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Ornamentals Produce Facts English
Eucalyptus
Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Maturity & Quality
Description Eucalyptus spp. The silvery-green leaves of the juvenile form of Eucalyptus pulverulenta are a very popular foliage item, used in fresh and dried form. A number of other species of Eucalyptus also are used as cut foliage. Eucalyptus is Greek for well and lid, referring to the sepals and petals, which are united to form a cap that is shed when the flower opens, revealing the showy colored stamens. As with other foliage, Eucalyptus performs better in the vase if the leaves are mature. Branches are harvested so as to provide long stem lengths, but leaving growing points behind for the development of new branches. Stem tips should not be wilted at time of purchase. Quality foliage is bright blue-green in color, has undamaged leaves, and is uniform in length. Eucalyptus branches are sold in grower bunches by weight, usually as 1 pound bunches. Eucalyptus branches are not sensitive to ethylene, but if the foliage is poorly handled, is warm, and water-stressed, it can produce concentrations of ethylene that could damage ethylene-sensitive flowers that have not been treated with 1-MCP or STS. No pretreatments are required. Eucalyptus foliage should be stored at 0-1°C. Eucalyptus is normally packed in horizontal fiberboard boxes without additional packing materials. Handle this species with gloves to prevent hands from becoming sticky. Eucalyptuses are native to areas like Australia and Tasmania but over 200 species have been introduced elsewhere. As a result, this species predominates in certain woodlands in California. Many florists believe eucalyptus gives off a lot of ethylene because of its strong fragrance. In fact, most species and cultivars do not produce excessive amounts of ethylene gas, although some will produce potentially detrimental quantities of ethylene if they become water stressed. Hence, make sure this species is properly hydrated. Eucalyptus can be treated with various colored glycerin-based solutions, which result in preserved specimens. Australian and Israeli researchers are investigating the possible use of Eucalyptus as flowering branches, and we may expect to see this interesting item increasing in the trade in the future.
Date
October 2004 |
Use of Materials
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Except for these specified uses, no part of the textual materials available on the UC Postharvest Technology Center Web site may be copied, downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, further transmitted or otherwise reproduced, stored, disseminated, transferred or used, in any form or by any means, except as permitted herein or with the University of California's prior written agreement. Request permission from UC Postharvest Technology Center. Distribution for commercial purposes is prohibited.
The information in this fact sheet represents our best understanding of the current state of knowledge at the time of the latest update, and does not represent an exhaustive review of all research results. Links to any of these UC Postharvest Technology Center pages are permitted, but no endorsement of the linking site or products mentioned in the linking page is intended or implied by such a link.
How to Cite
Author(s) names. Initial publication or update date (located at the top). Title. Link to the specific Produce Fact Sheet webpage (Accessed date)
Example: Cantwell, M. and T. Suslow. 2002. Lettuce, Crisphead: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality.
http://ucanr.edu/sites/Postharvest_Technology_Center_/Commodity_Resources/Fact_Sheets/Datastores/Vegetables_English/?uid=19&ds=799 (Accessed January 18, 2014).
