Jane Grant: Oak, pistachio or crepe myrtle are fine, but not eucalyptus

I am an amateur gardener and member of the Modesto Garden Club. I have a problem with the article “Trees’ troubles grow as watering cut amid drought” (Page A1, Aug. 3).

In it, an arborist and forestry service employee recommend several trees to plant. I agree with native oak, crepe myrtle and pistachio. I could add hawthorn, Japanese maple and elm. But eucalyptus? As a third-generation Californian growing up in Southern California, I became very familiar with the fragrance and distinct bark of the eucalyptus. Eucalyptus was used as a barrier around orange groves.

Positively, I’ve used the oil in massage therapy. But some facts totally discourage me from considering planting a eucalyptus tree. It is not native to California, but introduced from Australia in 1856. It is susceptible to a pest called the eucalyptus longhorn beetle. Freshly cut wood attracts the pest. There used to be a large stretches of eucalyptus trees lining the median on Highway 99. For the last several years, those trees have been marked and removed because of disease. In San Luis Obispo County, volunteers have been removing eucalyptus trees and planting oaks for years. I planted a hawthorn in my backyard that has provided great shade and the birds love it. Reconsider planting eucalyptus.

This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Jane Grant: Oak, pistachio or crepe myrtle are fine, but not eucalyptus."