Red stringybark
A slow to moderate growing Eucalyptus preferring 800 mm+ of annual rainfall and gradational clay soils. Relatively frost and drought hardy for a stringybark species but not often used as a plantation species as superior options are available in most cases.
Red stringybark |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus macroryncha |
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Growth rate in preferred conditions |
Slow to moderate |
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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) |
800+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
650 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
150-500 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Hill/slope |
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Preferred Soil |
Gradational clay |
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Prohibitive soil |
Shallow and/or poorly drained soil |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
Moderate |
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Frost tolerance |
Moderate to high |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Susceptibility to ringbarking by cattle, high susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD4-moderate |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
3 | 2 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Needs to be dried slowly. Reconditioning needed to overcome collapse. Shrinkage about 5.5% radial and 10% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Light and heavy construction, joinery, cabinet timber, flooring, sleepers, posts and poles, firewood |
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Bushfire resistance2: measured by Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) |
BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |
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Least attractive features |
Relatively slow growth for a stringybark. Sapwood susceptible to Lyctid borer. No improved seed resources. |
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Most attractive features |
Relatively frost and drought hardy for a stringybark species. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Minor. Generally superior options available in most cases. |
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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.
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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.