit
Small white to cream-colored flowers in clusters of 3 or 7
Thin-walled, cup-shaped woody fruit known as gumnuts

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Flowering occurs mostly during daylight hours

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Season Year-round, with peak flowering from October to December

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Diet As a primary producer, the Ghost Gum uses photosynthesis to convert sunlight into energy. It features an extensive and deep root system designed to tap into underground water tables and soak up rare desert rainfall.

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Habitat Arid and semi-arid regions, commonly found on rocky slopes, red sand plains, and along dry watercourses.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Ghost Gum Live?

The Ghost Gum is a quintessential inhabitant of the Australian interior. It is native to the vast, arid landscapes of Central Australia, with its core populations concentrated throughout the Northern Territory, particularly around the MacDonnell Ranges. Its range also extends into the dry rocky outcrops of Western Australia and the western plains of Queensland, making it a definitive feature of the 'Red Centre.'

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

1.8M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia

Marginal

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Ghost Gum is a resilient icon of the Australian Outback, known for its striking white appearance and ability to thrive in harsh, arid conditions. Unlike many other eucalypts that have rough or stringy bark, the Ghost Gum’s bark is incredibly smooth and sheds in thin, papery scales, leaving behind a fine white dust. This light-colored bark is thought to reflect intense desert sunlight, keeping the tree cooler during the extreme heat of the day.

Ecologically, the tree acts as a vital 'apartment complex' for desert fauna. Older trees frequently develop hollows, which provide essential nesting sites for pink cockatoos, budgerigars, and various species of owls. While it appears serene, the Ghost Gum is known for 'self-pruning'—dropping large, heavy limbs without warning during periods of drought to conserve moisture, a behavior that has earned it a reputation for being slightly unpredictable in a backyard or park setting.

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Camera Tips

When photographing or monitoring a Ghost Gum with a trail camera, the primary challenge is the bark's high reflectivity. Because the trunk is brilliant white, standard infrared flashes can 'white-out' the image at night. To combat this, set your camera to 'Low Glow' or 'No Glow' mode, and if possible, manually reduce the flash intensity. Positioning the camera at a slight angle to the trunk rather than directly head-on will also help reduce glare.

Ghost Gums are hotspots for bird activity. To capture the best footage, aim your camera at a height of 2-3 metres (6-10 feet) toward a large, horizontal limb or a known hollow. These trees are frequently visited by parrots and honeyeaters during the flowering season. If you are monitoring the base of the tree, look for 'lizard runs' near the roots; many desert monitors and skinks use the crevices in the base for shelter.

If you are setting up a camera in a backyard setting to observe visitors, place it approximately 3 to 5 metres away from the main trunk to capture the full silhouette of the tree against the sky. This is particularly effective at sunset or sunrise when the white bark takes on a golden or pinkish glow. Time-lapse mode is an excellent setting for this species to capture the movement of the sun across its striking white limbs over the course of a day.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Ghost Gum.

River Red Gum

Has rough, thick bark at the base of the trunk and prefers wetter areas like permanent riverbanks.

Spotted Gum

The bark has a characteristic mottled or 'spotted' appearance in shades of grey and pink, rather than solid white.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The white color comes from a powdery pigment that reflects heat and sunlight, helping the tree survive the intense temperatures of the Australian desert.

Ghost Gums naturally attract birds with their flowers and hollows. You can encourage more visitors by providing a birdbath nearby, as water is a premium in the arid areas where these trees grow.

While beautiful, they are known for 'summer branch drop,' where they unexpectedly shed large limbs during dry spells. They should be planted well away from structures.

They are relatively slow-growing trees, especially in their native arid soil, focusing more on deep root development than rapid height gain.

Ghost Gums have brilliant white, smooth bark all the way to the ground, whereas River Red Gums usually have rough, darker bark at the very base of the trunk.

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