History and Status of Eucalyptus Improvement in Florida: 2020

The first organized Eucalyptus research in Florida was begun by the Florida Forests Foundation in
1959 in southern Florida. This research was absorbed by the USDA Forest Service and the Florida
Division of Forestry in 1968. In the early 1970s, the Eucalyptus Research Cooperative formed to
provide additional support emphasized E. grandis, E. robusta, E. camaldulensis and E. tereticornis
and developed cultural practices for commercial plantations in southern Florida. In 1978, this
cooperative united with the Hardwood Research Cooperative at North Carolina State University
(NCSU) until 1985 when the 14-year effort ended after three severe freezes from 1983 to 1985.
Eucalyptus planting and research were continued with a Florida-wide focus by the University of
Florida (UF) and collaborators starting in 1980. The collective accomplishments in terms of genetic
resources and commercial planting are summarized. For example, fast-growing, freeze-resilient E.
grandis seedlings are produced by 4th- and 5th-generation seedling seed orchards (SSO) and 4thgeneration
clonal seed orchards (CSO), three E. grandis cultivars are commercially available, as are
E. amplifolia and Corymbia torelliana seeds by 1st- and 2nd-generation SSOs and a 2nd-generation
CSO. Genetic improvement of these and other species is ongoing due to beneficial collaborations.
Short Rotation Woody Crop systems are promising for increasing productivity and extending uses
beyond conventional mulchwood to applications such as windbreaks, dendroremediation,
energywood, and carbon sequestration.