As Halloween takes root in Australia, there's a chance to celebrate the spooky side of native eucalypts. From ghostly white trunks to hollowed portals, these trees offer natural thrills and chills.
Ghost gums, like Eucalyptus aparrerinja, appear as skeletal spectres under a full moon, their bone-white bark glowing in the desert. Found across central Australia, these trees evoke an eerie beauty when seen at night.
In Western Australia's tingle forests, red tingles (Eucalyptus jacksonii) can have trunks up to 20 metres in circumference. Hollowed by fire over generations, stepping inside feels like crossing into the underworld, with damp, muted air and a dark core.
The Miena cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii divaricata) in Tasmania twists into spell-like shapes, but its decline due to climate change is truly terrifying. Listed as endangered, it highlights the chilling impact of warming temperatures.
After bushfires, many eucalypts resprout from lignotubers or stems, offering a zombie-like return. However, not all survive—only 90% can resprout, making the new green shoots a welcome sight.
Eucalypt expert Dr Dean Nicolle names the warty yate (Eucalyptus megacornuta) as the spookiest, with flower buds resembling ghoulish hands from a Brothers Grimm tale. Its knobbly, warty appearance is truly haunting.
