Eucalyptus globulus subsp. globulus
Common name
blue gum
Family
Myrtaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Detailed description
Medium to very tall tree, mature at 15 m but can reach 70 m. Young and juvenile leaves are broadly ovate to lanceolate, opposite, blue or purplish coloured and borne on 4-angled stems. Mature leaves are pendulous, alternate, glossy, dark bluish-green and sickle shaped. Creamy white flowers are borne either singly or in clusters of 3 to 7 on short stalks. The distinctive woody fruit capsules are conical to cup-shaped, 8-20 mm across, are warty and pale blue in colour.
Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key
Flower colours
White
Life cycle
Perennial
Year naturalised
1880
Origin
Tasmania
Reason for introduction
Forestry
Etymology
eucalyptus: From the Greek eu ‘good or well’ and calypha ‘covered’, alluding to the calyx which covers the flower like a lid.
Myrtle Rust
This taxon is confimed to be prone to Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii), an invasive fungus which threatens native myrtle species. Learn more myrtlerust.org.nz