Common Name: York Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus loxophleba is an evergreen tree, sometimes only a straggly, multi-stemmed shrub; it usually grows from 5 - 15 metres tall. The bole can be up to 60cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is a commercial source of essential oils, being harvested mainly for medicinal use[]. It is a handsome tree and could be grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - southwestern Western Australia

Habitat

Found mainly on slopes of undulating country; at elevations up to 350 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus loxophleba is native to the Mediterranean to semi-arid climate of southwestern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 350 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 8 - 42°c[]. 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[]. It grows in areas where rainfall is predominantly in the winter, preferring a mean annual rainfall in the range 350 - 650mm, but tolerating 250 - 750mm[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6, 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[].

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 2.4% (1.6 - 3.0% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include 1,8-cineole (up to 72%), pinene (around 10%), aromadendrene (up to 32%)[].

The yellow-brown heartwood is very dense, hard, tough, with a closely interlocked grain. It is used for wheelwright and similar work[].

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[].