Eucalyptus Firewood

The eucalyptus tree is a fast-growing hardwood that can reach heights of over 300 feet. Eucalyptus firewood burns very hot and is comparable to oak. However, its availability is limited and it takes a longer time and great effort to prepare for burning.

Eucalyptus has 700 different species and is native to Australia. From there it spread into different parts of the world but is difficult to find in northeastern or central United States. It is, without a doubt, among the highest density hardwoods.

One of the reasons for its popularity is due to its oil, which is used as an insect repellent. Eucalyptus wood and leaves contain a high amount of it. Even after seasoning, there are oil pockets in the firewood which makes the wood pop and spark.

Eucalyptus is also known as gumtree and has a fast growth. It can grow up to 8 ft per year. It is a real pain to split and seasoned wood is almost impossible to split with hands.

Eucalyptus makes excellent firewood that burns hot and provides great coals. It gives off a pleasant fragrance as it burns and doesn’t produce much smoke if the wood is well seasoned.

• Burns extremely hot and clean
• Easy to split when green (most of the time)
• May be hard to find in many states
• Is known to spark and pop

Eucalyptus Firewood Burn Qualities

1. Heat output

An important consideration when you’re choosing firewood is the amount of heat it gives off. Whether you’re in the outdoors camping or huddled around the woodstove at home, the main goal is staying warm.

Eucalyptus provides around 34.5 million BTUs per cord which is very high. That’s higher than Osage orange, oak, and black locust which are all exceptional firewood options.

The oil content in the wood is a big factor in this high BTU rating. It results in wood that emits plenty of heat and is also highly flammable.

Keep in mind that there are over 700 species of eucalyptus so the heat may be lower for you. However, it is fair to say that this type of wood is one of the best for its heat.

Check out the following table comparing the heat output of eucalyptus to various other common types of firewood.

2. Smoke

Eucalyptus firewood will usually produce low levels of smoke. You don’t have to worry about getting smoked out if you’ve got an open fire.

Firewood should always be well seasoned before burning. Wood that is still green will contain a lot of water that creates smoke as it burns. Unseasoned wood is less efficient and uses its energy to evaporate water instead of keeping you warm.

3. Ease of splitting

Most people find that splitting eucalyptus is an easy job so long as it’s green. Once the wood has dried out it turns incredibly hard, making the job of splitting tough work.

If you’re faced with splitting seasoned eucalyptus, then try to wait for a frosty cold morning. This will make the task of splitting easier on your arms. You could also invest in a high-quality splitting axe or heavy-duty maul to make the job less of a struggle.

Splitting the limbs will be tougher than the trunk wood. The branches grow far from the tree and need to support a lot of leaves. They often end up twisted and are more of a challenge to process. Even a hydraulic power splitter will end up mushing its way through the wood fibers rather than creating a clean split.

4. Sparks

Eucalyptus firewood does produce some sparks as it burns, but if it is fully seasoned these are reduced. It’s much better than options like pine or mulberry, which is good because there’s a lower risk of carpet burns or unwanted fires.

Although eucalyptus doesn’t give off a lot of sparks, always use caution if you’re camping or have an open hearth. It only takes one random spark to create a fire hazard.

5. Aroma

Eucalyptus firewood gives off a pleasant fragrance once it’s tossed into a fire. The aroma will vary depending on the variety of eucalyptus, but it’s generally mild, sweet, and slightly medicinal.

Meat smokers and barbecue enthusiasts may enjoy using eucalyptus for cooking food. It is great for cooking with and Australian have been using it for many years. One variety that’s ideal for smoking and barbecue is yellow box firewood.

6. Coaling

Firewood that has good coals will provide longer-lasting heat. It also means you don’t have to keep throwing more wood into the fire to keep it going.

Eucalyptus is one of the best for coaling. It compares with the best types of firewood like oak, beech, and Osage orange.

Most people also find that there is very little ash that needs to be cleaned up.

7. Creosote build-up

Creosote is similar to black tar that gets deposited on the inside of chimneys. Firewood creates different levels of creosote, depending on the variety. Higher levels mean you’ll need to clean out the chimney regularly.

Well-seasoned eucalyptus will produce moderate levels of creosote as it burns. This is caused by the high oil content in the wood.