Eucalyptus & Gum Trees in Perth
Perth is a city of gums. From the towering flooded and lemon-scented gums in older suburbs to the jarrah, marri and tuart that grew here long before the streets did, eucalypts shape almost every Perth garden. They're tough, beautiful and well suited to our hot, dry summers - but they also come with quirks worth understanding before you plant, keep or remove one.
The gums you'll see most
- Jarrah and marri - dense, slow-growing hardwoods native to the region; long-lived and tough.
- Tuart - the Swan Coastal Plain icon of the Spearwood dunes (more in our tuart tree guide).
- Flooded gum and lemon-scented gum - fast, tall, and common as street and garden trees - and prone to dropping limbs near homes.
Living with gums: limb drop and heat
The trade-off with eucalypts is limb drop. In summer heat and after heavy rain, gums shed branches to conserve resources - a natural behaviour, but a real hazard when a big tree overhangs a roof, car or play area. The fix usually isn't removal, it's regular deadwooding and sensible crown reduction to keep the canopy safe and balanced. Natives don't reshoot well from heavy cuts, so how the work is done matters.
When removal makes sense
A gum that's dead, diseased, structurally unsound, or simply too large and too close to the house may be better removed - but check first, because many Perth councils protect native and significant trees. Our guide on whether you can cut down a tree in Perth and the broader native trees in Perth overview cover the rules and care.
Get advice on your gum tree
San's Tree Service works with Perth's gums every day - pruning, deadwooding and removal where it's permitted. Free quotes and honest advice on what's protected. Call (08) 9560 6103.
Frequently asked questions
Why do gum trees drop branches?
Eucalypts shed limbs as a natural survival trait, most often in summer heat and after rain. It's why large gums over a house, driveway or play area are worth regular deadwooding - a healthy-looking limb can still fail in a hot spell or a storm.
Are gum trees protected in Perth?
Often. Many Perth councils protect significant and native trees, and some run tree-retention policies. Always check with your local council before removing an established gum - the penalties for unauthorised removal can be steep.