Eucalyptus obliqua aka Broad Leaved Messmate

Eucalyptus obliqua is a tree in the myrtle family. It stays green all year. People call it messmate or messmate stringybark. It comes from eastern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania. Its range takes in southeastern Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Kew lists Timor as part of its native range too. Useful Tropical Plants accepts that record, but notes how remote it is. The tree grows in mountain forests with winter frosts. It can form stands with few other tree species.

Messmate grows fast and becomes a very large tree. Both plant databases give its height as 197 feet [60 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants also lists trees reaching 230 feet [70 metres]. In rare cases, trees reach 295 feet [90 metres]. Do not use these greater heights as garden size targets. The trunk grows long and straight. It can reach about 7 feet [2.1 metres] across. Rare trunks reach nearly 10 feet [3 metres] across. Each flower has both male and female parts. Bees and other insects carry pollen between the flowers.

Give this tree full sun and soil that drains well. It likes soil that holds some water but does not stay soaked. Soil with a fair supply of nutrients suits it best. A pH near neutral is best too. It also grows in sand, loam, or clay. Soil can be a little acid or a little alkaline. It can grow in poor soil too. Once trees have settled in, they cope with drought. They also accept moist soil. In full dormancy, trees withstand brief cold near 14°F [-10°C]. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–12. It suggests growing the tree in mild parts of Britain.

Keep its great size in mind when choosing a site. The sources describe trees grown for wood, not small gardens. Growers in Australia value its hard wood for many jobs. They use it for furniture, joinery, building work, and paper pulp. The wood has a straight grain and works well. Several African countries also have plantations grown for timber. Wild trees still supply much valued hardwood in Australia.

PFAF lists no known food or medicinal uses. This does not mean that all parts are safe. Grow new plants from seed sown on the surface. PFAF suggests sowing in a greenhouse in February or March. Put each young seedling in its own pot. Plant them out in early summer. Protect them from cold through their first winter.