David & Sarah Grew-Foss wrote:

> They are also a fire hazard... I would recommend some serious thought before
> growing them in Texas, perhaps consult a
> botanist about how they would act in your climate.

What is important to remember is the diversity of eucalypts, with hundreds
of species growing naturally in Australia. Their characteristics vary
incredibly.
From 90 meter tall e. diversicolor trees to shrubby (and messy) e. lehmanii and
ornamental e. ficefolia. Some have the potential to become invasive in certain
areas. This has to be checked out - correctly so.

In South Africa, fire-breaks of eucalyptus are planted in between plantations of

pine trees and other types planted for commercial reasons, as well as to delimit

natural areas of indigenous fynbos and forests. The only requirement of these
fire-breaks that makes them ultra efficient, is the fact that once per year the
lanes have to be cleared of the debris under them. The fact that nothing else
grows under tightly spaced eucalyptus trees, because of their oily exudate,
aids in their efficiency as fire breaks.

The recent spate of fires in the South Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula
proved conclusively that clean eucalyptus  fire-breaks stop runaway fires.

That many of the species provide fantastic honey and/or pollen is a definite.
Perhaps their down side can be balanced against their positive benefits. Mainly
that of providing bee food in times of dearth, because no matter how dry it
gets,
many eucalypts - having access to deep ground-water, will still provide.

Robert Post