Yellow stringybark
A fast growing Eucalyptus preferring 800 mm+ of annual rainfall and sandy loam/clay loam soils. A mainstream durable plantations species with many uses. Regarded by some as the best of the stringybark species in a farm forestry context.
Yellow stringybark |
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Botanical name |
Eucalyptus muelleriana |
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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 |
25-30 |
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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 |
0-300 |
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Preferred landscape position |
Valley to mid-slope |
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Preferred Soil |
Sandy loam to clay loam |
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Prohibitive soil |
Wet/heavy clay |
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Poor drainage tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Dry site tolerance |
Moderate |
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Frost tolerance |
Low to moderate |
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Pest and disease problems: |
Susceptibility to ringbarking by cattle. < 3 months after planting - Light Brown Apple moth. High susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi. |
Timber Characteristics1 |
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Strength: seasoned timber only |
SD3-moderate/high |
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Durability1: in ground | above ground |
3 | 2 |
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Drying: green to 12% moisture content |
Dries readily, but care needed to minimise checking and end splitting, some collapse can occur, but is recoverable through reconditioning. Shrinkage about 4.5% radial and 7.5% tangential. |
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Main commercial products |
Versatile species with many uses. Joinery, panelling, veneers, light & heavy construction, cladding, internal and external flooring, decking, outdoor furniture, 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 |
Ring barking by cattle. Phytophthora cinnamomic susceptibility. |
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Most attractive features |
Good drying properties. Sapwood resistant to Lyctid borer, Stability of green timber when sawn. Versatile range of uses. Regarded as the best of the Stringybark timbers. |
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Status as a plantation species in Gippsland |
Mainstream durable sawlog species. |
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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.
Beadle, C.L. and Brown, A.G. (eds) 2007. Acacia Utilisation and Management: Adding Value. RIRDC Publication No. 07/095, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.
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.
http://www.rajalaut.com/download/AS%205604-2005%20Timber%20-%20Natural%20durability%20ratings.pdf
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/species-selection-tool/species/cypress/macrocarpa/
https://www.nzffa.org.nz/system/assets/2056/Eucalypt_Information_Note_1_-_Choosing_eucalypts.pdf
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.