Common Name: Yellow Box

General Information

Eucalyptus melliodora is an evergreen tree with an attractive, rounded crown; it can grow 15 - 30 metres tall. The trunk is straight and cylindrical, usually around 30 - 50% of the total height of the tree and up to 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild and also cultivated for its good quality wood. It is sometimes grown as a street tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - Victoria, New South Wales, southeast Queensland

Habitat

Gentle slopes of open woodland in areas with cool wet winters and dry summers; at elevations from 150 - 1,250 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus melliodora is native to the temperate and subtropical climate of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,250 metres. It is also cultivated in tropical regions at elevations up to 2,000 metres. Summers are hot and can be wet, winters can be wet or dry; there can be a dry season from 3 - 7 months long. Mean annual rainfall is within the range 400 - 900mm; mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 22 - 38°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 0 - 7°c, and there are generally around 5 - 30 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -7°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[]. Tolerates poor and dry soils, especially those low in mineral elements[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 8.5 (this could be a misprint for 7.5[])[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
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[].
Annual wood production potential is 2 - 6 cubic metres per hectare[].
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[].
The flowers are very fragrant with a scent of honey[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are rich in nectar and are a good bee crop[]. One of the best honey eucalypts[]. This is the most important species of eucalypt in Australia for honey production[].

Other Uses

The bark and leaves contain tannins[].
The bark contains 4.03% of kino-tannic acid[].
The leaves yielded 49.8% of extract, and 7.89% of tannic acid[]

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 0.9% (2.3 - 3.1% dry weight) essential oil. The main components are alpha-pinene, alpha-phellandrene, 1,8-cineole[].

The light pink or yellowish brown heartwood has a coarse texture and interlocked grain. It is heavy, very strong, hard, very durable and resistant to termites. The wood has at least some resistance to fire[]. It is difficult to work but because of its durability and strength it is used for railway sleepers, poles, cross-arms and bridging. It makes a very useful farm tree in Australia[, , , ]. It is used to some extent by engravers[].
An excellent fuelwood[, ].

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[].