Shining gum is a fast growing and large Australian tree introduced to New Zealand as a fast growing coppicing tree suitable for firewood and timber. The blueish juvenile leaves lengthen with age and the tree will grow to perhaps 60 metres.
Description: A tall, usually straight tree up to 60m. Bark persistent on trunk, grey - grey brown and shedding in long brown ribbons. Leaves of juvenile plants are ovate and blueish - glaucous and the adult leaves are narrow, lancolate 15 - 25cm. Flowers in sevens small and white. Fruit is ovoid 4 - 7 mm with tiny seeds.
Uses: A widely planted tree. Timber is reasonably stable but not durable as many Eucalyptus are. Firewood dries reasonably quick but is stringy to split. The idea of coppicing is unreliable. Grown for chipping/paper production.
Propagation: There are 1.5 million seeds per kg, most are viable. Sow into trays after 2 months damp stratification (damp and refrigerated) mix with sieved sawdust to make sowing more even - thick sowing will result in damping off - and cover thinly with small gravel chips. Keep moist and covered with newspaper until firs germination appears. Prick out into deep containers - like rootrainers. Plant out Autumn through to spring - will be frost tender when young.
Shining gum is stimulated by nitrogen and grows quickly - enough to surprise. For firewood I avoid the coppicing thing and grow the tree on to a good diameter, being prepared to split the wood. I use and axe and it is stringy and difficult at times - most use a mechanical [hydraulic] splitter.
Timber is ok for stock yards, but not near the ground. The grain is attractive.
Uses: A widely planted tree. Timber is reasonably stable but not durable as many Eucalyptus are. Firewood dries reasonably quick but is stringy to split. The idea of coppicing is unreliable. Grown for chipping/paper production.
Propagation: There are 1.5 million seeds per kg, most are viable. Sow into trays after 2 months damp stratification (damp and refrigerated) mix with sieved sawdust to make sowing more even - thick sowing will result in damping off - and cover thinly with small gravel chips. Keep moist and covered with newspaper until firs germination appears. Prick out into deep containers - like rootrainers. Plant out Autumn through to spring - will be frost tender when young.
Shining gum is stimulated by nitrogen and grows quickly - enough to surprise. For firewood I avoid the coppicing thing and grow the tree on to a good diameter, being prepared to split the wood. I use and axe and it is stringy and difficult at times - most use a mechanical [hydraulic] splitter.
Timber is ok for stock yards, but not near the ground. The grain is attractive.
