Eucalyptus: decorative foliage, essential oil and key precautions
Eucalyptus comes from Australia and decorates bouquets and wreaths. Origin, introduction to Europe, decorative uses, the danger of the oil for children and animals, and fire.
Key points
| Botanical name | Eucalyptus globulus (Tasmanian blue gum) and other species, including E. cinerea and E. gunnii for decoration |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Origin | Australia (blue gum: south-east Australia and Tasmania) |
| Main compound | 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) |
| Scent | Fresh, camphor-like, penetrating, minty |
| Introduction to Europe | In the 19th century (Portugal, around 1860) |
| Main precaution | Oil is dangerous if swallowed, for children and for animals |
What is eucalyptus?
The genus Eucalyptus, in the Myrtaceae family, has several hundred species, almost all from Australia. The blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus), native to south-east Australia and Tasmania, is the best known in perfumery and in drugstores. Its young leaves are bluish and round, its adult leaves long and curved. The “eucalyptus” sold by florists is often E. cinerea or E. gunnii, with round grey-blue leaves.
Introduced to Europe in the 19th century, eucalyptus established itself in Portugal around 1860 (Sintra), then in Spain and elsewhere, sometimes planted for its rapid growth. In 1870, the chemist Cloez identified the dominant compound of the oil, which he named “eucalyptol”; it is now more often called 1,8-cineole.
Decorative uses
- Fresh branches in bouquets: they hold well in water, smell fresh, and are fashionable in showers: hung near the steam, they release their scent. They do not replace a hygiene product.
- Dried or preserved branches: they keep their colour for a long time. “Preserved” branches have been treated with glycerine and sometimes dyed; do not burn them.
- Wreaths and garlands: beautiful in leaf, but keep them away from candles: dry foliage is flammable.
The scent of a fresh bouquet fades within a few days. To revive it, lightly crush a few leaves.
Choosing and caring for a bouquet
A good eucalyptus bouquet has firm leaves, without brown spots, and a clean smell. Cut the stems at an angle, remove leaves that sit in the water, and change the water every two or three days: it then lasts one to two weeks. To dry it, leave it without water, upside down: the leaves curl slightly and turn grey-green. If you have a cat or dog that chews plants, place the bouquet out of reach: leaves swallowed in quantity can cause vomiting. In a garden, a single tree is enough to supply stems every year, but eucalyptus grows fast and vigorously; plant it away from houses and pipes.
Fumigation: avoid or use in very small doses
Dried eucalyptus leaves burn with a dense, acrid smoke, which can irritate the eyes and throat. The leaves contain flammable oils; dry foliage can flare up more quickly than that of other plants. We do not recommend regular use. If you want the scent of eucalyptus, prefer a fresh bouquet or a decoration. In Australia, smoking ceremonies are Indigenous rites using plants chosen by each community; they are not gestures to be reproduced lightly.
Essential oil: the real danger
Eucalyptus essential oil is a powerful product. Its main compound, cineole, is toxic if swallowed: serious poisonings have been described in young children from just a few millilitres. Poison control centres regularly record accidents of this kind with essential oils of all kinds. In addition:
- never apply it near the nose or face of a young child;
- avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding without medical advice;
- do not diffuse it in the presence of animals: dogs, cats and horses are sensitive to cineole, and high doses cause vomiting, tremors or convulsions;
- do not mix it with cleaning products or with “homemade” candles;
- if swallowed, do not induce vomiting: call 15 (in France) or 112 (the emergency number throughout the European Union), or a poison control centre, immediately.
A tree, a landscape, a debate
Eucalyptus is today widely planted in Portugal and Spain, mainly for paper pulp. It is at the centre of a debate: many people hold it responsible for making forest fires worse, because its litter and bark burn easily; other studies show that the risk depends above all on how the plantations are managed. When buying, foliage of clear origin (France, Italy, Portugal, or controlled cultivation) is preferable to a batch with no indication.
Frequently asked questions
Can eucalyptus be burned?
This is not recommended: the smoke is acrid, dry foliage is flammable, and the oil it contains is irritating. Prefer a fresh bouquet.
Is eucalyptus oil safe?
No. If swallowed, even in a small dose, it is dangerous, especially for children. Applied undiluted to the skin or diffused near animals, it also carries risks.
Is eucalyptus toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes, if large quantities of leaves are eaten, and especially concentrated oil. Keep bouquets out of reach.
Why do people put eucalyptus in the shower?
For decoration and scent: the steam releases the smell of the leaves. It is not a treatment.
How do I dry eucalyptus?
Hang small bunches upside down, in a dry place away from light, for two to three weeks.
Also read
The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Herbs, waxes and accessories.