King of Eucalyptus

King of Eucalyptus

China’s “King of Eucalyptus” is located within the farm area of Suyang County, less than 3 kilometers from the county town. There are four trees in total, planted in January 1976. The species include Populus × canadensis '214', '69/55', and '72/58' — the earliest poplar trees planted in China that have survived to this day. They were brought back by Liang Changwu, the then Minister of Forestry, during his visit to the Americas when he stopped over in Italy. He brought back a packet of seeds. It’s hard to imagine that these now-renowned “Kings of Eucalyptus” were once tightly packed in an unassuming plastic bag.

At present, most of the poplar trees planted around the same time across the country have been cut down, and only these four have survived. Measurements show that one of the 72/58 poplars stands 46 meters tall, with a breast height diameter of 1.12 meters and a single-tree standing timber volume of 16.3 cubic meters. Experts confirm that both its age and height are rare in China. These trees have witnessed the planting and development history of poplar trees in Suyang County and even across the nation, holding high scientific, economic, and social value. They truly deserve the title of the “King of Eucalyptus in China.” To date, China’s “King of Eucalyptus” has attracted more than 2,600 experts, scholars, and tourists from home and abroad.