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Cunoniaceae FAMILY

Eucryphia lucida

Eucryphia lucida

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
GrowthMedium

Eucryphia lucida is a plant of the temperate zone, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 12 - 22°c, but can tolerate 5 - 26°c[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 1,700mm, but tolerates 1,000 - 2,500mm[2, 1]. Requires an open but sheltered position and a light moist lime-free soil[3, 4]. Succeeds in any free open loamy soil[5]. Prefers its base in the shade with its canopy in the light[6]. Requires plenty of light if it is to flower freely, tolerating almost full sun if the soil is cool and moist[3]. Strongly resents dryness at the roots during the growing season[7]. Requires a sheltered position when grown in colder areas[6]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4 - 7[1]. The leaves and young shoots are covered with a sticky, very resinous substance[3, 2]. The honey-like perfume of the flowers pervades the air for some considerable distance[8]. Hybridizes with other members of this genus[6]. Some named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[4].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse. The seed should be stored cool and dry over the winter. Germination is usually good[9]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 6 - 8cm with a heel, early summer/July in individual pots in a frame. Roots in 5 - 6 weeks. A variable percentage succeed[9]. Layering in late summer. Takes 16 months. High percentage[9]. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Eucryphia+lucida>

Pollinators

Bees

References

  1. [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  2. [2]Australian Native Plants Society — http://anpsa.org.au/index.html ↩︎A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc.
  3. [3]Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. — Bean. W. · Murray · 1981 · ISBN - ↩︎A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
  4. [4]Shrubs. — Phillips. R. & Rix. M. · Pan Books · 1989 · ISBN 0-330-30258-2 ↩︎Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars.
  5. [5]RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 — F. Chittendon. · Oxford University Press · 1951 · ISBN - ↩︎Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [ 200 ]).
  6. [6]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  7. [7]The Plantsman. Vol. 5. 1983 - 1984. — ? · Royal Horticultural Society · 1983 · ISBN - ↩︎Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants.
  8. [8]Scented Flora of the World. — Genders. R. · Robert Hale. London. · 1994 · ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
  9. [9]Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. — Sheat. W. G. · MacMillan and Co · 1948 · ISBN - ↩︎A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
  10. [10]Australian Medicinal Plants. — Lassak. E. V. and McCarthy. T. · New Holland Publishers · 2001 · ISBN 1876334703 ↩︎A very good and readable guide to the subject.
  11. [11]Native Tastes of Australia — http://tasteaustralia.biz/ ↩︎A website with detailed information on around 50 species of native Australian food plants, including recipes.