Sugar gum
A slow to moderate growing Eucalyptus preferring 600 mm+ of rainfall annually and sandy clay loams to gradational clay soils but can also tolerate duplex texture profiles. Highly durable species that is very tolerant to dry sites. Being trialled as a plantation species on a small scale.
Sugar gum |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus cladocalyx |
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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 |
30-35 |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
600+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
400 |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
0-250 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Away from frost prone areas |
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Preferred Soil |
Sandy clay loams to gradational clays. Can also tolerate duplex texture profiles. |
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Prohibitive soil |
Uniform deep sands and very heavy clays. Waterlogged soils. |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
High |
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Frost tolerance |
Low |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Gum tree scale, Leaf blister sawfly, Chrysomelids and Christmas beetles. |
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 |
Dry carefully and slowly to avoid surface checking. Shrinkage about 6.2% radial and 10.5% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Outdoor furniture, decking, cladding, joinery, flooring, railway sleepers, fencing and 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 |
Potentially allelopathic, therefore having limitations regarding silvopasture application. Frost tenderness. |
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Most attractive features |
Dry site resilience. Relatively wide site tolerance and durable (rating 1) timber. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Being planted as a plantation species on a small scale. Likely to find a niche in drier areas (rainfall <700 mm/yr) where frost is not an issue. |
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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.