Eucalyptus pulchella
White peppermint, White Peppermint
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Family: Myrtaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Eucalyptus pulchella (White peppermint) is a non-native California shrub in the Myrtaceae family, recognized by very narrow leaves with peppermint scent.
White peppermint is a naturalized shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from December to February, this plant produces white stamens in umbels with 9 to 15 flowers. Growing up to 20 meters tall with erect branches, it has distinctive bark that sheds in long strips and ranges from white to blue-gray. Its narrow linear leaves are dark green, less than 0.5 centimeters wide, and release a subtle peppermint odor when crushed. The fruit is small, measuring 4 to 6 millimeters long and ovoid to cup-shaped.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; very narrow leaves with peppermint scent
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to southeastern Australia, rarely cultivated in California
Bloom period
Eucalyptus pulchella blooms Dec-Feb.
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 pulchella native to California?
No. Eucalyptus pulchella is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eucalyptus pulchella bloom?
Eucalyptus pulchella blooms Dec-Feb.
What plant family does Eucalyptus pulchella belong to?
Eucalyptus pulchella is in the Myrtaceae family, genus Eucalyptus.
What habitat does Eucalyptus pulchella grow in?
Eucalyptus pulchella grows in Uncommon. 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.