Leaves are the economic part of eucalyptus. Leaves are harvested by pruning and lopping. Pruning of side branches can be done from second year onwards. Lopping at a height of 2 m is done during third or fourth year.

From fifth year onwards lopping is resorted to at half-yearly intervals leaving only one branch. The harvested leaves are used for oil extraction. Oil is obtained by steam distillation. Abscised and fallen dried leaves are also use for distillation.

Optimum time for distillation is two hours. The average recovery of oil is 1.5-1.8 per cent of the net weight of leaves. Wilting of the cut leaves under shade for 24 hours before distillation will increase the oil recovery percentage.