Scientific Name: Eucalyptus obliqua

Common Name: stringybark

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Myrtaceae

Form Description: Tall straight tree with a dense crown. Leaves: Juvenile – asymmetrical, stalked, ovate, oblique, tapering suddenly to pointy tip, green, to 190mm long. Adult – asymmetrical, lanceolate, oblique, dark green to 130mm long, glossy and leathery. Concolorous.

Height (m): 5 – 90

Flowers: Umbels with 7-16 flowers, profuse, white-cream.

Fruit: Woody capsules – barrel-shaped, with a sunken disc.

Municipality
Break O’DayBrightonBurnieCentral CoastCentral HighlandsCircular HeadClarenceDerwent ValleyDevonportDorsetFlindersGeorge TownGlamorgan-Spring BayGlenorchyHobartHuon ValleyKentishKingboroughLatrobeLauncestonMeander ValleyNorthern MidlandsSorellSouthern MidlandsTasmanWaratah-WynyardWest CoastWest Tamar
Plant Communities
Dry Eucalypt ForestWet Eucalypt Forest
Habitat Notes

Grows on deep soils with good drainage from sea level to about 600m. Is absent from poorly drained sites, dry sites and highly infertile soils. Generally frost and drought resistant, but this is strongly related to provenance.

Site Tolerance

Dry, Exposed, Moist, Rocky, Windy

Soil Tolerance

Clay, Fertile, Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained

General Notes

Useful in providing high-level shelter (up to 50m) in windbreaks. Its dense foliage provides useful shade. Bee attracting. Large quantities of cream-coloured pollen is yielded producing a mild flavoured honey. Bird attracting. Nectar feeding birds are attracted to the blossom and rosellas are attracted to the capsules and seed. The blossom provides food (pollen) for many native insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds. The seed and fruit are eaten by some native birds. High flammability. One of the most important hardwoods; used for a wide range of construction and manufacturing purposes. Also a possible hardwood pulp species. The leaves are used for dyes. Koori (mainland) use: fibre from inner bark used to make coarse string for bags and fishing nets. Outer bark for tinder.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Collect capsules and store in paper bags until valves open to release seed. Seed can be collected at most times of the year as seed-bearing capsules are retained on the tree for a long time. Separate seed by sieving.

Seed Treatment Method

Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.

Seed Storage Life

More than 10 years dry stored in refrigerator at 3-5°C

Seed Treatment Notes

Suitable for direct seeding. Otherwise seed germinates best at 21°C. Seedling may not survive in a sterile potting mix. Problems can be overcome by adding local soil or leaf litter. Smoke treatment may improve germination. 6-8 weeks to pricking out.

Germination Time

2-4 weeks