Red ironbark
A slow growing Eucalyptus preferring 700 mm+ of rainfall annually and gradational clay/clay loam soils. Highly durable species that is very tolerant to dry sites. Being trialed as a plantation species on a small scale.
Red ironbark |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus sideroxylon/tricarpa |
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Growth rate in preferred conditions |
Slow |
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Estimated rotation length (yr) in preferred conditions to produce 60 cm diameter at breast height |
35+ |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
700+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
500 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
20-500 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Resilient species that has a wide niche for good performance |
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Preferred Soil |
Gradational clay/clay loams |
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Prohibitive soil |
Deep sand |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
Very high |
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Frost tolerance |
High |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Sawfly larvae, Christmas beetles, Chrysomelids, Lerps and Shot hole miner. |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD3-moderate/high |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
1 | 1 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Slow drying. Care needed to minimise surface checking. Shrinkage about 3.5% radial and 7% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Furniture, posts and poles, sleepers, heavy and light construction, internal flooring, jetty piles, exterior decking, Insulated fence droppers, firewood. |
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Bushfire resistance2: measured by Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) |
BAL 12.5, 19 and 29 – All AS3959 required applications. Regarded as a bushfire resistant timber as defined by AS3837. |
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Least attractive features |
Slow growth and poor form. Difficult to work as a timber. Sapwood susceptible to Lyctid borer. |
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Most attractive features |
Good honey producer. Colour and hardness. Electric fence insulation properties. High durability. Favoured firewood species. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Being trialled as a plantation species on a small scale. May find its niche as a furniture and/or firewood species in drier areas that have frost issues. |
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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.
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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.