A Re-assessment of Cold-Hardy Eucalypts in Great Britain

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Abstract
At present eucalypts are of no forest importance in Great Britain though a long history of introductions has shown that a few species are h t h hardy and fast growing. Systematic evaluation of potentially hardy species and provenances in the early 1980s coincided with an exceptionally cold winter in 1981/82. Although nearly all species were killed in experiments which experienced temperatures of between −19°C to −23°C, it was'found that some provenances of E. gunnii and the snow gums E. dcbeuzevillei and E. niphophila did possess sufficient cold-hardiness to survive well. Large plots of these species were established in 1983 to provide growth data under forest conditions. Mention is made of small trials of minor eucalypts and further evaluation of snow gum provenances hitherto uncollected. In the long term, eucalypts could be considered a short fibre pulp species for moderately exposed upland sites where yield classes of 12 to 16 on 10 year rotations could be expected. Their biomass potential appears at least comparable to that of poplars and willows. Work is reported on vegetative propagation and artificial testing of hardiness.

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