Eucalyptus regnans · Myrtaceae (myrtle family)
Mountain ash is the tallest flowering plant in the world. Only the coast redwood grows taller.
Quick facts
| Scientific name | Eucalyptus regnans |
| Family | Myrtaceae (myrtle family) |
| Native range | Victoria and Tasmania, southeastern Australia |
| Habitat | Cool, wet mountain forests |
| Typical height | 70–90 m (record ~100 m) |
| Lifespan | Up to 400–500 years |
| IUCN status | Least Concern (LC) |
Overview
Mountain ash is a eucalyptus that dominates the cool, rainy forests of Victoria’s Central Highlands and Tasmania. A tree in Tasmania named Centurion measures about 100 m, making it the tallest known flowering plant.
How to identify it
The lower trunk has rough, fibrous bark, while the upper trunk and branches are smooth, pale and shed long ribbons of bark. Leaves are long, narrow and hang downward to reduce water loss.
Ecology
Unlike many eucalypts, mountain ash is usually killed by intense fire. It regenerates from huge numbers of seeds released after a blaze, creating even-aged forests. Old hollow trees provide homes for animals like the endangered Leadbeater’s possum.
Conservation
The species itself is listed as Least Concern, but the old-growth mountain ash ecosystem in Victoria is considered critically endangered because of past logging and repeated bushfires.
