Eucalyptus camaldulensis - red eucalyptus (forest bush)

Genus of over 500 species of evergreen trees and shrubs, present in all habitats with the exception of particularly arid ones, mostly in Australia, but also in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is a large, fast-growing evergreen tree. In our latitudes, it can reach 25-30 m in height, while in nature it reaches 40-50 m in height. It is a very long-lived species, easy to cultivate. The foliage is erect and expansive with robust branches that spread majestically from the main trunk. The bark is thin and spongy, reddish when young, later grey. A peculiarity of many Eucalyptus species as well as E. camaldulensis is the moulting of the bark, which generally occurs at the end of summer. The bark detaches from the trunk and main branches, revealing the new ivory-white bark. This spectacle is nothing short of astonishing when the old bark crumples revealing the new one with vivid colours. The leaves are lanceolate, 10-18 cm long, olive green in colour, leathery and very aromatic. Eucalyptol is extracted from its leaves, an oil widely used in medicine and herbal medicine. The flowers, which are small and whitish in colour, appear at the beginning of summer and are much visited by bees. E. camaldulensis is a species commonly used in beekeeping for honey production.

Pedoclimatic needs

It prefers sunny exposures and loose, deep soil. It resists drought, but benefits during the dry season with frequent and regular watering. This eucalyptus is not rustic and does not tolerate intense and prolonged frosts, resisting up to -3°/-5°C for short periods. This majestic species is often used as a windbreak, for the reclamation of marshy land and in parks and gardens as an ornamental species.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Family: Myrtaceae