Common Name: White Pepperment

General Information

Eucalyptus pulchella is an evergreen tree with drooping branches; it can grow from 9 - 25 metres tall with a bole up to 80cm in diameter. The trunks of trees growing in open situations may divide, while trees growing in more closed situation usually have long straight boles[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use, mainly as a fuel. It does not grow too large and is an excellent, attractive species for ornamental plantings[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - central and southeastern Tasmania

Habitat

Hilly to undulating country, often on skeletal soils; at elevations from 150 - 450 metres[, ].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Eucalyptus pulchella is native to the temperate climate of Tasmania, where it is found at elevations from 150 - 500 metres. Rainfall occurs mainly in the winter, with a mean annual rainfall within the range 600 - 700mm. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 21°c; mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 1 - 4°c, and there are generally up to 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 light to medium-textured, well-drained soils of moderate fertility[]. 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

Other Uses

The fresh leaves contain 1.1 - 1.5% (4.2 - 5.6% dry weight) essential oil. The main components are 1,8-cineole (47%) alpha-phellandrene (6%)[].

The light brown wood is fairly heavy. It is used mainly for pulpwood[, ].
The wood is used for 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[].