Koalas and Their Favourite Trees
Koalas are one of Australia’s most loved and recognisable animals. But behind those sleepy eyes and fluffy ears lies a very particular diet and habitat need that landholders can help protect and restore.
Did You Know How Much Koalas Eat?
Koalas eat up to half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves every day. Their bodies are perfectly adapted to digest these tough, fibrous, and often toxic leaves. But not all eucalypts are equal in a koala’s eyes, they’re are incredibly selective eaters.
Koalas’ Favourite Eucalypts in Victoria
Across Australia there are over 700 species of eucalyptus, but koalas only rely on around 30-50 of them. Here in Victoria, some of their most important food and shelter trees include:
- Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis)
- Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata)
- Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus)
- River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
These species not only provide essential leaves for food but also the canopy cover that protects koalas from weather and predators.
Why Koalas Need More Than Just Trees
Koalas depend on a whole ecosystem, not just a single tree. The healthiest koala habitats are layered, creating what’s called a multi-storey system:
- Top storey: eucalyptus trees that provide food and shelter
- Middle storey: wattles, tea-trees, and shrubs that add cover and habitat diversity
- Lower storey: grasses, groundcovers, and wildflowers that support insects, birds, and soil health
Together, these layers form wildlife corridors, connected strips of habitat that allow koalas and other wildlife to move safely across the landscape, find food, and maintain healthy populations.
How Landholders Can Help
As a landholder, you have a unique opportunity to restore ecosystems on your property that directly support koalas and countless other native species. By planting the right mix of local trees and shrubs, you can:
- Provide food and shelter for koalas
- Connect fragmented habitats into wildlife corridors
- Improve biodiversity, soil health, and the resilience of your land
At TreeProject, we grow seedlings that are matched to the areas where they’ll be planted. This ensures every tree goes into the right landscape – supporting koalas and building stronger ecosystems for generations to come.
Orders Close September 30th
If you’d love to see koalas thriving on your property and want to be part of restoring Victoria’s landscapes, now is the time.
treeproject.org.au/landholders/order-seedlings-introduction
Together, we can create wildlife corridors that feed and protect koalas – and ensure their place in our landscapes for generations to come.
Blog published during Save the Koala Month – September 2025
Sources
Wildlife Victoria – Koalas
Government of Victoria. (n.d.). Koalas. https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/koalas
Australian Koala Foundation (AKF). (n.d.). Australian Koala Foundation – Save the Koala. https://www.savethekoala.com
TreeProject’s Peter Hooke & Susi Millton