Quick Answer

They can live for 200-400 years.

We live in USDA Hardiness Zone 10A, which is similar to Temperate Southern Australia where the same eucalyptus trees live 400-500 years.

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The Long Answer

This myth is used to justify eucalyptus removal. Precipitating marine air keeps them cooler and less likely to fail or burn, which has been confirmed by local fire authorities.

The Forest Action Brigade requests correction of the public record regarding lifespan of eucalyptus

Some sources say Eucalyptus are not more flammable than other vegetation. There are certainly other political motivations to remove Eucalyptus than for fire safety. See our references below.

They do NOT usually fuel most California wildfires. They are part of some of the fires. Lots of fires are being blamed on Eucalyptus trees. Even our local fire fighters say they do NOT explode.

References:

Fire scientist says, “…eucalyptus did not burn with high intensities leading to home destruction”

The Atlantic, The Great Eucalyptus Debate

Once and for all — trees do not explode

Cutting trees won’t help us live with fire:

Quick Answer

Soil temperatures and fire danger increase from tree removal. 

All Trees keep the ground wet and cool, and help drive the water cycle.

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Long Answer

A large tree can push 150 tons of water into the atmosphere each year, which then returns as rain. With a vast reduction of trees, the ground will heat up and dry out, resulting in unpredictable wildfires.

Reference

To Protect Our Water Sources, Plant A Tree

Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands (all trees cool the planet)

Quick Answer

While Eucalyptus may absorb more water than other trees, all coastal trees, including eucalyptus, absorb water from the marine layer through their leaves and moisten the earth below.

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The Long Answer

If they absorb more water, that would prove they transpire more water into the air and/or hold it inside meaning they contain of a large percent of water. They are, in fact, 75-80% water.

Our trees are primarily Monterey pine, cypress, and eucalyptus absorbing up to 50% or more of their needed moisture from the marine layer through their leaves. The trees remain dense, damp and cool within, including the root system and ground, which sustains ground water.

By soaking up storm water, trees add capacity for the soil to store even more water. Root growth also breaks up compacted soil, which allows water to more easily move downward in the groundwater table.

References:

Why Eucalyptus?

To Protect Our Water Sources, Plant A Tree

Water is vital. We manage our water with trees/plants/forests

Eucalyptus: the Bessings of a Damned Tree

Quick Answer

Some plants may not grow under them, but many herbaceous plants, ground covers, shrubs and woody plants do grow in eucalyptus forests. For proof just look what grows in Quarry Park or what is planted next to them at Pacific Grove Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary.

… “blue gum extracts had no effect on germination of the native species studied.”

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The Long Answer

A study by Kristen Nelson for her 2016 Master’s Thesis at CalPoly explored the impact of field-collected soils on the germination of native plant species using blue gum leaf extracts. She concluded that blue gum extracts had no effect on germination of the native species studied. The concentration of the extracts was matched to what would normally be found in a field environment. 

A 2021 study published in the National Library of Medicine/National Center for Biotechnology Information found eucalyptus globulus soil supported germination and early seedling growth of native species equal to or better than coastal scrub soil with variable species responses.

EVALUATING THE MYTH OF ALLELOPATHY IN CALIFORNIA BLUE GUM PLANTATIONS:

Testing an invasion mechanism for Eucalyptus globulus: Is there evidence of allopathy?

Eucalyptus: the Bessings of a Damned Tree

Over 40 species of birds have been identified in Sutro Forest in San Francisco, which mimics the Coastside eucalyptus forests.

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The Long Answer

Over 100 species of birds use the trees either briefly or as a permanent habitat.

The high branches of eucalyptus trees are filled with songbirds every morning. Without raptor and owl habitat, we will likely experience an increase in rodent populations. Eucalyptus are a favored roosting place for Great-Horned Owls and nesting place for many species of raptors. Great Blue Herons hunt gophers in the eucalyptus groves on the coast. A pair of red-shouldered hawks have nested in the Balboa Circle for the past 3 breeding seasons. Numerous red-tailed hawks and other raptors are commonly seen in other median trees.

These birds keep rodent populations at bay without the use of pesticides which can kill our pets and wildlife, including apex predators. An adult male and female owl and their young eat three to four rats a day. In one year, this owl family can catch more than 1,000 rats.

References:

Research Letter - Equal diversity in disparate species assemblages: a comparison of native and exotic woodlands in California

Pollinators and many insects thrive in the Eucalyptus

GET RID OF THEM!

We hear many people speak of Eucalyptus out of fear. They say things like: “They are non-native weeds! They should all be removed!” Yes, they are non-native and they are everywhere throughout California. Please consider, it would be impossible to remove them all, and think about what our landscape would look like if we did? And then, think about the consequences of clear cutting: megatons of carbon emisssions which goes staight to greenhouse gasses and megatons lost in carbon capture. Does this make sense during climate change? Then think full circle on this- massive herbicides needed to prevent re-growth washing into our watershed polluting the streams, soil, and the ocean where people surf, swim and fish. Then, think about the loss of habitat and ecosystems that have developed to live in these forests overtime. They are naturalized trees. They may cause problems, but it causes many more problems to remove large sections at a time. We ask people to consider their rhetoric when speaking about these trees. Let’s think of a more educated and balanced way to talk about them. Let’s look at their benefits and their problems. It is not all or nothing. We need to find balance. That is what nature does. Humans have trouble living in harmony with nature. We tend to want to dominate and organize everything around us, and many times that kills off nature and in turn leads to problems for us. We can’t see how we directly affect ourselves in this circle. We are too short sited.

THE NATIVE PLANT ONLY MOVEMENT

There is a movement in the government to remove non-native or “invasive” plant species from parklands. The theory is that if non-natives are removed, natives will grow back. Some claim this works in certain areas and it sometimes does. However, has this been taken too far? We should always question government agencies. The plan for Quarry Park is to remove and thin out many Eucalyptus trees without planting any natives or other trees back. You can see the what the massive removal of trees has left there. They use words like Eucalyptus eradication as a term for future plans. Fire breaks are important, but research shows that the more you remove trees and fuel loads deeper into the forest, the less fire prevention impact you will have on a nearby town.. Also, the 2022 Scoping Project stated that Quarry Park is not a high risk wildfire area based on the shape and topography of it. The County logic is that trees did not exist here 100 years ago, so any tree in this area would not be native. They think it all needs to return to scrub brush. But what about how the landscape looked 1000 years ago or 10,000 years ago. Why stop at 100 years? What was native then, does not necessarily thrive here anymore and we are not considering the climate has changed. GGNRA park service is currently cutting down all trees in the Rancho Del Corral De Tierra because they say they are returning all to native grass lands and trees don’t mix with the native grasses. At least they are replanting native grasses there. And what does this mean for the Cypress Tree Grove at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve? By the same philosophy, we should take those out too? Do we really want them to take trees out of the parks? Does this make sense to re-do the landscape releasing megatons of carbon, to promote and native only landscape? We don’t want tree shade in the parks anymore? Does it make sense during climate change to release this much greenhouse gas carbon into our atmosphere by removing megaton carbon sequestering trees? What about finding a way for natives and non-natives to co-exist without wiping out one entire species because WE think that is what is best for nature? Haven’t we made too many mistakes like this before trying to wipe out a “bad” species only to realize later the benefits we lost from added diversity? El Granada Advocates thinks natives and non-natives can co-exist while we keep non-natives in check by pulling saplings and collecting seeds, thinning out small trees, but keeping large Mature trees that sequester massive amounts of carbon.

EUCALYPTUS FIRE THREAT

These trees have been described as torches that will 100% set your house on fire in a wildfire. Is this hype? Did you know your home is more flammable than a Eucalyptus tree? Think about the petroleium products and dried wood most homes are made from. Look at the facts about the Paradise fire and the Scripps fire below. Could trees and especially Ecalyptus trees be a scapegoat for the government or big business failings in massive wildfire tragedies? Is it really the trees fault? We can hold ourselves accountable and create defensive space around our homes and make fire resistant improvements to our homes. We can also volunteer for CERT (our local Community Emergency Response Team) to be alerted to and help with emergencies in the community. There are risks to living in such a beautiful area so intertwined with wild lands and nature. We knew those risks when we moved here. If some people find it too stressful to live here because of those risks, they should seriously reconsider where they live. You cannot cut down all the trees around you to save yourself and expect to live in a beautiful spot.