An exception to every rule
The wood of Eucalyptus sideroxylon is very dense, with a weight of about 1130kg per square metre, making it the tree not to hold on to in a flood, as the wood sinks in water.
The wood makes beautiful furniture, with the dark red heartwood contrasting with the yellow sapwood.
The wood is also extensively used outside as fence posts and, until recently, as railway sleepers, as it has a high resistance to rotting.
Eucalyptus sideroxylon gets its common name from the dark brown to black, deeply fissured bark that forms on the trunk with age.
Leaves not just for koalas
The leaves contain large quantities of cineole-based eucalyptus oil, which have many uses.
Eucalyptus oil is used in many cough preparations, as an insect repellent, in fragrances and as food flavouring.
• Size: small to medium-sized tree suitable for larger gardens.
• Flowers: are abundant and conspicuous in shades of white, red and pink.
• Habitat: native to eastern Australia.
• Propagation: easy to grow from seed.
• Situation: an extremely drought-tolerant tree capable of surviving most conditions.
- Dylan Norfield is the Geographic and Arboretum Collection Curator at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
