eucalyptus tree flowers

[REDWOOD]

Hi, I noticed a tree in one of my apiaries was shedding it's bark and after some research realised it was a eucalyptus tree, it is an established tree and was wondering does it flower in the UK and do the bees work it for pollen and nectar, there are also some beekeepers that use it in their smokers, any benefits of this.

 

[IBeeHere]

If it is Eucalyptus gunnii which is the most commonly Eucalyptus planted in UK then when the plant is mature it can flower around mid summer, I am not sure if it does flower regularly or every year. If and when it flowers bees do use pollen and collect nectar, you can buy Eucalyptus honey in specialist shops in the UK, it is used in some face creams and often marketed as antibacterial/antifungal with health giving properties, you know cures all ills, live to 150, makes you attractive to the opposite sex sort of thing.
As for using it in smokers - the oil content in the leaves is very high so when dry lights easily and burns well, I would mix with it with something else so the smoke does not get too hot. It also smells nice a bit like vics vapour rub.
Who knows if you breath in too much smoke (not recomended) you may never have a cough again.

 

[Norton]

We have lots of them here. Really needs at least 25C to yield nectar.

 

[Tom Bick]

Along with another beekeeper I look after two new hives at Kew gardens only established latish this year and they established very well indeed and one even managed some lovely honey.

Obviously the bees have some great forage available within the gardens and surrounding area but this year the people who monitor the wildlife noted that the eucalyptus trees were extremely busy with insects and bees. I dont know if the honey the bees managed was eucalyptus but it tasted the best I have experienced.