Common Name: Mountain Grey Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus cypellocarpa is an evergreen tree that usually grows 30 - 45 metres tall, occasionally reaching 65 metres. The bole can be up to 200cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also commercially.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales

Habitat

Wet forest on deep, fertile soils[]. Found on a wide range of sites, mainly in closed forests; at elevations up to 1,300 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	35.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus cypellocarpa is native to the warm temperate climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. Summers are warm to hot and often dry, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months and a dry season of 3 - 4 months in the warmer part of the year. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 1,000 - 1,200mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 23 - 28°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 0 - 5°c, and there are generally around 10 - 110 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -7°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A 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 leaves of this species are often very large, with intermediate leaves common to 35cm in length[].
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 1.9 - 2.6% essential oil. The main components include 1,8-cineole (64%), eudesmol (20%)[].

The pale yellow to brown wood is hard, heavy; density 700 - 960 kg/m3; moderately strong and durable; frequently defective; has a high shrinkage. It is used for general construction, bridges, fences, pulp and structural engineering. It is used commercially when good logs are available, though the paper-makers do not like it[, ].

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[].