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Eucryphia lucida
Also called Pinkwood
Leatherwood is a tree or large shrub native to moist forests of western Tasmania, grown in gardens for its fragrant white flowers and valued by beekeepers for its honey. It grows best in well-drained soil with some shelter and extra moisture.
Eucryphia lucida, the leatherwood, is a species of tree or large shrub endemic to forests of western Tasmania, Australia. An attractive plant used in both horticulture and apiculture, it was promoted by the Tasmanian Branch of the then SGAP as an alternative to the Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) for Tasmania's floral emblem. It was described as E. billiarderi at one stage, this now being a synonym.
Leatherwood is easily propagated by seed or cutting and makes an attractive, fast-growing garden plant. It thrives in well-drained soil in a position with some shelter and extra moisture. It does require regular pruning to keep a neat shape. It is also used by Tasmanian beekeepers in the making of leatherwood honey, a noted monofloral honey that has been recognised by the international Slow Food movement in its Ark of Taste. For many years, the Tasmanian Beekeepers' Association has had to lobby the Tasmanian government to ensure continued access to this resource, and to protect it from logging.
Much of the leatherwood is difficult to access, growing deep within the forests of Tasmania's wild west coast. Beekeepers from Tasmania camp in the forest during the leatherwood harvest, which occurs between January and March.
It is widespread and common in moister forests in Tasmania, occurring mainly across the western parts of the state, from the northwest in such places as the Tarkine and through the South West Wilderness. It grows as an understorey plant and prefers wetter climates of 1500–2500 mm annual rainfall.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Eucryphia lucida by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
