Common Name: Yellow Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus leucoxylon is an evergreen tree that usually grows 15 - 50 metres tall, though on dry, rocky hills it can be reduced to a mallee only 2 - 6 metres tall[]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be unbranched for around half of the height of the tree and around 60 - 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tyree is harvested from the wild for maily local use as a wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales

Habitat

Open woodland in areas with cool often frosty winters and hot summers; at elevations from 160 - 600 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus leucoxylon is native to the Mediterranean and semi-arid climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 600 metres. Summers are hot and dry, with most rainfall occurring in the winter months and a dry season of up to 5 months. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 400 - 900mm; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 27 - 32°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 3°c, and there are generally around 5 - 15 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at 0°c[].
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[]. Prefers heavy clay soils but succeeds in most soils, including limestone[]. Tolerates poor soils, especially those low in mineral elements[]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[]. Plants grow well in dry-summer climates[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 7.5[].
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[].
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[].

Edible Uses

An essential oil from the leaves is used as a food flavouring in baked goods, ice cream and sweets[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[].

Other Uses

An orange dye is obtained from the leaves and green seedpods. It does not require a mordant[].

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 0.8 - 2.5% (1.1 - 2.1% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include 1,8-cineole (up to 28%), pinene (up to 26%), aromadendrene (up to 36%)[].

The pale-brown wood has yellow or pink tints. The grain is interlocked, the wood is tough, hard, strong, durable, and resistant to termite attack, with a density of 770 - 1,200 kilos per cubic metre. It is used for structural engineering, fencing, railway sleepers, building, framing and poles[, , ].

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[].