Common Name: Red Box

General Information

Eucalyptus polyanthemos is an evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown; it can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole is usually shortish and can be from 30 - 100cm in diameter418, [].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.
Eucalyptus polyanthemos has the potential to become a weed outside of its natural range. It has escaped from plantings and become naturalised in Western Australia[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Victoria, southern New South Wales

Habitat

Woodland on the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range, usually growing on the harder sites and soils; at elevations from 120 - 800 metres[, ]. Usually on shallow soils on rising ground[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus polyanthemos is native to the temperate climate of Australia, where it is found at elevations from 150 - 700 metres. Rainfall can occur all year round or only in the winter, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 500 - 750mm and a dry season that can be severe and last up to 6 months. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 27 - 32°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 3 - 4°c, and there are generally around 10 - 50 frosts a year[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -10°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of well-drained soils of low 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[].
Frequently an attractive grey-green tree[].
The tree often grows poorly outside of Australia[].
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 a good 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 0.3 - 0.8% (0.8 - 2.6% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include 1,8-cineole (around 60% in some forms), viridiflorene, globulol, pinene, phellandrene[].

The red wood is fine-textured with an interlocked grain. It is hard, tough, strong, durable and resistant to termite attacks, with a density of 850-1,200 kg/m3. It dries slowly and is difficult to season. It is used for heavy construction, fencing and is a useful farm timber[, , ].
A good 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[].