Common Name: Black Peppermint

General Information

Eucalyptus amygdalina is an evergreen tree usually growing 15 - 30 metres tall, occasionally reaching 40 metres. The bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - central and northeast Tasmania

Habitat

Open sclerophyllous forest on hills and mountain slopes; at elevations up to 750 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus amygdalina is native to the temperate climate of Tasmania, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 500 - 1,200mm. There are generally around 5 - 90 frosts a year[].
Eucalyptus species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained, circumneutral soils of low to moderate fertility[].
The leaves have a strong aroma of peppermint[].
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[].
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 - 2.3% (2.5 - 6.3% dry weight) essential oil. Sme of the main components are 1,8-cineole (up to 70% in some forms), alpha-pinene, alpha-phellandrene, alpha-terpineol and piperitone (up to 63% in some forms)[].

The wood is used for poles, sawnwood and split shingles[].

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[].