Common Name:

General Information

Eucalyptus umbra is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub or a tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. Growing under favourable conditions, the bole can be straight and up to 100cm in diameter, but in exposed conditions it is small and crooked[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - central eastern New South Wales

Habitat

Dry sclerophyll forest or woodland on relatively poor shallow dry soils[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus umbra is native to the humid subtropical climate of eastern Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 28°c, but can tolerate 10 - 42°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 700 - 1,400mm[].
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in a range of well-drained soils of low fertility[]. Plants can tolerate seasonal inundation of the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].
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 a useful source of pollen and 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 0.2 - 1.5% essential oil. The main components include cineole, pinene[].

The heartwood is pinkish brown, close-textured, moderately heavy, moderately durable. The wood is used for poles, sleepers, bridge and wharf construction as well as stumps, plates, flooring, joists and weatherboard[].

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[].