Eucalyptus cladocalyx
Sugar gum
(c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Myrtaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Eucalyptus cladocalyx (Sugar gum) is a non-native California tree in the Myrtaceae family, recognized by distinctive mottled bark and ribbed fruits.
Sugar gum is a naturalized shrub found in coastal California regions including the Central Coast, Southern Coast, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed coastal areas at elevations generally below 200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces white stamens in umbels of 7 to 11 flowers on leafless branches. Growing to 10 to 20 meters tall with generally straight stems, it features bark that sheds in large irregular patches with a smooth surface often mottled in white, gray, orange, and tan. Its leaves are widely lanceolate, 8 to 15 centimeters long and 2 to 3 centimeters wide, with a lighter undersurface. The fruit is an urn-shaped capsule 1 to 1.5 centimeters long with subtle ribbing.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; distinctive mottled bark and ribbed fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed coastal areas
Elevation: generally < 200 m
Outside California: native to southern Australia
Bloom period
Eucalyptus cladocalyx 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 cladocalyx native to California?
No. Eucalyptus cladocalyx is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eucalyptus cladocalyx bloom?
Eucalyptus cladocalyx blooms Apr-Jul.
What plant family does Eucalyptus cladocalyx belong to?
Eucalyptus cladocalyx is in the Myrtaceae family, genus Eucalyptus.
Is Eucalyptus cladocalyx invasive in California?
Eucalyptus cladocalyx is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Eucalyptus cladocalyx grow in?
Eucalyptus cladocalyx grows in Uncommon. Disturbed coastal 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.