Eucalyptus coolabah subsp. coolabah (coolibah) and E.largiflorens (black box) are two dominant floodplain species of Australia's Murray-DarlingBasin. Over the past 200 years widespread clearing and altered flood regimes have greatly restricted the distribution of both species, and recruitment events are rare and poorly understood. Little is known regarding the life history of each of the two species, for instance, until recently mass recruitment events of coolibah were considered to be an invasive response activated by flooding events, however, it is now thought that these rare recruitment events are part of the species natural reproductive strategy. To further our knowledge and fill the existing gaps regarding the recruitment of coolibah and black box, we conducted a series of germination trials to 1) determine the optimal temperature for germination, and 2) establish the effect of leaf litter on germination. We found that both species required alternating temperatures for optimal germination, with coolibah exhibiting a wider range of optimal germination temperatures than black box. Leaf litter was found to inhibit germination in both eucalyptspecies due to the direct effects it has on light availability and temperature conditioning. The long-term survival of floodplain eucalypts depends upon a thorough understanding of their life history. The results from this study can be used to assist in making well informed management and conservation decisions.