Tasmanian blue gum
A Tasmanian eucalypt planted widely in Iberia; it gives nectar and pollen in winter and spring and is the main source of Portuguese and Spanish eucalyptus honey.
- Nectar
- Good
- Pollen
- Good
- Flowering
- Flowering time varies with region and rainfall.
- Crystallisation
- Medium
- Height
- 30-55 m
- Life cycle
- Perennial
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Tasmanian blue gum is native to Tasmania and south-eastern Australia; it has been planted on large areas in Portugal and north-western Spain for pulp. Its large flowers open singly or in small groups and give plenty of nectar and a good amount of pollen. Secretion is strong in mild, humid weather; on cold, rainy days bees cannot fly.
Flowering
In its native range it flowers in winter and spring; in Mediterranean cultivation usually from late winter to mid-spring. Flowering is irregular from year to year.
Honey and pollen
Eucalyptus honey is amber, with a distinctive aroma of damp wood and a hint of menthol, and crystallises at a moderate rate. Early pollen brings the colonies' spring build-up forward.
Note for the beekeeper
Eucalyptus plantations in Turkey consist largely of other species, especially river red gum; this species is rare in Turkey. On the Iberian Peninsula its spread into natural forests and the increased fire risk are a matter of debate.