Ghost Gum is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12. Its spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees and native bees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
10-12
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Ghost Gum on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether ghost gum actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score ghost gum against your land's real conditions.
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What Ghost Gum is
Ghost Gum grows as a perennial. It blooms in spring.
How to grow Ghost Gum
Ghost Gum grows in USDA zones 10 through 12. Ghost Gum does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
10-12
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
50°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
120+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant ghost gum in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Ghost Gum prefers pH 5 to 7 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune ghost gum to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — ghost gum is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Ghost Gum is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Ghost Gum thrives
Ghost Gum is hardy across USDA zones 10 through 12. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 10–12·Where Ghost Gum growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Ghost Gum can grow in these states:
See if Ghost Gum will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether ghost gum actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Ghost Gum in my zone?
Ghost Gum grows in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Ghost Gum?
Most growers plant ghost gum after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Ghost Gum need?
Ghost Gum needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Ghost Gum need?
Ghost Gum prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Ghost Gum attract pollinators?
Yes — ghost gum's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees and native bees.
Is Ghost Gum safe for pets?
Ghost Gum is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)