Common Name: Blue Peppermint

General Information

Eucalyptus dives is a much-branched evergreen tree with a spreading canopy; it can grow from 15 - 25 metres tall. The bole is often short and crooked[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested commercially for its essential oils, being harvested from the wild and also grown commercially in some countries[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales

Habitat

Mountainous areas[]. Often found on poor, shallow soils[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus dives is native to the temperate climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,300 metres. Summers are warm with a dry season of 3 - 4 months, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 625 - 1,250mm; mean maximum of the hottest month is 23°c; mean minimum of the coldest month is 0 - 5°c, and there are generally around 15 - 80 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 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

The essential oil extracted from the leaves is used as an antiseptic[].
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy[].

The smoke from the leaves was applied from beneath a person with fever.

Other Uses

An essential oil is obtained from the leaves. The 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 1.5 - 4.0% (4.7 - 6.0% dry weight) essential oil. It can have a high content of phellandrene (60 - 80% in some forms), piperitone (40 - 56% in some forms), and 1,8-cineole (68 - 75% in some forms)[, ]. It is mainly used as a solvent and for perfumery, also for the production of insecticides[].
The essential oil obtained from the leaves and twigst is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a masking agent and perfume[].

The wood is little used[].

Propagation

Seed -