Bluegums & Eucalyptus: Benefits, Risks & Growing Guide (2025)

By the end of this section you will have learnt

0.)About Blue gums and Eucalyptus

1.)Eucalyptus Common names

2.)Bluegum Statistics in Kenya

2.1)Popular Eucalyptus Species

3.)List of Different Eucalyptus Trees

4.)Uses Of Blue Gum Tree

5.)Blue gum seedlings and Sellers

6.)Advantages of Bluegum

7.)Disadvantages of Eucalyptus

About Bluegums and Eucalyptus

 The difference between Eucalyptus and Bluegum is that Blue Gum tree is scientifically known as Eucalyptus globulus and Bluegum is a word evident with most though bluegum is a one of the different species of Eucalyptus.

The Eucalyptus Tree are native to Australia ,and in every state and territory there is a representative species .The Eucalyptus is a genus with more than 700 species .The Eucalyptus have barks that are either smooth, fibrous, hard or stringy.

Study of Forests and Woods is termed as Silvology .

All Eucalyptus add a layer of bark every year and the outermost layer dies. Eucalyptus trees have become especially popular in commercial forestry, agroforestry, and smallholder farming systems.

In Kenya, Bluegum is predominantly grown in highland areas such as Elburgon and Njoro

On one acre, you can plant up to 1,300 eucalyptus trees.- Big Branch farms

The woody fruits or capsules are roughly cone-shaped and have valves at the end which open to release the seeds, which are waxy, rod-shaped, about 1 mm in length, and yellow-brown in color. Eucalyptus species were introduced in Kenya as early as 1902 by the colonial government to provide energy for the locomotives

However with blue gum it has allelopathic traits thus , releasing chemicals that harm other plants.

A Bluegum Forest Just few minutes from Msafiri In Naromoru ,Nyeri county

The woody fruits or capsules from the Eucalyptus tree are roughly cone-shaped and have valves at the end which open to release the seeds, which are waxy, rod-shaped, about 1 mm in length, and yellow-brown in color .

We had a Farmer who earned 12,000 per tree as the power company was able to extract utility poles from each mature tree-Big Branch Farms

Image of Bluegum poles

A very choosy tree. Loves plenty of water and rich fertile soils for it to get to those tall heights ,competes and colonizes whatever is around it and a darling of KPLC nonetheless. -Nick Ogola

Eucalyptus Common Names

In Kamba Language it is referred to as Musanduku,In Kikuyu Language it is referred to as Munyua Mai, In Kisii Language it is referred to as Omoringamu. In Luo Language it is referred to as Bao .In swahili language it is referred to as Mtimbao

Bluegum Statistics in Kenya

One acre you can plant up to 850 Cypress trees -Big branch farm

Image of Bluegum poles at St Gabriel Catholic Church used for Shutter

• The contribution of Eucalyptus species. to the national economy is estimated at a value exceeding Ksh 1.6 billion excluding non-traded domestic and small scale enterprises

• Latest statistics records area under Eucalyptus spp. in the country at about 100,000 hectares

• There are a number of notable Eucalyptus species distributed in different climatic conditions all over Kenya. They include; Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus. saligna, Eucalyptus. globulus, Eucalyptus regnans, Eucalyptus. paniculata, Eucalyptus. maculata, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Eucalyptus urophylla and Eucalyptus. hybrids

  It's crucial to avoid planting Blue Gum trees near crops, buildings, or water bodies due to their extensive root systems and high water uptake. The Kenya Forest Service advises against planting eucalyptus in riparian zones, wetlands, or areas with limited water availability.

•  100 species have been planted in the country. Most of these were subjected to extensive research and currently less than 20 species have been recommended for wide scale planting.

• The area under Eucalyptus species in the country is estimated to be about 100,000 hectares of plantations, 15,000 Ha in gazetted forests, about 35,000 Ha planted by private companies and 50,000 Ha by farmers.

• planting of Eucalyptus in land sizes of less than quarter (1/4) of an Acre is not recommended

• Eucalyptus grandis (Rose gum) and Eucalyptus saligna (Blue gum) are the ones which are recommended for growing in Uasin Gishu.

While demand is high, middlemen often exploit farmers, offering low prices by forming tree-grower cooperatives helps increase bargaining power.

• Different Eucalyptus species. are suited for different agro-ecological zones and instead of whole sale condemnation of the species without offering alternatives, farmers need to be guided on areas where to plant and where not to plant them

•  There are areas where the species should not be grown. These areas are; wetlands and marshy areas, riparian areas, around lakes, ponds, swamps, estuary, sea shores and any other body of standing water, irrigated farm lands and areas with less than 400mm of rainfall.

• The best areas to plant Eucalyptus species include; marginal lands degraded through soil erosion and loss of soil fertility, planting as shelter belts and wind breaks on large scale farms, on areas with saline soils, water logged areas for purposes of draining the area for agricultural production and on farm lands as plantations or woodlots

• Eucalyptus species is known to exudates allelopathic chemicals that inhibit undergrowth regeneration

• Scientific studies have however established that Eucalyptus species exhibit high efficiency in water use for biomass accumulation. Eucalyptus species require 785 litres of water to produce 1 Kg of biomass compared to cotton / coffee / bananas which require 3,200 litres, sunflower 2,400 litres, and maize, potato and sorghum 1,000 litres

Image of a rainbow Eucalyptus by Carnations Landscapes

• Seeds are sowed in a nursery where they take 7-14 days to germinate. When the seedlings have two leaves, they are placed into individual containers or polythene sleeves.

• The seedlings should be protected from excess sunlight, wind, weeds, pests and diseases. Watering should be done twice a day preferably in the morning and evening.

• Avoid overwatering. Root pruning should be done at least twice if seedlings are grown in pots. The seedlings are ready for transplanting when they are 25-35cm in height or after 4-5 months. Planting should be done at the onset of the rains.

• The spacing to be used depends on the use of the tree and the agro ecological zone. In high potential areas, a spacing of 2-2.5m by 2-2.5m is adopted while in arid and semi-arid areas, a spacing of 3m by 3m is used. Make sure you scout for pests and diseases during the first two years of growth.

• Harvesting time depends on the use of the tree, for fuelwood and rails from 3 years, poles and pulp from 6-8 years, for transmission poles from 8-10 years and for timber from 15-20 years. Eucalyptus grandis can be used for timber, transmission poles, construction poles, firewood, charcoal and pulpwood.

• Eucalyptus saligna is widely used for poles, posts, timber, pulpwood, furniture, veneer and shelterbelts. Kenya Forest Service recommends that eucalyptus should not be planted in riparian or marshy areas, wetlands, and near a water body.

• The trees should not be planted near buildings or on road reserves as the branches and stems of some species easily break off.

• It is good to plant eucalyptus in areas that have been degraded by soil erosion, marginal lands, waterlogged areas (to drain the area) and areas with saline soils.

• High quality seeds can be sourced from

Popular Eucalyptus Species

Eucalyptus grandis 

Also known as Rose Gum or Flooded Gum and is Ideal for timber and fast-growing plantations.

Eucalyptus camaldulensis 

Highly drought-tolerant and used in semi-arid areas.

Eucalyptus globulus 

Also known as Tasmanian Blue gum it is Known for its strong medicinal properties.

Eucalyptus saligna 

Used for poles, timber, and furniture.

The difference between Eucalyptus Grandis and Eucalyptus Salgina is the growth rate and maturity period. Eucalyptus Saligna takes 8 to 10 yrs and grows 1 to 2m per yr ,regrows after cutting. Eucalyptus Grandis takes 5 to 6 yrs to mature with a growth rate of 2 to 4m per yr regrows after cutting

List of Different Eucalyptus Trees

Eucalyptus Grandis

Eucalyptus Salgina

Eucalyptus. globulus

 Eucalyptus regnans

Eucalyptus. paniculata

Eucalyptus. maculata

Eucalyptus camaldulensis

Eucalyptus citriodora

Eucalyptus tereticornis

Eucalyptus urophylla

Eucalyptus. hybrids

Uses Of Blue Gum Tree

All Eucalyptus species have high biomass conversion rate

Firewood

charcoal with very high calorific value

Construction poles

building materials

fencing posts,

Apiculture (rearing of bees) Due to the flower

Pharmaceutical

transmission poles

timber

 plywood

Pulpwood

Carbon credit

Mulch

Windbreaker

Blue gum Seeds and seedlings

Imaeg of Eucalyptus Grandis Seedling by Mido Phelix

A Kilogram of Bluegum seeds at KEFRI cost 5000Ksh while most nursery owners such as Miche holding sell at the same rate Bluegum Seeds take 14-21 days in order to germinate and start as two leaves ,a kilogram of Eucalyptus has on average 300,000 seeds and can produce 210,000 seedlings . Blue gum seedlings cost 15Ksh from major nurseries however the price of the seedling varies with the size of the blue gum seedling

Here is a List of Blue gum Seedling Sellers

Mibei	0724326858
Biotech Karura	0712465244
Abel Gary	0721964231
Bamboo AndPlants	0708706616

Disadvantages of Eucalyptus

The Eucalyptus tree had brought alot of heated debate as to whether it should be uprooted from Farmers land as they really make an area really dry as the trees really consume a lot of Water. Blue gum Tree is known as Monyua mae in Kikuyu meaning (monyua -drink) (mae-water) therefore a tree that really drinks a lot of water and by that .If Bluegum is planted near a stream sooner than later the stream dries up therefore to keep note where there is low rainfall as they will compete with other crops for water and also produce toxic substances (allelopathy) which will hinder the growth of other crops

Advantages of Bluegum / Eucalyptus Tree

Timber and Wood Products from Bluegum is used in Construction as it is used in building frameworks and flooring.

No replanting Eucalyptus every season since it is a one-time investment with long-term gain since after harvesting there will be no need to De-stump as the stumps can shoot to 3 Eucalyptus trees as is evident with the photo on top

Less labor and lower risk involved as there are no worries about pests, market crashes, or climate-sensitive crops.

With a Consistent demand from the construction industry, eucalyptus sells fast and strong.