Re: Eucalyptus Trees: Good or Bad?


I was wondering how other landscape designers in
warmer parts of the world/other mediterannean climates
felt about the merits/problems with Eucalyptus trees. 
Unfortunately they have developed an unfair reputation
here in California as being "bad" trees, for various
reasons.  Many feel that they outcompete the native
plants of California, can become escaped weeds, are
more of a fire hazard than other types of trees, can
lower the water table due to their insatiable thirst
and deep roots, are now vulnerable to introduced pests
and early decline due to native pests from Australia
having arrived in California, and/or are inappropriate
for California because they aren't native.  The end
result is that the bad press they have received has
made them a lot less planted than they were in the
past, and within our lifetimes they may become much
less a part of the "look" of the urban and
agricultural California landscape.  I feel that this
would be an esthetic loss, and can't imagine what
towns like Santa Barbara or Highway 101 through the
Salinas Valley or Golden Gate Park would be like
without their ubiquitous Eucs...

I could write an essay why in my personal opinion many
of these attitudes are unjust, but would fail to
persuade many true believers of all Eucalyptus being
bad for California landscapes.  I do  feel it a bit
sad that we don't have ongoing plantings of majestic
species such as E. viminalis as magnificent windbreaks
or skyline trees in larger parks, and even E. globulus
can be magnificent in the right setting.  Having said
that, I would not want to plant one in my own
backyard!  Some of the more commonly available Euc's
that are particularly good for California have fallen
out of favor, and might include:
E. polyanthemos/Silver Dollar Gum-great grey foliage,
and even good as a lawn tree
E. nicholii/Peppermint Eucalyptus-beautiful furrowed
bark and willow like foliage, Solano Avenue here in
Berkeley/Albany used to have these as street trees,
and although they were damaging the sidewalks in some
locations because they were not given enough planter
room, they were beautiful.
E. ficifolia/Red Flowering Gum-one of the glories of
coastal California for incredible showy bloom,(equal
to Delonix regia or Tabebuia for vivid color), and so
difficult to grow elsewhere, but so easy here in
coastal California
E. citriodora/Lemon Gum-beautiful tall growing narrow
tree with smooth white bark, and can be planted close
to buildings without damage to foundations, a true
designer's tree

These are just a few of my personal favorites, and
none of them are as commonly planted now in the 1990's
and presently as they were in the 1970's.  I'd be
interested to hear from other people as to their
favorite Euc's here in California or in other
mediterannean/warm temperate climates.  I also
remember seeing many species in Arizona which are not
at all common here in California, and are great medium
sized, drought tolerant shade trees for hot desert
climates or harsh situations in general, such as E.
spathulata/narrow Leaved Gimlet, and E. microtheca,
both of which are more deserving of being planted here
in California as well.

Just one note on Eucalyptus globulus as being more of
a hazard than other trees, it has been conclusively
proven that Blue Gums are actually less combustible
than our native Monterey Pines/Pinus radiata,
especially so in the Oakland Hills Fire of a decade
ago.  Any tall tree in high winds would be capable of
spreading burning embers, and Blue Gum has less oils
then many pines.  The only trees that did seem to have
a dampening effect on the spread of fire in the
inferno, were our native Coast Live Oak/Quercus
agrifolia, and Coast Redwood/Sequoia sempervirens.  In
may cases these two species were singed, rather than
burnt to a crisp, and often survived to regrow, while
other adjacent species were completely consumed. 


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