Family: Myrtaceae
Eucalyptus polyanthemos (red box) is a small to medium sized tree native to eastern Australia. This tree has utility for timber, floral arrangements, and as a drought tolerant species. Its timber is used in fence posts, railway construction and firewood. Although this plant has not yet been confirmed to have negative impacts where cultivated, it does increase the risk for fire where it is planted. It is moderately flammable and can resprout after fires.
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized in California, Australia (outside natural range), and possibly elsewhere (but no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date)
- Possibly weedy, although no negative impacts have been identified
- Other Eucalyptus species are invasive
- Moderate flammability may increase fire risk
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by wind and gravity-dispersed seeds
- Able to resprout after fire
Low Risk Traits:
- No confirmed reports of negative impacts where cultivated
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable to goats
- Non-toxic
- Thrives in full sun (deep shade may limit ability to spread)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Seeds lack dormancy