Eucalypts have proven to be reliable and adaptable over a wide range of environments but many are too large for small suburban properties so some care is needed in their selection. In addition, consideration needs to be given to the natural environment and climate of the species being considered. If this is vastly different to that of the local environment, alternative selections may be more satisfactory. The table below summarises features of about 20 popular species as well as indicating some selection criteria for each.

Pests of Eucalypts

There are quite a number of pests which can attack eucalypts and which may require control in a garden situation. Leaf chewing insects are probably the main concern but, unless damage is severe, there is little reason to resort to chemical controls. Regular observation will enable removal by hand for trees which are being established and, if a few chewed leaves can be tolerated, birds will often keep the infestations in check on larger specimens. Sometimes insects such as "Christmas beetles" can appear in plague proportions and cause severe defoliation which is beyond the ability of the bird population to control. If access is possible, the beetles can be shaken off, collected and disposed of.

Lerps and scale can also cause problems. These are sap-sucking insects and can cause a tree to lose vigour. Again, birds will normally keep them under control but often a strong jet of water directed at the pests will also dislodge them. This may need to be carried out several times. If this is not successful, the traditional treatment with white oil is usually effective.

Some insects lay their eggs into leaves or twigs forming "galls" in which the next generation develop. To prevent hatching of the adults, galls can be removed by hand and burnt. Often, however, only a few galls occur and are unlikely to damage the tree to any serious extent. They are sometimes attractively coloured and of interesting shapes which can be appreciated as part of the local garden environment. Wasps, flies and thrips are among the gall-forming insects.

People sometimes worry about the appearance of mistletoe on a tree but this is usually unwarranted. These parasitic plants are commonly seen on eucalypts as ovoid-shaped clumps of foliage hanging from the tree's branches. Mistletoes and their hosts have evolved together and, unless the host tree is unhealthy, one or two mistletoe clumps should not cause any problems. In fact they can also be enjoyed as part of the overall garden environment and the fruit may attract the beautiful mistletoe bird.

Once a tree gets to a reasonable size, control of pests by hand removal will be impractical. If serious damage is being caused, it may be necessary to seek advice from the local Agricultural Department.