Eucalyptus Robusta

Description

Eucalyptus Robusta, Swamp Mahogany

Hardy:	Medium to -6°C
Soil:	Happy in a wide variety of soils with a high moisture content. Will tolerate dry situations.
Growth:	Fast, up to 2m per year
Height:	Up to 30m if left to grow.
Biomass:	Grown for firewood, can be coppiced.

Eucalyptus Robusta is a good choice for costal areas in Ireland 😉

Happy growing in costal areas with a high tolerance to salt winds. Some articles dispute its salt tolerance, though none dispute its wind tolerance and suitability as shelter belt. It does like being hydrated, and it’s common name is swamp mahogany, although it will tolerate drier sites. Personally my experience of all the Eucalyptus varieties I have planted so far has been that they enjoy high soil hydration.

The common name says it all, this Eucalyptus tree grows good constructional timber in water logged sites along costal areas. The timber is a rich red brown colour similar in consistency to Mahogany.

It is sometimes used to stabilise sand dunes, so again I would go along with those who say this Eucalyptus is tolerant of salt laden winds. It also seems to be a favoured variety for Hawaii. Not perhaps the most similar country in terms of climate to Ireland, being equatorial. It is a group of small islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with the largest not more than 125 kilometres at is’t widest. Frequently hit by hurricanes; the air temperature may be hot, though the ocean currents are cold. They definitely aren’t in the path of warm Gulf Stream that keeps Ireland temperate.Native to coastal regions of New South Wales, Australia is another confirmation that Robusta is suitable for coastal regions here in Ireland and elsewhere. Also that it will tolerate salt winds.I do have one growing here in Ireland, it’s been in the ground for less than a full year, though signs are promising. The leaves don’t have a juvenile form and are waxy and glossy. So far they don’t seem to be susceptible to wind burn.

Photos taken Christmas Day, Co. Clare, Ireland

Often planted as an ornamental tree with it’s deep grooved reddish bark, quite similar to Scots Pine.Eucalyptus Robusta is also grown commercially for constructional timber and firewood.

For those of you considering growing Eucalyptus Robusta commercially, here is a plantation in Madagascar. Judging by the shape and growth of my Robusta here in Ireland, I would suspect that those in the photo below have had their lower shoots pruned to promote straight lumber trunks.

Photo by Tree Nation

Neither Madagascar or Hawaii have a similar climate to Ireland, though there are surrounded by very cold ocean currents, whereas Ireland is surrounded by the warm Gulf Stream which keeps the climate temperate.

This is a fast growing Eucalyptus, and for those of you looking for alternatives to peat as a fuel for your stoves, then Robusta will certainly satisfy that requirement.

Photo by Kim Starr

Strong healthy trees with good root growth establish quickly and will require minimal if any aftercareTrees regenerate in two ways:

• The awakening of dormant buds at leaf and branch nodes
• Growing from the roots using lignotubers

Eucalyptus Robusta have lignotubers, and are therefore suitable for coppicing. Though this variety is commercially pruned to produce straight logs for constructional timber rather than coppiced for firewood.