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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Eucalyptus gummifera is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
E. corymbosa.
Plant Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Bog Garden;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Nectar
Edible Uses: Drink
The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar which can be sucked from the flowers or mixed with water to make a sweet drink that is called 'bool' in Australia[183].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiseptic Astringent Parasiticide Skin
Eucalyptus leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections[254]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[254]. An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antiseptic, astringent and parasiticide[152]. It is used in the treatment of various skin complaints[152]. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life[4]. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints[4]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[4]. An oleo- resin is exuded from the tree[238]. It can also be obtained from the tree by making incisions in the trunk[4, 152]. This resin contains tannin and is powerfully astringent, it is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea and bladder inflammation[4, 152, 238], externally it is applied to cuts etc[4, 152].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fuel Parasiticide Shelterbelt Wood
This tree might be suitable as a windbreak near the coast[77]. Wood - red, hard, very durable in the soil, but it has gum streaks and veins. Rarely attacked by white ants, it is used mainly as a fuel, for which it is very good[154].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[200]. Tolerates poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[200]. A drought resistant plant once established[200], it also tolerates saline soils[200]. One report suggests that it might be quite wind tolerant, even on the coast[77]. This species is hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens according to one report[157] whilst another says that it only survives rare frosts in the wild[77]. Plants are not likely to be very cold tolerant in Britain, provenances from the higher parts of its range in Tasmania are more likely to succeed. Eucalyptus species have not adopted a deciduous habit and continue to grow until it is too cold for them to do so. This makes them more susceptible to damage from sudden cold snaps. If temperature fluctuations are more gradual, as in a woodland for example, the plants have the opportunity to stop growing and become dormant, thus making them more cold resistant. A deep mulch around the roots to prevent the soil from freezing also helps the trees to survive cold conditions[200]. The members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[200]. Eucalyptus monocultures are an environmental disaster, they are voracious, allelopathic and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[200]. Plants are shallow-rooting and, especially in windy areas, should be planted out into their permanent positions when small to ensure that they do not suffer from wind-rock[245]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[11]. The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[200].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - surface sow February/March in a sunny position in a greenhouse[11, 78, 134]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[200]. Pot up the seedlings into individual pots as soon as the second set of seed leaves has developed, if left longer than this they might not move well. Plant out into their permanent positions in early summer and give them some protection from the cold in their first winter. The seed can also be sown in June, the young trees being planted in their final positions in late spring of the following year. The seed has a long viability[200].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
AUSTRALASIA: Australia (New South Wales (east), Queensland (southeast), Victoria (east))
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
| Related Plants
|
| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Corymbia citriodora | Lemon-Scented Gum, blue spotted gum, lemon eucalyptus, eucalyptus citriodora. | Tree | 45.0 |
10-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus brassiana | Cape York red gum | Tree | 20.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus caesia | Gungurru | Tree | 10.0 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 2 | 0 | |
| Eucalyptus camaldulensis | Red River Gum, Murray Red Gum, River Red Eucalyptus | Tree | 30.0 |
8-12
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus citriodora | Lemon-Scented Gum, Lemon Scented Eucalyptus | Tree | 45.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Eucalyptus coccifera | Mt. Wellington Peppermint | Tree | 15.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Eucalyptus delegatensis | Alpine ash | Tree | 40.0 |
7-11
| F | LMH | N | M | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus dumosa | Water Mallee | Tree | 7.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Eucalyptus globulus | Tasmanian Blue Gum, Eurabbie, Blue Gum, Blue Eucalyptus | Tree | 55.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus gomphocephala | Tuart. Tuart Gum | Tree | 40.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus grandis | Flooded Gum, Gum, Rose Eucalyptus | Tree | 50.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus gunnii | Cider Gum | Tree | 30.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus johnstonii | Yellow Gum, Johnston's gum | Tree | 60.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus largiflorens | Black Box | Tree | 18.0 |
9-11
| S | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus leucoxylon | Yellow Gum, White ironbark, White Eucalyptus | Tree | 15.0 |
10-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus macrorhyncha | Red Stringybark | Tree | 45.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus melliodora | Yellow Box | Tree | 30.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus microcorys | Tallow Wood, Australian tallowwood | Tree | 45.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus microtheca | Coolabah, Coolibah, Flooded Box, Coolibah | Tree | 15.0 |
9-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Eucalyptus obliqua | Messmate | Tree | 60.0 |
8-12
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Eucalyptus pauciflora | Cabbage Gum, Snow gum | Tree | 12.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus pauciflora niphophila | Snow Gum | Tree | 6.0 |
6-9
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus perriniana | Spinning Gum | Tree | 6.0 |
7-10
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Eucalyptus piperita | Sydney Peppermint | Tree | 18.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus polybractea | Blue Mallee | Tree | 6.0 |
-
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus punctata | Grey Gum | Tree | 30.0 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 1 | 0 | |
| Eucalyptus racemosa | Snappy Gum | Tree | 0.0 |
-
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 3 | |
| Eucalyptus regnans | Mountain Ash | Tree | 75.0 |
8-11
| F | LMH | N | DMWe | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Eucalyptus robusta | Swamp Mahogany, Eucalyptus Gum | Tree | 30.0 |
8-12
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 0 | 3 | 4 |
|
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(Sol. ex Gaertn.)Hochr.
Botanical References
154200
Links / References
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