Where To Buy Eucalyptus (Plants, Oils, and Trimmings)

Eucalyptus has become one of the most popular plants among the natural health scene, not to mention the organic gardening scene. It’s a plant that is famous for repelling pests, turning a shower into an amazing aromatherapy bath, and promoting healing. The question is, where can you get a hand on some eucalyptus for your own home?

Buying eucalyptus can mean both the plant, the essential oil, or the plant’s trimmings. Each of the store genres below are known to carry at least one form of eucalyptus:

If you are in the market for some eucalyptus oil, or just want to get some eucalyptus trimmings, then this is probably the most convenient place for you to go. Most major grocery stores will carry certain essential oils, including eucalyptus and peppermint. This is especially true in chains that emphasize natural health, like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods.

In terms of price, going here is usually a safe bet. You’ll get very affordable plants and oils. However, it’s worth noting that not all grocery stores will stock eucalyptus leaves, and some might even fall short on the oil aspect. If you don’t have a grocery store known for having a florist or organic section, you might want to check somewhere else.

If you noticed that I mentioned health food stores in the “grocery store” section, then you probably surmised that there is a reason for it. It’s true. Health food stores tend to see products like essential oils and eucalyptus clippings to be a good part of maintaining your health through natural means.

Most health food stores will carry eucalyptus oil at the very least. Some will also carry trimmings. This is the most reliable source of eucalyptus goods out there, though the price will be slightly higher than a typical grocery would be. It’s the organic factor.

It’s worth noting that eucalyptus is toxic to ingest. However, the oil can be combined with a carrier oil to create an incredibly relaxing massage oil in a pinch. That’s why major supplement chains like GNC tend to carry it on their store shelves. This oil is usually found in their natural health section, too.

While you can get eucalyptus oil here, that’s all you can expect. Live plants and clippings are almost never found in a supplement store, lest they end up getting sued for someone trying to eat the leaves.

One of the most popular crafts that people are indulging in today involves the use of essential oils (like eucalyptus oil) in a variety of personal care products made by hand. Knowing that, having eucalyptus oil and other essential oils in stock will always make sense. Craft stores tend to have oils at a price that is on par or slightly higher than a typical grocery store.

Since another major craft trend involves learning the art of floral arrangements, it comes as no surprise that most major chains (like Michael’s) also started to carry eucalyptus trimmings. So if you want to stock up on eucalyptus goods altogether, this is a good way to make it happen.

Believe it or not, this is actually a pretty smart place to go if you want to get your hands on eucalyptus. However, finding the oil here probably isn’t going to happen, even if it does repel mice. The same can be said for trying a place that strictly sells hardware and nothing else. It’s just off the table, don’t bother trying with this type of store.

Though oil is usually off the table, the solid plant isn’t. You might be able to find certain home improvement stores that carry eucalyptus trimmings as part of their home decor section. Home Depot and Lowe’s both carry it from time to time. If you are in the market for a new tree, it’s possible to give a call to their nursery departments to see if they have any eucalyptus trees.

Home improvement stores are one of the only places to get actual, living eucalyptus plants for your home. That alone makes them worth a visit. If you want to make sure you’ll find what you want, it’s always wise to make a call before you go. Home improvement stores typically have a low-cost range compared to others selling similar wares.

Didn’t find the tree that you wanted to get? Struck out on clippings, too? You have another option that you can drive to, at least in most cases. Nurseries are another obvious place to hit up if you want to get a eucalyptus tree planted in your home, and at times, you might even be able to buy fresh-cut clippings there, too.

Nurseries typically offer a higher quality tree, not to mention high-quality clippings. This sometimes translates into higher prices. It’s up to you to decide whether or not the freshness is worth it. (Who am I kidding? It totally is.)

Like with all other goods, you can usually find eucalyptus anything by just taking a look at what Google has to say. Amazon offers up everything from eucalyptus oil, to fresh trimmings, to dried trimmings, to the actual saplings of a real eucalyptus tree. This is a great choice for people who want to compare prices, find a niche product, or just get a better idea of what is on the market.

For most eucalyptus products, shopping online is a convenient (and maybe even fun) way to make your purchase easier. However, we want to point out that ordering live plants online can be a serious gamble. Unless you’re ordering your live eucalyptus from a highly recognized nursery with specialty shipping, it’s probably not a good idea.

It all depends on what you’re buying. If you’re buying a eucalyptus tree, then you want to make sure it looks alive and healthy. Trimmings should also have a similarly fresh, just-picked look—even if they were dried. When it comes to oil, you should look for a product that is pressed by a reputable maker, is 100 percent pure (no carrier oil!), and also is derived from organic ingredients.

No matter what type of eucalyptus product you’re buying, it’s important to make sure that the product smells good. Low-quality eucalyptus has a strange, almost chemical odor. If the oil in your eucalyptus went rancid, you might also smell a sour, almost acrid smell. Good eucalyptus will have a fresh, almost minty smell with just a tinge of tea tree.

If at all possible, sniff the eucalyptus before you buy it. If you can feel your sinuses clearing up and love the smell, then you probably have a good batch. On the other hand, if you don’t smell anything or don’t feel that little tingle in your sinuses, then you may need to keep searching for a better batch.

Once you cut eucalyptus, it’ll stay fresh for 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on how it’s used. Though, there are ways to keep it looking fresh for longer, regardless of how you choose to store it. If you got your eucalyptus from a local farmer’s market or florist, use a pair of sharp scissors to shear off the ends of the stems.

This will allow the eucalyptus to absorb sufficient water and nutrients. Then, add in some vegetable glycerin to maximize preservation.

If you elect to use eucalyptus in a vase by itself or a spectacular floral arrangement, it’ll likely remain fresh for about three weeks. You’ll know that it’s time to refresh the vase once the stem turns slimy and the eucalyptus starts to wilt.

You can keep your eucalyptus fresh in a vase for longer by stripping the lower portion of the stem of its leaves, preventing them from being submerged in water. When they are immersed, they can rot the rest of the plant at a faster rate.

Not only can putting eucalyptus in your shower relieve sinus pressure and congestion, and can also alleviate stress and create a relaxing shower experience. So, if you want to try this current trend of tying eucalyptus to your showerhead, be forewarned that you will still need to change it out from time to time. Typical use of a shower will give you around three weeks of use before you need to replace them.

If you use your shower regularly or have poor ventilation, switching your eucalyptus sprigs out every two weeks is a wiser choice. However, if you use your shower less often, it may stay fresh for up to two months. Regardless of how often you use your shower, you can extend the life of the eucalyptus by shaking off leaves once they get too moist.

Related Questions

Is eucalyptus safe for pets?

There are many essential oils that can be beneficial to pets, but eucalyptus is not one of them. Most pets, including dogs and cats, cannot tolerate the compounds found in this plant. Prolonged exposure to fumes from the plant can cause respiratory problems, vomiting, irritation, lethargy, and even organ failure in extreme cases.Do not apply eucalyptus oil to your pets’ skin, or add it to their food. In fact, just using eucalyptus products in a home with dogs and cats can be a serious risk to your pet’s health. We strongly suggest avoiding this oil and finding a more pet-appropriate oil whenever possible.

Is it legal to grow eucalyptus trees in America?

Australia is famous for having a very tight grip on its natural wildlife, but don’t worry. While eucalyptus is not a native plant to the United States, most areas will not write you up for having a eucalyptus tree in your home.If America didn’t want people to plant eucalyptus in and around their homes, they would have made the plant’s purchase illegal. You can find live trees throughout the country, so there is no reason to worry. It’s cool.