Grey Box

Grey Box (Eucalyptus moluccana) is the shade tree for a paddock, a driveway entrance or an acreage block, not a suburban courtyard. It reaches about 15m tall and 10m wide, carrying a broad open crown of grey green foliage on a pale, mottled trunk, and it does it on heavy clay that defeats most trees. Honeyeaters and lorikeets work the white summer blossom heavily.

Why you'll love it

• Real shade, reasonably fast. A 10m wide crown covers a stock yard or a picnic area properly rather than casting a thin patch.
• It grows where others will not. Poor soil tolerant, wet feet tolerant and drought tolerant, so heavy clay flats suit it.
• Frost hardy and wind tolerant. It handles cold inland winters and exposed paddock wind, so it is a genuine windbreak tree.
• An eastern Australian native. Naturally occurring in the box woodlands of Queensland and New South Wales, so it belongs in revegetation and habitat plantings.

Where it works best

Shade trees on acreage. Give it 10m to 12m of clearance from buildings, fences and services. It is a large forest tree and needs siting as one.

Windbreaks and shelter belts. Plant 8m to 10m apart in a row, or stagger two rows across a paddock.

Growing Grey Box in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. It suits subtropical, warm temperate and cool temperate gardens, from south east Queensland through New South Wales and the ACT to much of Victoria. Frost hardy once established.

Soil. Heavy clay, poorly drained flats and low fertility ground all suit it. Do not amend the backfill; use the native soil so roots move out into it rather than circling in a rich pocket.

Water and feed. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, then leave it to the weather. Feeding is rarely needed; a light native fertiliser in early spring is plenty.

Pruning. Formative pruning only, while the tree is young: remove competing leaders and any low limb you do not want. Never top a mature eucalypt, and have large limb work done by a qualified arborist.

What to expect when it arrives

Grey Box is supplied in 45L, an advanced tree with a formed leader and developed root system, so you start with real height rather than a seedling.

Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and trees this size travel upright and staked. Expect some leaf drop and a still month while the root ball knits in, then strong growth through the first warm season. Stake loosely for the first year on an exposed site and keep a weed free circle around the trunk. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The wider Australian native trees range.
• Best trees for farm paddock shade, covering siting and stock protection.
• Compare options in plants for windbreaks.
• Plants that thrive in poor soil.

Common questions

Is it too big for a suburban backyard?

For most blocks, yes. At 15m by 10m it needs acreage or a large rural garden with room to keep it clear of buildings and services.

Will it cope with clay that stays wet?

Yes, and that is one of the main reasons to choose it. Grey Box occurs naturally on heavy box woodland clays that waterlog in winter and dry hard in summer.

How far apart for a windbreak?

8m to 10m apart in a row. Two staggered rows filter wind more effectively than one dense line, which simply pushes turbulence over the top.