Common Name:

General Information

Eucalyptus dundasii is an evergreen tree growing 10 - 20 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is somewhat less than half the height of the tree[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is also grown to provide shade and as an ornamental in arid zone plantings[]..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - southwestern South Australia

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus dundasii is native to the Mediterranean climate of southwestern Australia, where it is found at elevations from 250 - 400 metres. Summers are hot with a dry season of 4 - 5 months, most rainfall occurs in the winter months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 400 - 500mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 30 - 33°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 4°c, there can be 1 - 12 frosts a year[]
Found in the wild in gravelly soils which may be alkaline but not salty[].. A particularly drought-resistant species[].
This is one of the most promising species for street planting in dry inland towns in Australia[].
Plants have grown well in California, but did not thrive in South Africa[].
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[]. Many members of this genus are remarkably adaptable however, and there can be a dramatic increase in the hardiness of subsequent generations from the seed of survivors growing in temperate zones[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained in small quantities from the leaves. Total quantity of the oil, and its composition, can vary widely from plant to plant, but we have reports that the fresh leaves contain around 0.2% (0.5% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include pinene (around 35%), 1,8-cineole (around 35%), aromadendrene (around 6%)[].

The dark brown wood is hard, dense and durable[]. It has been used for mining timbers[].
A valuable fire wood[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow late winter/early spring in a sunny position in a greenhouse[, , ]. Species that come from high altitudes appreciate 6 - 8 weeks cold stratification at 2°c[]. 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 early summer, the young trees being planted in their final positions in late spring of the following year. The seed has a long viability[].