River red gum
Australian tree planted along Mediterranean coasts; it gives plenty of nectar and pollen in the summer dearth and produces amber eucalyptus honey.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
- Crystallisation
- Medium
- Height
- 20-40 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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River red gum is native to Australia; in Turkey it was planted on the Çukurova plain, around Tarsus, Antalya and along the Aegean coast to drain marshes and as windbreaks. It gives plenty of nectar and pollen and provides an important flow during the summer shortage of flowers. Secretion increases in hot, humid weather.
Flowering
In Turkey it usually flowers between June and September, and some trees flower a second time in autumn. Flowering intensity can be irregular from year to year. In its native Australia it flowers in the summer months (December-February).
Honey and pollen
Eucalyptus honey is amber-coloured, with a distinctive scent and a slightly caramel-like taste; it crystallises at a moderate rate. It is produced as a monofloral honey in Italy, Spain and Turkey. Pollen is also collected in abundance.
Note for the beekeeper
Eucalyptus stands are valuable as a midsummer migration site. In some regions, such as the Iberian Peninsula, eucalyptus plantations are controversial because they suppress the natural vegetation.