The Koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus leaves are very fibrous and low in nutrition, and to most animals are extremely poisonous. To cope with such a diet, nature has equipped Koalas with specialised adaptations.

While most Red-flowering Eucalyptus bloom primarily in the summer, some will bloom sporadically throughout the year. Flat-topped flower clusters (called corymbs) are located at the ends of the branchlets, typically with 7 blooms per cluster.

Flowering season: Yellow Box usually flowers every second year from November to February, although this can vary from year to year in different locations. As with many other Eucalypts, there are some trees which blossom out of season.

And they’re basically pollinated by insects,” she said. While these species of eucalypts have pale coloured flowers, others such as the Darwin woollybutt (Eucalyptus miniata) and the large-fruited mallee (Eucalyptus youngiana) are more brightly coloured. These species flower in winter and are pollinated by birds.

They come in a range of colors, including white, bright red, vibrant orange, deep pink, and lime green. The abundance of stamens translates to an abundance of pollen. And, eucalyptus trees can use as much pollen as possible. They have few natural pollinators because of high concentrations of cineole.

Many essential oils, such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang ylang are straight up toxic to pets. These are toxic whether they are applied to the skin, used in diffusers or licked up in the case of a spill.

Instructions

1. Wash the eucalyptus leaves and place them in a pot with water and bring to a boil.
2. Turn off the heat and let them steep for 15 minutes. Reheat if necessary and strain into a cup.

And (just in case you were wondering) burning eucalyptus is not poisonous. Overall, eucalyptus is a good choice for firewood. The wood produces heat somewhat comparable to oak and it leaves a nice bed of hot coals. However, most people won’t forget the first time they tried to split it.

Eucalyptus, when it grows, is a tree with high levels of carbon capture. Eucalyptus is a great choice for firewood for several reasons, which is why at Wildwood we have dedicated eight hectares to growing these wonderful trees. For more information about our eucalyptus, contact us or call 0300 303 4963.

Fallen eucalyptus leaves create dense carpets of flammable material, and the trees’ bark peels off in long streamers that drop to the ground, providing additional fuel that draws ground fires up into the leaves, creating massive, fast-spreading “crown fires” in the upper story of eucalyptus forests.

Although eucalyptus trees burn quickly, they also regenerate fast, from buds buried deep in their inner bark. They have adapted to dry, fire-prone climes. Fires actually help spread eucalyptus, by clearing out native trees.