Common Name: Southern Mahogany

General Information

Eucalyptus botryoides is an evergreen tree with a fairly dense crown; it can grow from 8 - 40 metres tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical, up to 100cm in diameter[, ]. When growing in open coastal locations exposed to saline winds it may be reduced to a small heavily branch tree[].
An excellent timber tree, it is also useful for shelterbelt planting near the coast[]. It has been planted to provide timber, shelter from strong winds and to protect watersheds in various countries[]. It is grown as an ornamental plant, particularly in coastal areas close to the sea[].
Eucalyptus botryoides has escaped from plantings in Western Australia and become naturalised there. It is regarded as an environmental weed species in Victoria, where it poses a serious risk to heath, dry sclerophyll forest and woodland, and lowland grassland, noting it as already widespread but occurring in small populations[]..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - eastern Victoria, southeastern New South Wales

Habitat

Sheltered lowland valleys with fertile soils, and also as a smaller tree on exposed coastal hills; at elevations up to 300 metres[]..

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus botryoides is native to the warm temperate climate of easterm Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. Summers are usually warm and moist, whilst winters are cool and moist and there is a short dry season of 2 - 3 months. The mean annual rainfall is within the range 625 - 1,000mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 23 - 28°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 2 - 9°c, and there are generally up to 20 frosts a year, though they are generally not severe[]. 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 well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.5[]. Plants are tolerant of strong, salt-laden winds[].
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[].
Plants do not coppice well[]. The tree can be grown as a fuelwood crop, with a coppice rotation of 8 - 12 years[].
Annual wood production potential is 15 - 35 cubic metres per hectare[].
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

Agroforestry Uses:

An excellent coastal eucalypt, it withstands strong winds off the sea and is good for providing shade and shelterbelts[, ].
The flowers are a useful source of nectar for bees[].

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 up to 0.5% essential oil. The main components include cymene (around 42% in some forms), pinene, 1,8-cineole and terpineol[].

The heartwood is deep pink to reddish-brown. The grain is interlocked, texture is medium. The wood is hard and durable. An excellent timber, it is used for general structural purposes[, ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - no pre-treatment is required[]. Surface sow in a sunny position and make sure the compost is not allowed to dry out[, , ]. 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. The seedlings are ready for planting in the field when they are 25 - 30 cm tall, usually after 3 - 4 months.
The seed has a long viability[].