Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree   /   Eucalyptus nitens

Area of origin: Australia
Adult dimensions: Height up to 40m, width up to 15m
Foliage: Evergreen
Soil type: Moist, acidic to neutral
Hardiness: Adult tree hardy to -12°C (young tree is more fragile)
Exposure: Full sun
Speed of growth: Up to 1m in the first year


Properties and uses:
Eucalyptus nitens, commonly known as Shining Gum or Silvertop, is a fast-growing tree. Young plants have green leaves that may turn pink in cold weather. The leaves turn bluer, more fragrant, and melliferous with the years. The bark is shed in long ribbons, uncovering creamy-coloured zones on the trunk.
Eucalyptus nitens is a beautiful tree to plant in parks, alone or in groups. It is also a good candidate as a bonsai tree.

In sylviculture, Eucalyptus nitens is used for the quality of its hard wood, and its speed of growth. For example, in Australia, it is used in the construction sector and furniture manufacturing.

• See the Eucalyptus Trees catalogue
• Forest Tree Seedlings for your plantations
• List of honey producing plants

1) The Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus nitens) is it suitable for my land?

The Cider Gum Eucalyptus Tree has a great growth potential and a good plasticity. The auto-ecology conditions which limit the distribution of the Eucalyptus are first, weather relevant (death risk during intense cold) and second, pedology relevant (sensitive to water shortage and chlorosis).
In France, the Eucalyptus Tree does not tolerate heights over 400m and thrives along the ocean coast (mild winters and high annual rainfall), but it doesn’t like salt. Its growth depends on the average temperature and mainly on water availability. It grows in acidic to highly acidic soils, but all carbonated soils with PH higher than 7 must be excluded.

2) Which planting density for my Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree plot? (Eucalyptus nitens)

The planting density is the number of plants planted in one hectare (acre). Here it means determining the initial number of young plants and to choosing their repartition in the available space.
The planting density is defined by the gaps in between the lines as well as the spacing in between each plant on a same line.
It is the basics of the silvicultural path which must lead to a final trees’ population of quality and to the fulfilment of the land’s owner set goals.

Advice: When choosing the density, think about the width of the tool which will allow the maintenance of the gaps in between the lines. The space in between the lines must allow clear passage for a tractor-drawn, maintenance tool.

For the Cider Gum Eucalyptus Tree (Eucalyptus Gunnii):

• The spacing of the trees and the management of the coppice are very important. The rotations for the paper production vary from 5 to 15 years, and the density is between 500 and 1100 plants/hectare. The fear of loss in production lead to excessive densities (up to 2500 plants/hectare) with many disadvantages (extra charges for the planting and the growing, more difficult mechanisation, loss of commercial timber, excessive death of stumps, high competition in the coppice, etc); that’s why some companies start reducing the density of planting.

3) How to prepare the soil to plant Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus nitens)?

In Silviculture, working the soil is a key element in the success of planting. The root system of the tree must take rapidly where planted. Whether the work is done mechanically or manually, we recommend working the soil in its depth for optimum planting.

4) How to plant the Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus nitens)?

a- Receipt, storage and preparation of the plants before planting

• Upon receipt, place the crates side by side, on a flat surface so as there is no air circulation underneath. Choose a shady spot protected from wind;
• Maintain a good humidity level of the plants on the crates placed on the edges,
• Plan for the possibility of watering if planting is delayed or if the plants require water,
• In case of frost, do not handle the plants and if frost is forecasted for several days, place mulch on the edges.

Our team of professional planters use a planting cane to place the earth-balled plants in situ. This ergonomic, light tool allows quality, quicker planting work. It is also possible to carry out a traditional planting work using a pickaxe or a spade

In all case, you must:
• Dig a hole a little bit larger than the earth-ball ;
• Position it well in the hole;
• Cover it entirely;

Finally, the worker will tamp down the soil carefully with its foot. It is forbidden to press strongly or again to heel-butt the plant to avoid crushing the earth-ball and damage the root system of the plant.

Video on planting using a planting cane
Buy Planting cane

5) How to limit weeds on my Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree plot (Eucalyptus nitens) ?

During the first years, it is essential to eliminate all self-propagating plants. Not controlled they are going to be in competition with your plants and are going to deprive the young trees of the vital elements they require to grow (water, light and nutritional elements). You must therefore eliminate mechanically this unwanted competition until the trees are big enough to be able to dominate it.

Two types of operations are possible after planting:

Manual clearing around the plants
It is in fact acts often carried out using portable thermic Strimmers or billhooks to clear plants on a line or around the plants themselves.

Mechanical clearing of the space in between the lines
These actions are done using cutters and flail mowers, horizontal or vertical cutters, mounted on mini excavators or tractors. As a result, they cannot be undertaken outside the spaces available between the tree lines (plants or plants).

6) How to protect my young Shining Gum Eucalyptus tree plants from wildlife (Eucalyptus nitens) ?

There is a necessity to protect the plot as soon as the population’s density of Cervidae (deer and roe deer in particular) risk leading to significant damage such as undergrowth of the plants or friction of the stems. Sometimes, the setting up of plants’ protection is also necessary as soon as the rodents’ population (rabbits, hares, coypu, voles...) are locally important.

3 types of protections are possible:

• Individual, mechanical Protections ( dissuasive netting, photo-degradable tubes,...)
• Protection by total wire-fencing of the plot,
• Protection by applying a repellent on each plant or on the borders of the plot.