Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Is a Eucalyptus Tree the Same As a Gum Tree?
Is a Eucalyptus Tree the Same As a Gum Tree?. Eucalyptus trees are colloquially called gum trees in their native Australia, and the nickname has spread to other parts of the world. Other trees include the name "gum," even though they are not Eucalyptus trees.
Eucalyptus trees are colloquially called gum trees in their native Australia, and the nickname has spread to other parts of the world. Other trees include the name "gum," even though they are not Eucalyptus trees.
History
Eucalyptus trees that produce sap are the ones most readily called gum trees. The nickname describes the scented sap that oozes down the trunk and hardens into gummy clumps.
Misconceptions
Not all trees that incorporate the name "gum" are Eucalyptus trees. Some tree varieties, such as the Sweetgum and Black gum, belong to other families and are called gum trees for different reasons. For instance, the Sweetgum earned its name from American pioneers who used to scrape material from the tree to make chewing gum, according to the University of Florida.
Identification
An easy way to tell the difference between a true Eucalyptus and another type of gum tree is by studying the leaves. Eucalyptus trees tend to have long, thin leaves and produce a strong aroma. In Australia, koalas and termites are commonly found along their trunks and branches.
