Tree of the Week: Eucalyptus microtheca - Coolibah

The Eucalyptus microtheca is a tree native to Australia, but it’s commonly found in landscapes all throughout Arizona, including the University of Arizona campus!

While the blue-green canopy provides excellent shade, its high tolerance for heat and drought make this tree a popular choice in Arizona. E. microtheca also grows well in a variety of soil types, and is successfully used in remediation projects. Some of the limitations of this tree include fire risk and some report changes in soil chemistry in its root zone that limit growth of other plants. However, these risks are less significant in urban settings than in urban-rural interfaces. Their contribution to urban cooling, their grand scale and fierce adaptation to our climate elevate this plant for use in urban settings.

The aborigines found the seeds, leaves and wood from this tree useful. In fact, the seeds are still eaten and used in cake recipes today.