Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Red gum, river red gum, River Red Gum
(c) Sydney Oats, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Myrtaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red gum) is a non-native California tree in the Myrtaceae family, recognized by hanging branch habit and 7-11-flowered umbels.
Red gum is a naturalized shrub found in northern coastal California, Central Valley, central and southern coastal California, northern Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges at elevations below 300 meters in disturbed areas. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white stamens with flowers in umbels of 7 to 11 blossoms. Growing up to 25 meters tall with branches often hanging in distinctive clumps, it features a bark that persistently sheds in irregular strips. Its leaves are long and lance-shaped, measuring 6 to 20 centimeters in length and 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters wide, with a smooth gray or tan surface. The fruit is small, approximately 0.5 to 1 centimeter wide, with hemispheric valves that extend outward.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; distinguished by hanging branch habit and 7-11-flowered umbels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native to Australia, naturalized in Arizona
Bloom period
Eucalyptus camaldulensis blooms Apr-Jul.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Corymbia: Check the bud cap texture - Corymbia caps are usually warty or ribbed, Eucalyptus smooth; vs Quercus: Oak flowers are tiny catkins; eucalyptus flowers are showy stamen bursts with caps; vs Melaleuca: Bottlebrush has normal petals in dense spikes; eucalyptus petals fuse into detachable cap; vs Salix: Willow has fuzzy catkins and narrow leaves; eucalyptus has caplike buds and aromatic leaves; vs Acacia: Acacia has yellow fluffy balls and compound leaves; eucalyptus has white bursts and simple leaves
Frequently asked questions
Is Eucalyptus camaldulensis native to California?
No. Eucalyptus camaldulensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eucalyptus camaldulensis bloom?
Eucalyptus camaldulensis blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eucalyptus camaldulensis belong to?
Eucalyptus camaldulensis is in the Myrtaceae family, genus Eucalyptus.
Is Eucalyptus camaldulensis invasive in California?
Eucalyptus camaldulensis is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Eucalyptus camaldulensis grow in?
Eucalyptus camaldulensis grows in Common. Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.