Eucalyptus Firewood

If you're burning firewood in California or the Southwest, you've probably driven past entire groves of eucalyptus and wondered if it's worth cutting up. Short answer, yes, with some serious caveats.

Eucalyptus puts out 18.4 million BTU per cord at 2,975 lbs dry weight, which lands it in solid mid-to-upper territory. It's a legitimate heating wood and one of the better options in regions where dense eastern hardwoods like oak and hickory just don't grow. Coal quality is good and it's well-suited for home heating.

Now for the caveats. Eucalyptus is difficult to split. The fibers are stringy and interlocking, think elm-level frustration. A hydraulic splitter is basically mandatory unless you enjoy suffering. It also throws many sparks and puts out medium smoke, so a closed stove is the way to go. The fragrance is good though, that distinctive eucalyptus menthol smell.

Seasoning is the big commitment here. You're looking at 12 to 24 months to get eucalyptus properly dried. The wood is dense and holds moisture stubbornly. Don't rush it. Green eucalyptus in a stove is a creosote factory. Use a cord calculator to figure out how much volume you need, because you'll want to get a big batch seasoning early.

Eucalyptus is a real firewood for the West Coast, not just some novelty. Availability is moderate, and plenty of tree services are happy to dump rounds on you for free. Just plan ahead on the seasoning time and the splitting difficulty. For another excellent western hardwood option, check out Olive firewood.