Common Name: Silvertop Stringybark

General Information

Eucalyptus laevopinea is an evergreen tree with a good crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The bole is straight and cylindrical[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, southeastern Queensland

Habitat

Widespread and abundant, in wet or dry sclerophyll or grassy forest on medium to high fertility soils in wetter areas[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus laevopinea is native to the warm temperate climate of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations from 800 - 1,300 metres. Summers are hot and moist, the winters can be cold and dry, with a dry season of up to 4 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 800 - 1,300mm, sometimes with moderately heavy snow; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 24 - 29°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 0°c, and there are generally around 40 - 70 frosts a year[].
This species shows its best growth on basaltic soils in the wild and good growth on well-drained soils derived from granites[].
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

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 0.6 - 1.3% essential oil. The main components include pinene (up to 60%), 1,8-cineole (7 - 18%), eudesmol (25 - 40%)[].

The light-coloured wood is of moderate weight, strength and durability. It is a useful construction timber[, ].

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[].