Common Name: Grey Box

General Information

Eucalyptus microcarpa is an evergreen tree that can grow from 8 - 25 metres tall. On good sites the bole is usually straight, up to half the total height of the tree and up to 100cm in diameter. On poor sites the tree is more shrub-like[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - southeastern South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, southern Queensland

Habitat

Found on gentle slopes and plains, and in drier areas it can also be found in dry stream beds and banks; at elevations from 80 - 400 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus microcarpa is native to the semi-arid to subhumid climate of eastern and southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 30°c, but can tolerate 8 - 40°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -2°c[]. With its wide natural range it is found in mainly winter rainfall areas, mainly summer rainfall areas and also in areas with rainfall throughout the year. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 600mm, but tolerates 400 - 700mm[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of heavy to medium-textured, well-drained soils of low to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8[].
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

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are an excellent source of nectar for bees[].

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 0.4 - 0.5% essential oil. The main components include pinene, 1,8-cineole, cymene, phellandral, cuminal[].

The heartwood is light brown, of fine texture, with a grain that is generally interlocked. The wood is hard, tough, heavy, strong and extremely durable. It is fairly hard to work, but is suitable for construction and engineering. It is used for fencing material and railway sleepers[, , ].
The wood makes an excellent fuel[].

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[].