Common Name: River White Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus elata is an evergreen tree with a deep crown with light drooping foliage; it can grow 20 - 45 metres tall. The bole is long and straight, 50 - 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood. It is being trialled outside Australia as a potential timber crop, particularly for producing pulpwood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales

Habitat

Banks of small streams and edges of river flats; mainly at elevations up to 150 metres, but ascending to 750 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus elata is native to the temperate climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 700 metres. Summers are hot and can be dry, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months. There can be a dry season of 3 - 4 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 1,000 - 1,500mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 28°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 3 - 4°c, and there are generally up to 50 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of medium-textured, well-drained soils of moderate fertility[]. Found in the wild in areas with fertile soils that maintain a moist subsoil but do not get waterlogged[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
A fast-growing species[].
The plant develops a lignotuber - this is a woody tuber that starts to develop near the base of seedlings and can become massive in the mature plants of some species. It possesses embedded vegetative buds, allowing the plant to regenerate following crown destruction, for example by fire[].
The plant responds well to coppicing[].
This tree is not found in closed forests, but it still makes a good plantation species[]. It has rather limited prospects as a timber species but could be very useful as a pulpwood species[].
The tree has been trialled on a substantial scale in South Africa. It is classed as a good coppicing species which debarks well. It does well in winter- or uniform rainfall conditions wlaich are similar to the climate of its native habitat, but it also makes good plantations on suitable soils in summer-rainfall areas, which suggests it is a species of great plasticity, since in general it is difficult to move Eucalyptus species from a winter-rainfall to a summer-rainfall situation[].
It would appear that the species has been underestimated regarding its potential for production forestry. Because of its plasticity it should be tried in more countries[].
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 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 1.0 - 3.0% (6.5% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include phellandrene, cymene, piperitone[].

The heartwood is pale brown.The wood splits easily, is subject to gum veins and is not durable in the soil[, ]. It is used for light construction and for interior finish and joinery[]. It can be used as a rather inferior sawtimber[].

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[].