Scientific Name: Eucalyptus radiata subsp. radiata

Common Name: forth river peppermint

Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots

Family: Myrtaceae

Threatened Species Status: Rare

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Medium to large tree with straight trunk and dense crown. Leaves: Juvenile – broadest near the rounded base. Adult – narrow to narrow lanceolate, green to sub glaucous. Concolorous. Bark: Rough and fibrous, even on smaller branches.

Height (m): 6 – 30

Flowers: Stalks carrying two umbels with a total of 9-11 or more white-cream flowers. Prolific.

Fruit: Woody capsules – cup or pear-shaped, very small (4-6mm), disc level.

Municipality
Central Coast
Plant Communities
Riparian
Habitat Notes

Local on well-drained slopes of river valleys in the north and north-west of the state. Tolerates some snow. Fast growing but grows poorly on sandy or poorly-drained soils.

Site Tolerance

Moist

Soil Tolerance

Fertile, Loam, Sandy, Well-drained

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

General Notes

Useful for providing medium to high-level shelter (up to 30m) in mixed species windbreaks. Suitable species for the production of high grade eucalypt oil. Bird attracting. The flowers provide food (pollen) for various insects, mammals and birds. Insect-eating birds are also attracted. Some native birds feed on the flowers, seed and fruit. Old trees develop hollows used for nesting by birds and mammals. Timber is used in general construction where the high shrinkage rate can be tolerated. The better quality logs may produce material suitable for joinery. Useful for firewood, although quick burning. Complex taxonomic history.

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. Usually abundant seed; best collecting time Dec-Feb although seed remains throughout the year.

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

10 years dry stored in refrigerator at 4°C

Seed Treatment Notes

Suitable for direct seeding. Otherwise best germinated at 21°C. May have poor seedling growth unless local leaf litter is incorporated into the potting media. 6-8 weeks to pricking out.

Germination Time

2-4 weeks