23 March 2023 is National Eucalypt Day!

The honey bee industry in Australia has a deep connection to the eucalypt and more broadly the Myrtaceae family of which the eucalyptus belongs.

National Eucalypt Day aims to raise awareness of eucalypts and celebrate the important place they hold in the hearts and lives of all Australians.

This year, National Eucalypt Day turns 10!

Eucalyptus trees have a complex flowering cycle, they bloom under very specific climatic conditions which can be unpredictable throughout the decades.

Aussie beekeepers spend a lifetime reading the bush and assessing some of these factors to determine the next honey flow and produce some of the most unique honey in the world with our diverse tastes and colours direct from nature.

Eucalypt Habitats

From the harsh red centre to the wind-ravaged alps and the extreme climate of the tropical savanna, eucalypts have come to dominate almost all Australian landscapes. Where the climate is fair and the soil nutrient-rich, they grow tall, dense and straight, as forests. Against salt-laden coastal winds, they grow low, tough-leaved and gnarled, hunkered down around dunes. The eucalypts of the high plains adopt a similar strategy, with the smallest eucalypt species in the world nothing more than a creeping bush. On drier lands with reliable rainfall, eucalypt woodlands hold magnificent trees beloved by Australia’s pollinators. In the wet/dry climate of the tropical savanna woodlands, some eucalypt species even drop their leaves for the dry season.

Australia boasts more floral sources for honey bees to forage on than any other country in the world and the vast majority of honey produced here comes from the wonderful Australian bush. Some of the best loved Australian honey flavours come from:
• Eucalyptus leucoxylon; Blue gum – light amber, choice forest honey from VIC, the south-eastern SA and south-western NSW.
• Eucalyptus diversicolor; Karri – amber honey from the forests of Western Australia.
• Eucalyptus melliodora; Yellow box – pale and sweet honey from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
• Eucalyptus macrorhyncha or globoidea; (plus many others) Red and White Stringy bark – strong flavoured, medium amber honey from forests in north-eastern VIC and throughout the Great Dividing Range NSW to QLD.

Australia’s treasured eucalypts

AHBIC encourages all honey lovers across Australia to check out the events happening near you in support of National Eucalypt Day.

Why not take the time to get out into the great outdoors this weekend and appreciate our amazing Australian bush by taking a walk amongst the eucalypts in a trail at a National Park or State Forest near you!