Eucalyptus globulus
Blue gum
(c) Forest and Kim Starr, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Myrtaceae · Type: Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Eucalyptus globulus (Blue gum) is a non-native California tree in the Myrtaceae family, recognized by largest size, solitary flowers, large warty 4-ribbed fruits.
Blue gum is a naturalized shrub found in northern coastal California, Central Valley, central western California, and southwestern California in disturbed areas at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from October to January, this plant produces white stamens with a distinctive flat-hemispheric bud cap featuring a central knob. Growing up to 60 meters tall with straight stems that have smooth, blue-gray bark shed in irregular strips, it develops distinctive square or winged twigs. Its leaves are long and narrow, typically 10 to 30 centimeters in length, often sickle-shaped and strongly aromatic. The fruit is larger than 2 centimeters, with four ribs, a wide thickened rim, and a warty, glaucous surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 9 sympatric species; largest size, solitary flowers, large warty 4-ribbed fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Humboldt, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Alameda, Solano, Monterey, Contra Costa, Napa, Mendocino, Glenn, San Benito, Sacramento, Yuba, Sonoma, Marin, Santa Clara, Colusa
Outside California: native to southeastern Australia
Bloom period
Eucalyptus globulus blooms Oct-Jan.
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 globulus native to California?
No. Eucalyptus globulus is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eucalyptus globulus bloom?
Eucalyptus globulus blooms Oct-Jan.
Where in California does Eucalyptus globulus grow?
Eucalyptus globulus occurs in Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, San Francisco, Humboldt, Orange and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Eucalyptus globulus belong to?
Eucalyptus globulus is in the Myrtaceae family, genus Eucalyptus.
Is Eucalyptus globulus invasive in California?
Eucalyptus globulus is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.