Tall Blue Gum Trees

Height

• The blue gum tree has a potential height of up to 400 feet in its native Australian habitat, achieving the first 80 feet rapidly within the first 20 years. In cultivation, the blue gum grows 160-feet-tall. Tree growth slows during summer.

Description

• The straight trunk is covered with smooth, brown bark that peels in large pieces. The layer underneath is blue-white in color. The gray-green foliage is smooth, thick and rounded with elliptical tips. The tree blooms with yellow flowers during fall. The flowers do not have any petals and have a feathery texture with thin stamens growing from a calyx. The black colored seeds are produced during winter. Blue gum trees have a habit of growing in thick stands in their native habitat.

Uses

• The gum of blue gum tree has antibacterial properties and is used as an antiseptic and antibacterial ingredient in a number of over-the-counter and traditional medications. The oil contained in the foliage is used as a pest repellent. The rapid growth of the tree makes good quality timber available relatively fast for use as pulp and fuel wood. The tree is planted in rows to create tall hedges along highways and as sound and sight barriers. The blue gum tree is widely used in parks and landscapes for its ornamental value.

Invasive Potential

• The blue gum tree is highly invasive in nature and has the ability to create distinct monocultures. The development of distinct monocultures, where the tree inhibit the growth of all other vegetation, causes numerous native species to lose their habitat as a result of the disintegration of older systems. The tree can drastically alter the ecosystem and causes a loss of biodiversity and habitat.