Common Name: Apple Box

General Information

Eucalyptus bridgesiana is an evergreen tree with a large and heavily branched crown; it can grow 15 - 40 metres tall. The bole is usually short[].
The tree has been harvested in the past for local use of its wood, though it is not valued by wood producers and not used for wood production[]. A good shade and shelter tree, it is often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, southeastern Queensland

Habitat

Open, grassy woodland on drier sites; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus bridgesiana is native to the warm temperate and subtropical climates of easterm Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. Summers are warm to hot, whilst winters are cool to cold; rain cal fall all year round, though there can be a dry season of up to 4 months and irregular droughts occur periodically. The mean annual rainfall is within the range 625 - 1,100mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 28 - 30°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 0 - 2°c, and there are generally around 15 - 60 frosts a year[]. The tree has been known to tolerate short periods with temperatures falling as low as -12°c[].
Eucalyptus species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained, circumneutral soils of low to moderate fertility[]. This species is found in the wild on soils that are usually fairly heavy over a moderately heavy clay[].
A vigorous, fast-growing tree[].
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 tree can be coppiced, and will often resprout from the base if top-killed by cold weather[].
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:

Valuable as a shelterbelt tree on high cold treeless plains[].
The tree flowers prolifically in autumn, making it a very useful source of nectar for bees and other insects[]. The flowers are a good 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 around 0.4 - 1.0% (0.5% dry weight) essential oil. The main components are 1,8-cineole (up to 70%), alpha-pinene, limonene[].

The light brown to brown wood usually has pink or orange tints. It is moderately hard, strong, but not durable or only moderately durable. It is not liked by sawmillers. It was used to line wells in early settlement days because it does not colour the water and has very few gum veins[].

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[].