Besides trees for forests, Gilat nursery also grows trees and shrubs for the benefit of local schools, towns and villages, and army bases. Researchers from throughout the world visit Gilat, where nursery director Pablo Cherkeskey explains how it is possible to make beautiful gardens with plants that don't demand huge amounts of water.

KKL-JNF has offices in 45 countries worldwide. In honor of our friends around the world, we have chosen to tell the stories of the many different trees that have made "aliya" from their native homes and were successfully acclimated in Israel.

Scientific (Latin) name: according to species
Common name: eucalyptus
Country of origin: Australia
Aliya to Israel: over 100 years ago

Eucalyptus trees are one of the most familiar sights on the Israeli landscape. This tree was originally brought to Israel from Australia to help dry out swamps, which were breeding grounds for malaria-spreading mosquitoes. However, their contribution to the landscape and to KKL-JNF forests is far more extensive. There are approximately 700 species of eucalypti in the world, some of them that grow to a height of 60 meters. Eucalyptus trees are often chosen by KKL-JNF foresters because they grow rapidly, thrive in various types of soil, are very advantageous for bee keepers, produce lumber and ethereal oils, and more.

Eucalyptus gomphocephala Kaduri KKL is a very unique hybrid named for KKL-JNF, since it was propagated from cuttings of eucalyptus gomphocephala that grew into bush-like trees only 1.5 meters tall in Shuvalim Forest. Due to their breadth, they are popular in public and private gardens, and they are very economical in terms of water usage. They are also good for nursery schools, since small children can play in their shade. In fact, Australian tree growers have expressed an interest in this hybrid, so some of them might find their way back to their country of origin!