Common Name: Spinning Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus perriniana is an evergreen, multistemmed shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall but is often considerably less[, ].
The tree is a source of essential oil. It is an attractive ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Australia - Tasmania, Victoria, southern New South Wales

Habitat

Wet hollows on poor mudstone soils; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[]. Locally frequent but sporadic, in grassy or shrubby woodland on moderately fertile soils on high, cold plains[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus perriniana is native to the temperate climate of southeastern Australia, where it is found at elevations from 800 - 1,800 metres. Rainfall can occur all year round or mainly in the winter, with a mean annual rainfall around 1,000mm. There are generally around 200 frosts a year and snow can be frequent[]. A fairly hardy species, it tolerates long periods down to -14°c and short periods as low as -18°c[, ].
Prefers a sunny position in a moderately fertile well-drained moisture retentive circum-neutral soil[]. Tolerates poor soils, especially those low in mineral elements[]. Tolerates dry soils and also drought once it is established[].
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[].
The connate leaf-pairs loosen and spin on the stem[].
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[].
A tree at Alice Holt forest in Hampshire was 15 metres tall in 1985[].
Trees respond well to coppicing[, ].
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 plant has juvenile foliage which is quite different from the adult leaves[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

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

Other Uses

The leaves yield up to 1% essential oil[]. The essential oil is an effective inhibitor of hydrochloric acid corrosion when coated over steel[].
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 1.1% (2.8 - 3.2% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include pinene (around 11%), limonene (5%), 1,8-cineole (66%), terpineol[].

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[].