Members of the Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia Genera

Gum tree is a term used for the eucalyptus trees. There are three genera found in the myrtle (Myrtaceae) family that may be considered gum trees: Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia. The last one used to be included in the Eucalyptus genus up until the 1990s and you may still see that genus name used for them by some. They are called gum trees since many species ooze lots of sap if the trunk surface is damaged.

The sweetgums (Liquidambar spp.) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) are not related.

Almost all of the gum trees come from Australia, where they are the primary food of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).  Over time, they have been cultivated in other tropical regions around the world.  There are gum trees that can even live in cooler temperate locations like Norway. In some regions they are invasive.

Some gum trees form a lignotuber (underground root tuber with buds), often as a way to recover from fires.  This tuber can produce new branches as needed. Trees with this structure are called a mallee.

Oil from the gum tree leaves is used in a variety of medications.  Honey is made by bees that visit the trees, and the wood from many of the species are used as lumber. Some people like to chew on hardened chunks of gummy sap.

Blue Gum

The blue gum is the most commonly planted eucalyptus around the world. In some areas it has become invasive. This is the official flower of Tasmania.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus globulus
• Other Common Names: Southern blue gum, Tasmanian blue gum, common eucalyptus
• Native to: Southeastern Australia and Tasmania
• USDA Zones: 9-11
• Height: 98-230' tall

Dwarf Apple

As the species name hispida notes, this tree has red bristles on the stems and new leaves. The dwarf apple is one of the smaller gum trees and looks somewhat like a juvenile apple tree, generating the common name. This may also be found as a mallee.

• Latin Name: Angophora hispida
• Other Common Names: Scrub apple
• Native to:  New South Wales, Australia
• USDA Zones:  10-11
• Height: Up to 25' tall

Lemon-Scented Gum

This tree features leaves with a strong lemon scent that can be used as an insect repellant. This species forms a lignotuber.

• Latin Name: Corymbia citriodora
• Other Common Names: Lemon eucalyptus, blue-spotted gum
• Native to: Northeastern Australia
• USDA Zones: 10-11
• Height: Up to 150' tall

Manna Gum

The bark on the manna gum comes off in strips. The distinctive heartwood comes in shades of light pink. It is one of the gum tree species that can tolerate cooler climates.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus viminalis
• Other Common Names: Viminalis, ribbon gum, white gum, manna eucalyptus
• Native to: Southeastern Australia
• USDA Zones: 8-11
• Height: 100-150' tall

Rainbow Gum

This is the sole species of Eucalyptus that is native to an area above the Equator. The spectacular bark shows off a wide variety of colors at once.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus deglupta
• Other Common Names: Rainbow eucalyptus, Mindanao gum, Indonesian gum
• Native to: Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia
• USDA Zones: 9-11
• Height: Up to 225' tall

Red Cap Gum

There is a scarlet cap that covers the yellow blossoms before they open. This is another species that can be a mallee.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus erythrocorys
• Other Common Names: Illyarrie, red helmet gum, helmet nut gum, Bookara gum
• Native to: Western Australia
• USDA Zones: 9-11
• Height: 10-30' tall

Red Flowering Gum

 The species name ficifolia indicates that the leaves of this tree are like those found on ficus trees. Like many other species in the Myrtaceae family, the flowers are made up of stamens with no petals. This is one of the more popular species to be planted. It is a kind of eucalyptus known as a bloodwood.

• Latin Name: Corymbia ficifolia
• Other Common Names: Scarlet flowering gum, Albany red flowering gum

• Native to: Western Australia
• USDA Zones: 9-11
• Height: 25-40' tall

Salmon Gum

This gum tree species sports salmon-colored bark while it is summer.  After that it becomes gray in the winter. The salmon gum is a good choice for salty areas.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus salmonophloia
• Other Common Names: Woonert, wuruk
• Native to: Western Australia
• USDA Zones: 9-11
• Height: Up to 98' tall

Scribbly Gum

Juvenile sprigs from this species are often used in the floral design industry, as are the young leaves of another species known by the same name (Eucalyptus polyanthemos). The silver dollar gum grows fast enough in one season to work as a large annual in cooler areas. 

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus cinerea
• Other Common Names: Argyle apple, silver dollar tree, mealy stringbark
• Native to: Southeastern Australia

• USDA Zones: 8-11
• Height:  20-50' tall

Snow Gum

The name scribbly gum is inspired by the tunnels left by the scribbly gum moth larvae (Ogmograptis scribula) as they burrow in the bark. Other species that can be affected by the scribbly gum moth (and known as scribbly gum) are Eucalyptus sclerophylla, Eucalyptus rossii, Eucalyptus racemosa,and Eucalyptus signata.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus haemastoma
• Native to: Southeastern Australia by Sydney
• USDA Zones: 9-11

• Height: Up to 50' tall

Spotted Gum

The snow gum is able to survive in cold regions, even where there is snow. This tree is NOT true to its species name - pauci- (few) -flora (flowers). As the Australian National Botanic Gardens mentions, a European botanist named Franz Wilhelm Sieber collected some flowers when he visited Australia and some may have gone missing from his collection or he might have come across a specimen that didn't have many flowers, possibly inspiring the name.

• Latin Name: Eucalyptus pauciflora
• Other Common Names: Ghost gum, white sallee, weeping gum, cabbage gum
• Native to: Southeastern Australia
• USDA Zones: 8-10
• Height: 30-100' tall, depending on the subspecies

More Evergreen and Tropical Trees and Shrubs

 The spotted gum is endemic to Australia and has lemon-scented leaves.  The bark forms a spotted pattern. These are a favorite food source for rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus).

• Latin Name: Corymbia maculata
• Native to: Southeastern Australia
• USDA Zones: Unknown;  likely 9-11
• Height: Can grow over 200' tall in the wild

I am partial to gum trees since they remind me of my childhood in Southern California and do recommend them if they work for your situation. However,  if you want to consider other evergreen and tropical trees and shrubs, check out:

• Acacia Trees and Shrubs
• Jasmine Shrubs and Vines
• Juniper Trees and Shrubs
• Magnolia Trees and Shrubs
• Spice Trees and Shrubs