They tower over shopping centers, public parks, major boulevards and highways, and theme parks.
Eucalyptus trees are the largest and most notable trees on the Southern California skyline.
But despite their ubiquity in Southland neighborhoods, these mighty evergreens are actually not native to Southern California.
Their story is a testament to the rapid global interest in California that arose suddenly a little over 150 years ago.
FACTS ABOUT THE EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus trees are the tallest flowering plants on earth. While there are more than 660 species, they share the commonality of being native to Australia, Tasmania and nearby South Pacific islands.
From medicinal eucalyptus oil to eucalyptus wood that is good for fuel, construction and fencing, these trees are economic powerhouses in the land down under, though they aren’t as economically valuable in Southern California.
Californians are familiar with the claim that the coast Redwood, found along the North Coast and Pacific Northwest, is the world’s tallest tree.
But many botanists believe that eucalyptus trees have attained the greatest height.
According to Canadian plant biologist Al Carder, the tallest tree ever recorded was a 435-foot eucalyptus at Watts River, Victoria, Australia, reported in 1872. There have been unverified claims of trees as high as 500 feet!
The eucalyptus’ journey across the Pacific In 1849, California went from a little-known backwater of the former Spanish Empire to the envy of the world almost overnight, with the discovery of gold in the Sacramento region.
Prospectors came from around the world, including Australia. And these Australian immigrants brought seed packets of eucalyptus with them, which performed well in the comparable climate of the Golden State.
By the early 1900s, eucalyptus trees were a staple of urban landscape and windbreaks to protect farmlands from the strong Santa Ana winds that blast canyon regions in the fall and winter.
DANGERS AND BENEFITS
In more recent decades, scientists and developers have come to recognize that not all is well with Southern California’s eucalyptus trees. The oil and bark burn easily, helping wildfires spread. Eucalyptus trees can turn deadly if they fall during windstorms or rainy weather. And uncared for eucalyptus trees can damage buildings over time. Increasingly, the tree is recognized as an invasive species. But that still leaves thousands of older eucalyptuses on public and private property across California. If there is a eucalyptus tree at your home or business, consider reaching out to an arborist to ensure it is healthy and being cared for properly, and take some time to admire these monoliths that easily live 200 to 400 years, a connection with our past and an investment in our future.