Southern mahogany
A fast-growing Eucalyptus preferring 1000+ mm of rainfall annually and fertile clay loam/sand soils. A durable species that can establish quickly, dominating sites early.
Southern mahogany |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus botryoides |
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Growth rate in preferred conditions |
Fast |
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Estimated rotation length (yr) in preferred conditions to produce 60 cm diameter at breast height |
25+ |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
1000+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
800 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
0-150 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Protected aspects. Lower slopes and flats. Keep away from exposed locations. |
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Preferred Soil |
Fertile clay loam/sand |
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Prohibitive soil |
Heavy clays. Duplex soils. |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
Low |
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Frost tolerance |
Moderate |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Prone to insect damage in dry conditions eg. Lerp psyllids, Leaf blister sawfly, Christmas beetles, Cerambycid/longicorn beetles, Cossid Moths. |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD3-moderately high |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
3 | 2 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Slow in drying. Susceptible to end splitting. Reconditioning needed to overcome collapse. Shrinkage about 5% radial and 10% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Interior joinery, panelling, veneers, posts and poles, sleepers, light & heavy construction, flooring, 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 |
Heavily branched and therefore susceptible to wind damage. Does not handle exposure. Very susceptible to insect attack. Late development of heartwood and high shrinkage in drying. |
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Most attractive features |
Can establish quickly, dominating sites early. Attractive red/pink timber. Sapwood resistant to Lyctid borer. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Established durable plantation species on protected sites. |
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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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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.
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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.