# Tasmanian blue gum (*Eucalyptus globulus*) The Tasmanian blue gum is a tall tree with smooth, grayish bark and beautiful green leaves. It grows in warm places and can be very tall, making it a great home for birds and other animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Southern Blue Gum ![Tasmanian blue gum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eucalyptus_globulus_globulus_buds.jpg&width=800) Photo: Murray Fagg, CC BY 3.0 au · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eucalyptus_globulus_globulus_buds.jpg) ## Appearance The Tasmanian blue gum is a towering tree with smooth, pale grey bark that peels in long strips, revealing patches of cream or yellow underneath. Its iconic bluish-green, sickle-shaped leaves give it a distinct hue, complemented by creamy-white, fluffy flowers that bloom from hard, ribbed buds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Myrtaceae - **Genus:** Eucalyptus ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, Eucalyptus globulus, refers to its spherical fruit. - Some older trees have trunks so big, five friends couldn't hug them! - The smell you recognize as "eucalyptus" comes from the oil in its leaves. - The wood changes color as it dries, turning from pinkish to a yellow-brown. ## Special abilities - **Fire Resister:** Tasmanian blue gum can quickly re-sprout from its trunk or roots after a bushfire, helping it survive in its fiery habitat. - **Scent Shield:** Tasmanian blue gum has aromatic oils in its leaves that deter many herbivores from eating them, keeping the tree safe. - **Water Whisperer:** Tasmanian blue gum can grow very fast by absorbing a lot of water, which helps it outcompete other plants for resources. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5000-9000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-2000 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late Autumn to Early Summer (Southern Hemisphere) - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Koala](https://www.snappit.app/explore/koala) (*Phascolarctos cinereus*) — primary food source, specialized diet - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects abundant nectar and pollen - **Eats:** [Rainbow Lorikeet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-lorikeet) (*Trichoglossus moluccanus*) — feeds on abundant nectar - **Eats:** Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (*Calyptorhynchus funereus*) — cracks open gum nuts for seeds ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's leaves and bark, as they can be slippery and may fall. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tasmanian blue gum? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Tasmanian blue gum? 5000-9000 cm ### How wide does Tasmanian blue gum spread? 1000-2000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Tasmanian blue gum? 2-3 cm ### When does Tasmanian blue gum bloom? Late Autumn to Early Summer (Southern Hemisphere) ### Is Tasmanian blue gum edible? No ### Is Tasmanian blue gum toxic? Mild ### What is Tasmanian blue gum's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum (Berlin)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanischer-garten-und-botanisches-museum-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Castrelos Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/castrelos-park) — Galicia, ES · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Tasmanian blue gum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tasmanian-blue-gum)