Victorian blue gum
A fast-growing Eucalyptus preferring 900 mm+ of rainfall annually and clay-based soils. Good pulp species and may be an option on sites that are too dry for Tasmanian Blue Gum.
Victorian blue gum |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus globulus ssp.bicostata |
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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 |
20-30 |
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Preferred annual rainfall (mm/yr) |
900+ |
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Minimum rainfall (mm/yr) |
750+ |
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Preferred elevation (m) asl |
0-500 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Mid-lower slopes and flats. |
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Preferred Soil |
Clay based soil |
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Prohibitive soil |
Uniform sands |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
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: |
Sawfly larvae, Autumn Gum Moth, Lerps, Tip feeders, Christmas beetles |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD2-high |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
3 | 2 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Difficult to dry. High shrinkage. Reconditioning required. Shrinkage about 6% radial and 12% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Pulp, light and heavy construction, internal flooring, posts and poles, sleepers, tool handles, joinery |
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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 |
Log end splitting and difficult to dry. Susceptibility of juvenile foliage to pests. Sapwood susceptible to Lyctid borer. |
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Most attractive features |
Good pulp species. May be an option on sites that are too dry for Tasmanian Blue Gum. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Not recognised as a plantation species in Gippsland. |
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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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Bootle, K.R. (1983). Wood in Australia – Types, properties and uses. McGraw Hill, Australia
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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.