Common Name: Cider Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus gunnii is an evergreen tree with a heavy crown; it can grow 20 - 25 metres tall in Australia, though cultivated trees in other countries have grown more than 30 metres tall. The bole is usually short[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. An attractive plant, it is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - Tasmania.

Habitat

Alpine areas on rocky well-drained soils, sometimes also found on marshy soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus gunnii is native to the temperate climate of Tasmania, where it is found at elevations from 750 - 1,500 metres. Summers are cool to warm and dry, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months and a dry season of up to 3 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 1,500mm, often falling as snow; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 15 - 18°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 0°c or less, and there are generally around 100 - 150 frosts a year[]. This is one of the hardiest Eucalyptus species[], it is very frost resistant, tolerating long periods down to -14°c and short periods down to -18°c[, ].
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[]. Dislikes clay or chalk soils but succeeds in most other soils[]. Tolerates poor soils[], especially those low in mineral elements[]. Dislikes shade[]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[]. Trees can tolerate salt-laden winds[].
A very ornamental tree, it is very fast growing when young and requires shelter from strong winds if it is not to become very wind-shaped[].
The plant has juvenile foliage which is quite different from the adult leaves[]. The leaves, especially when bruised, are very aromatic[].
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 respond well to coppicing.
Commonly planted in S.W. Europe as a timber tree and also for shelter, soil conservation and as an anti-malarial measure since it will dry out wet land that is suitable for mosquitoes to breed in[].
Whilst most Eucalyptus species, grown in small numbers outside their native range, can be an attractive and useful addition to the landscape, certain species (including this one) are more problematic. When grown in monocultures, especially outside their native range, they can become an environmental disaster. They are voracious, especially in their use of water; they are allelopathic, inhibiting the growth of the native flora; they reduce habitats for native fauna; and encourage the worst possible attitudes to land use and conservation[].
Plants are shallow-rooting and, especially in windy areas, should be planted out into their permanent positions when small to ensure that they do not suffer from wind-rock[]. They strongly resent root disturbance and should be container grown before planting out into their permanent position[].
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

The sap[, , ] (it is a stem exudate according to some reports[, ]) has a sweet taste. The sap is obtained by making wounds in the bark during spring[]. A tapped trunk yields up to ½ litre a day[]. Another report says that the sap exudes from the trunk and can be drunk directly or fermented into a cider-like drink[, ]. This same report says that the plant also produces an edible manna[].

Medicinal

Eucalyptus leaves are a traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. The essential oil found in the leaves is a powerful antiseptic and is used all over the world for relieving coughs and colds, sore throats and other infections[]. The essential oil is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold remedies[].
An essential oil obtained from the leaves is antiseptic[]. The essential oil obtained from various species of eucalyptus is a very powerful antiseptic, especially when it is old, because ozone is formed in it on exposure to air. It has a decided disinfectant action, destroying the lower forms of life[]. The oil can be used externally, applied to cuts, skin infections etc, it can also be inhaled for treating blocked nasal passages, it can be gargled for sore throat and can also be taken internally for a wide range of complaints[]. Some caution is advised, however, because like all essential oils, it can have a deleterious effect on the body in larger doses[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Trees are fast growing and wind resistant - they can be used in shelterbelt plantings[].
The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee forage[].
Trees are very greedy for moisture. They can be planted in wet ground in order to dry it up and make it unsuitable for mosquitoes to breed in[].

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 - 0.9% (0.8 - 3.4% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include pinene, phellandrene, 1,8-cineolw, cymene, globulol and spathulenol[].
The leaves yield between 0.4 to 0.8% of an essential oil that contains antifungal substances[, ]. The essential oil is an effective inhibitor of hydrochloric acid corrosion when coated over steel[].

Coppiced for fuel. The wood must be dried for at least 12 months before use[].

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[].