Eucalyptus: A Tree That's Messy, Hard to Get Rid Of, and Flammable

No doubt some people will disagree with me about this evil plant. It's been a part of the California landscape for as long as you and I can remember. But nevertheless, eucalyptus is evil, and I'll be glad to tell you why. Specifically, it's the blue gum eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus globulus), also known as the Tasmanian blue gum. Just about everywhere in California, other than mountains and desert, you will see large stands of this eucalyptus. It's very tall - 80 to 160 feet high - and has lovely bluish-gray leaves. Typically you will see large groves of it in the coastal California hills.

This eucalyptus was imported from Australia in the 19th century, with the hope that it would provide lumber for the West. But wood from the tree turned out to be terrible lumber - very dense, hard to cut, and with a tendency to twist.

However, once eucalyptus got here, it liked California very much, since its home country has a similar climate. The tree has been growing and spreading rapidly ever since.

Eucalyptus is problematic for a number of reasons. First, it is very tall, with relatively shallow roots. When the soil is wet and windy conditions arise, the trees tend to fall over easily. Large branches are prone to falling off as well. It's a hazard to people, cars, roads and buildings. You don't want this tree planted anywhere near a dwelling.

Eucalyptus wood is full of a natural aromatic oil which gives it its characteristic scent. This oil happens to make it quite flammable. When there are wildfires in California, as there often are, eucalyptus trees literally burst when on fire, shooting flaming debris over a wide area. In fact, exploding eucalyptus are blamed for the spread of the horrendous Oakland Hills fires in 1991.

On a lesser note, the bark and seeds of this tree are particularly messy, and fall constantly. The roundish seeds, about the size of a large marble, are easy to slip on. It's like trying to walk on ball bearings.