Description
Eucalyptus Fastigata, Brown Barrel
| Hardy: | Possibly as low as -9°CLimited information is available, though Fastigata is grown extensively in Southern New Zealand where temperatures regularly dip below freezing even at lower levels. |
| Soil: | Prefers rich soils, will grow in clays, likes lots of hydration. |
| Growth: | Fast, 1.5 to 2m per year. |
| Height: | 50m plus. |
| Flowering: | Short season from December to February. NOTE this may reverse in Norther Hemisphere Ireland, I am still learning and will update as soon as I have better information. |
| Biomass: | A good choice, grows fast producing large quantities of timber per hectare. |
Grows natively in the Australian alps and Blue mountains where rainfall is plentiful. A good choice for Ireland 🤣
This is definitely a tree for the farmer / forester in Ireland 😉 Currently grown in New Zealand as a possible replacement for Radiata Pine, the most planted forestry tree there. Fastigata is fast growing and produces large volumes of timber per hectare. The timber is suitable for a wide range of uses:
- Firewood
- Good quality paper pulp
- Construction timber
Considered to be more easily machined than other eucalyptus varieties is a significant factor in the New Zealand forestry strategy for planting Fastigata. Eucalyptus Fastigata is one of the ash varieties of Eucalyptus.
I extol the virtues of this mighty Eucalyptus as a commercial tree, though it will also grow into a magnificent specimen tree for the very large garden or park.
Original photo by Flora & Fauna on Flickr
Fastigata is a close relative of Regnans, one of the tallest plants in the world, and the pedigree shows in the tall narrow architecture of these magnificent giants. I presume the common name “Brown Barrel” is derived from the large brown round trunk.
The Latin name Fastigata means high or exalted. These giant trees certainly attain a great height, mighty 😀
Photo by Nelson
Some further reading of interest to the commercial grower at Scion Research of New ZealandTrees regenerate in two ways:
- The awakening of dormant buds at leaf and branch nodes
- Growing from the roots using lignotubers
Eucalyptus Fastigata DO NOTÂ have lignotubers and can’t be coppice.Like most trees they can within bounds be pruned.
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