People keep eucalyptus around the house for a variety of reasons. Some just like the fragrance it produces or the look of it. Others use them for medicinal purposes, often putting them in the shower to help with various ailments. Whatever your reason for keeping it, it’s good to know just how long it will last.
Depending on how it’s stored, eucalyptus can last anywhere from 3 weeks to several years. Fresh-cut eucalyptus kept in a vase or hung in the shower will last approximately 3 to 8 weeks, while preserved eucalyptus will last for years when stored correctly.
Note: To preserve eucalyptus properly, you will need glycerin like this type found on Amazon.
A quick guide to preserving Eucalyptus:
- Trim the stems to your desired length and cut them at a slight angle.
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil and mix in vegetable glycerin until it is fully dissolved. Vegetable glycerin can be hard to find, but you can get it on Amazon. Here is the link to the kind I recommend.
- After the mixture cools place your eucalyptus stems in the vase with the glycerin solution.
- Store the vase in a cool, dry spot out of the sunlight for 2 to 6 weeks.
You will know your eucalyptus is fully preserved once the leaves are dark, soft, and smooth to the touch.
The rest of the article will cover everything you need to know about how long eucalyptus will last.
How Long Does Eucalyptus Last Once Cut?
Once eucalyptus has been cut, you can expect it to stay fresh from 3 weeks to 2 months, depending on how you decide to use it.
There are a few ways to keep your eucalyptus looking fresh for as long as possible, no matter how you choose to store it.
If you pick up your cut eucalyptus from a florist or your local farmer’s market, use a pair of sharp scissors or shears to cut the ends off the stems when you get home. This will ensure that the eucalyptus can absorb water and nutrients to keep it looking fresh and smelling nice. Add in vegetable glycerin to maximize preservation. More on that below.
The plant will last longer in a fresh floral arrangement if you select a freshly cut stem. Look for soft, pliable leaves and green stems for the freshest arrangements.
Cool Tip: Don’t have a place to buy fresh eucalyptus near you? It can actually be purchased here on Amazon and delivered right to your door! Just click the link to see the listing.
How Long Does Eucalyptus Last in a Vase?
If you plan to use your eucalyptus in a floral arrangement or a vase by itself, it will probably remain fresh for about 3 weeks.
Once the stem has turned slimy in the vessel and the plant has started to wilt, it is time to refresh the arrangement. To keep eucalyptus fresh in a vase for longer, strip the lower part of the stem of leaves so that they are not immersed in the water. This will keep the leaves from rotting the rest of the plant faster than usual.
You can also lightly spray the plant with water once a day to keep the leaves hydrated.
How Long Does Eucalyptus Last in Shower?
Hanging eucalyptus in the shower can help relieve sinus pressure and congestion, as well as alleviate stress and create a relaxing environment in your bathroom. The amount of time your eucalyptus will last hanging in the shower depends on how often your shower is used.
If your shower is used multiple times a day, expect it to last around 3 to 4 weeks. If you use your shower less often, it may last for up to 2 months.
You can extend the life of eucalyptus in the shower by taking good care of the plant and ensuring that it does not rot. To do this, shake off the leaves if they get especially wet. After a couple of weeks, the stems will begin to dry and give off a less potent smell. However, you can keep the eucalyptus stems in the shower until they dry out completely or stop smelling at all. When you stop smelling the plant, throw away the old stems and refresh them with new ones.
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How Do You Preserve Eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus can be dried and preserved for use in dry floral arrangements, wall hangings, and wreaths. Preserving eucalyptus is an easy process that can usually be done at home. All you need to preserve your eucalyptus is a pair of gardening shears or scissors, vegetable glycerin, water, and a vase or jar.
- Trim all of your stems to your desired length and cut them at a slight angle. Make sure you use a very sharp pair of scissors or, ideally, quality gardening shears like these found on Amazon. (Click the link to see listing) Otherwise, it can be a major pain and actually hurt your fingers.
- Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, mix it with one cup of vegetable glycerin and stir until it is fully dissolved. Vegetable glycerin can be hard to find, but you can get it on Amazon. Here is the brand that I recommend.
- Wait for the mixture to cool, and then place your eucalyptus stems in the vase.
- Store the vase in a cool, dry spot out of the sunlight for 2 to 6 weeks. You will know your eucalyptus is fully preserved once the leaves are dark, soft, and smooth to the touch.
Once preserved, the eucalyptus can last for years as long it is kept in a dry place out of the sun. Preserved eucalyptus can be used for any number of projects and will keep your home smelling wonderful.
How Do You Store Cut Eucalyptus?
- Cut eucalyptus can be stored in a vase or a jar if you want to keep it fresh in a floral arrangement, or it can be hung in the shower or around your home.
- Preserved cut eucalyptus can be stored in a cool, dry place or hung on the walls or in jars. A root cellar is a really good spot to keep it. There are many ways to store your cut eucalyptus and keep your plant looking fresh and beautiful.
To see the most popular supplies for preserving Eucalyptus on Amazon, just click here.
Final Thoughts
No matter what you plan to use eucalyptus for, knowing how long it lasts is important to know. After all, planning and being prepared is what it’s all about. I hope this article has provided helpful information.
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Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.