Red-capped gum or Illyarrie

Visitors to many Perth parks at present (including Kings Park) are enjoying views of the red-capped gum, known to botanists as Eucalyptus erythrocorys, and to the Noongar people as Illyarrie.

With bright yellow stamens topped by a four-segmented red cap or operculum, this small tree is a stunner when in flower and well deserving of its wide popularity.

Illyarrie originates from coastal areas in the mid-west of Western Australia north of Perth. It was first recorded by Europeans in 1858 and is now grown widely throughout Australia in parks and as a street tree.

Flowering occurs from late summer to early autumn – February to April in Perth. In Kings Park it can be seen in numerous places, ranging from the back of Frasers Restaurant to the Roe Gardens. Not surprising when it is one of the most attractive of the eucalypts and easy to grow.

The red-capped gum was voted Australian Eucalypt of the Year in 2020. You can vote for the 2026 Eucalypt of the Year here. On the shortlist this year is the Western Australian Marri tree or Corymbia calophylla.

If you would like to find the Illyarrie in Kings Park, check with the Guides in the Visitor Information Centre or join a free daily guided walk.