Common Name: Mountain Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus dalrympleana is an evergreen tree with a large, open-branched crown; it usually grows 30 - 40 metres tall, occasionally reaching 60 metres. The bole is usually long, straight and cylindrical, around 100 - 200cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales

Habitat

Upper parts of steep mountain slopes; at elevations from 600 - 1,450 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus dalrympleana is native to the temperate climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations from 600 - 1,450 metres. Summers are warm to hot and can be dry, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months and a dry season that can be up to 3 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 875 - 1,400mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 27°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 0°c, and there are generally around 20 - 100 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -15°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at 0°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained soils of moderate fertility[]. The plant is not exacting as to soil type but is not suited to dry soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
Not 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[].
A useful high-country tree. When maintained in farm parks in Tasmania for a long period it is very handsome[].
Annual wood production potential is 8 - 10 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

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 0.5 - 1.1% essential oil. The main components include 1,8-cineole (up to 78% in sme forms), pinene, limonene, spathulenol[].

The white to pale pink wood is somewhat coarse-textured, straight grained, of moderate strength and hardness but of low durability; with a density 610 kg/m3. It is used for framing, flooring, panelling, joinery and handles[, ].

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[].