Mountain ash
A very fast growing Eucalyptus preferring 1000+ mm of rainfall annually and deep (>2 m) gradational clay loam soils. Was considered a mainstream plantation specie prior to the early 1990s but now rarely planted for plantation forestry. Fire sensitive and needs to be planted with a high number of stems per hectare (>1500 sph).
Mountain ash |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus regnans |
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Growth rate in preferred conditions |
Very fast |
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Estimated rotation length (yr) in preferred conditions to produce 60 cm diameter at breast height |
20-30 |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
1000+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
900 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
100-1000 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Cool, wet valley |
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Preferred Soil |
Deep >2 m gradational clay |
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Prohibitive soil |
Poorly drained soils |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low |
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Dry site tolerance |
Low |
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Frost tolerance |
High |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Psyllid, Phasmatid and Mycosphaerella leaf spot |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD4-moderate |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
4 | 3 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Considerable collapse occurs during drying, so reconditioning is standard practice. Very high shrinkage about 6.5% radial and 13% tangential. For best results quarter sawing required. |
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Main commercial products |
High value joinery, plywood, flooring, panelling, general construction, pulpwood |
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Bushfire resistance2: measured by Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) |
BAL 12.5 and 19 – Door and window joinery only |
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Least attractive features |
Fire sensitive, site specific, not suited to conventional plantation spacings. Needs to be planted densely (>1500 sph) for protection. |
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Most attractive features |
Fast growth, good pulp species, and proven sawlog potential if direct seeded or planted at close spacings. Sapwood resistant to Lyctus borer. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Prior to early 1990s mainstream, but now rarely planted for plantation forestry. |
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1 Based on Australian Standard: Timber Natural durability ratings. AS 5604-2005. Refer to Appendix for explanatory table. Where (?) applied, rating is based on field experience. 2 Naturally bushfire resisting timbers are those with inherent bushfire resisting properties. For more information refer to Australian Standard 3959:2018. |
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Assumptions and notes:
- Sites considered for planting contain at least 1 metre of soil above an impeding layer (e.g. bedrock or layer impenetrable to roots.)
- Please note that most (if not all) eucalypts in Gippsland grow best on sheltered sites.
- Overall slow drying time across air and kiln dried schedules is recommended to minimise drying degrade. This is the best starting point for inexperienced operators.
Beadle, C.L. and Brown, A.G. (eds) 2007. Acacia Utilisation and Management: Adding Value. RIRDC Publication No. 07/095, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
Boland, D.J. et. al (1992). Forest Trees of Australia. CSIRO Australia.
Bootle, K.R. (1983). Wood in Australia – Types, properties and uses. McGraw Hill, Australia
Carnegie, A.J. (2002). Field Guide to Common Pests and Diseases in Eucalypt Plantations in NSW. Research and Development Division of State Forests, NSW.
Clarke, B., McLeod, I. and Vercoe, T (eds) 2009. Trees for farm forestry: 22 Promising Species. RIRDC Publication No. 09/015. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
http://www.rajalaut.com/download/AS%205604-2005%20Timber%20-%20Natural%20durability%20ratings.pdf
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/species-selection-tool/species/cypress/macrocarpa/
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/system/assets/2056/Eucalypt_Information_Note_1_-_Choosing_eucalypts.pdf
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/species-selection-tool/species/redwood/coast-redwood/
https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/511553/Silverwattle.pdf
Mortimer, J. (2003). A selection of alternative timbers. Taitua Books, NZ.
National Association of Forest Industries (2004). Timber Species and Properties (Revised edition). Timber Manual Datafile P1
Nicholas, I.D., Gifford, H.H., and Kimberely, M.O. (1997). Siting Black Walnut. FRI Bulletin no. 188
Phillips, C. (1996). Insects, Diseases and Deficiencies associated with Eucalypts in South Australia. Primary Industries SA Forests.
Poole, B., Waugh, G. and Yang, J.L. (2017). Potential for growing and processing durable eucalypts in New Zealand. Publication No. SWP-T036. Solid Wood Innovation. Specialty Wood Products Research Partnership.
Reid, R. (2017). Heartwood. The art and science of growing trees for conservation and profit. Melbourne Books.
Tepper, C. J. (2002). Plantation Eucalypt species for solid wood products – a profile of Eucalyptus muelleriana. Gottstein Fellowship Report for the Gottstein Memorial Trust
Tepper, C.J. (2008). Site Matching and Establishing Eucalypt Sawlog Species in Southern Australia In. Beadle, C.L. and Brown, A.G. (eds) 2008. Plantation Eucalypts for High Value Timber. RIRDC Publication No. 08/113, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.