Re: Eucalyptus Trees: Good or Bad?

David, et. al.:

1)  Eucalyptus, from a landscape design use view, are
like so many other genera of plants: there are so
many, it is easy to use the wrong one in the wrong
place (or is that a double negative?).  I compare them
to Juniperus, Acer, bambusoids, etc..  

The challenge, as you have noted, is to find the RIGHT
one for the site.  And there are plenty of RIGHT ones.
 Even professional plantsmen (including architects)
have a rough time "specking" appropriate species, much
less asking an amateur to select the RIGHT one from a
measly handful at the local nursery.  Good growers
ignore this comment: there are too many bad growers
who grow only what will grow quickly and easily in a
nursery container and that almost always leaves the
wrong kind from home gardens.

In addition to the handful which you suggested, there
are a dozen more (at least) that deserve more
"marketing".

2)  On the other hand, I am not the romantic that
believes we should continue to plant (or prevent
destruction of) Eucalyptus glob. and vim. just for
their "historical" value.  If anything, I'm afriad
they're the monument to our many mistakes in
Eucalyptus use.

3)  I have not seen any evidence either for or
against, but I believe that among the Eucalyptus,
there are those which "gobble" water and those which
do not.

4)  Eucalpytus, from a weed standpoint, are
"opportunists and pioneers", as are almost all of our
worst weeds.  They sprout where the land has been
modified, graded, interrupted, disturbed, or otherwise
raped.  My personal observation is that Eucalyptus are
great weeds on sites where the natives already have
been disposed of.  I have not seen ANY sites where
Eucalpytus have invaded strong colonies of California
natives nor have I seen ANY sites even where
Eucalyptus are "pushing out" week colonies of natives.

Keep in mind that I am a firm believer in PRESERVING
native plants.  Where the natives have long been
vanquished, however, I feel it fair to be able to put
in any and all "appropriate" plants (= those native to
Mediterranean climates).  Just as we build a 2-story
home rather than live in caves.

Joe Seals
Santa Maria, CA
Where the cool, moist winter of a typical
Mediterranean climate sits upon my house.

--- david feix <davidfeix@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> 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.  

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