Common Name: Salmon Gum

General Information

Eucalyptus salmonophloia is an evergreen tree with a rather thin crown; it can grow 25 - 30 metres tall. The bole is remarkably good considering the climate, around 35% of the total height of the tree and 60 - 100cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for use of its wood. It has been heavily exploited in the past, leaving it much depleted over its natural range[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - southwestern Western Australia

Habitat

Around the goldfields and inland wheat country; at elevations from 300 - 400 metres[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus salmonophloia is native to the arid to sub-arid and Mediterranean climate of southwestern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to metres. Rainfall can occur at any time of the year as irregular storm rains, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 200 - 500mm and an irregular dry season that is severe and can last several months at a time. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 32 - 35°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 4°c, and there are generally up to 10 frosts a year[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a wide range of well-drained soils of high to moderate fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8[].
The plant has been moderately successful outside of Australia in Mediterranean countries, but is sensitive to frost[].
It makes a very good woodland for such a low rainfall area. The best growth is on fertile red day loams but it is satisfactory over a range from sandy loams to rather heavy clays. Useful for shelterbelt or avenue planting in rainfalls as low as 200 mm[]
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:

A valuable shelter tree in dry areas[].

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 1.4 - 3.6% (2.7% dry weight) essential oil. The main components include piperitone (up to 42%), cymene (up to 17%), pinene, 1,8-cineole, aromadendrene[].

The red to red-brown wood is straight grained, very. strong, durable; with a density of 1,070 kg/m3, This remarkable species was milled for local construction on the goldfields but is now used mainly in the round for mining timbers, light
railway sleepers and 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[].