Caught red handed. This is an ant stealing nectar from a Western Australian Red Flowering Gum. Plants much prefer visitors like the little bee in the second photo, as they also help pollinate the flower, rather then just steal the nectar. WA Red Flowering Gums are currently a popular street tree. The flowers range from red, red-orange to red-pink. The blossoms are quite showey and the tree is a mass of red this time of year. They are great for encouraging birds into the garden. Wattle birds and other nectar feeders love to feast on the flowers, while parrot species will quite happily chew on the gumnuts. Just dont plant them next to the house, or you will have the constant sound of gumnuts being dropped onto the roof. They are reasnoble shade trees, and rewarding plants if you have the room for them. They grow readily from seed, however it is difficult to maintain the flower colour, as with each generation colour will vary to the parent. They are relatively slow growing trees, taking 7 years to mature from seed, and will grow to a height of about 10m.
No comments:
Post a Comment