Gum trees can be eucalyptus or gum trees. However, not all gum trees can be eucalyptus. Hah! Are you still confused? While most gum trees and eucalyptus are both native to Australia, they are now also grown in the United States due to their useful properties as fuel, pulp, and oil. What is the difference?

Non-eucalyptus and Eucalyptus Gum Trees can be distinguished based on their leaves, bark, growth cycles, native habitat, height, and leaf shape. The primary difference between eucalyptus gum trees and gum trees is the fact that eucalyptus are a genus, while gum trees can be considered species.

Continue reading to learn all about the differences between gum trees and eucalyptus tree. We will discuss the differences and similarities of gum trees, as well as explain why they are called gum trees (hint: It has to do chewing gum!).

Are Eucalyptus And Gum Trees The Same?

Before we start, it is important to determine if gum trees and eucalyptus are actually different.

Eucalyptus can be described as a broad umbrella that covers most gum trees. The Eucalyptus group includes blue gum (genus), rainbow gum, redcap gum, silver dollar gum and manna gum.

Some trees, however, fall outside this umbrella. Black gum, sweetgum and water gum are all eucalyptus tree species. They are all in their respective categories.

Eucalyptus trees, which are evergreen trees, are part of the myrtle tree family. Water gum is also part the myrtle tree family, while sweetgum and black gum are not. Both black gum and sweetgum can be considered deciduous trees. This means that they lose their leaves during winter.

What does this all mean? This means that the majority ofgum tree are eucalyptus, but some gum trees are and noteucalyptus.

Blue gum trees are, for example, eucalyptus. Sweetgum trees are different.

9 Differences between Eucalyptus and Gum Trees

We’ll be referring to the most popular eucalyptus tree types, such as blue gum and rose gum. We’re going to refer to non-eucalyptus gum tree types like sweetgum or black gum when we talk about gum trees.

How do you distinguish between an eucalyptus and a gum tree tree? Some differences are obvious, but others are subtler. Let’s take a look!

To learn more about the various uses of gum trees, visit our article .

Differences In Eucalyptus And Gum Tree Leaves

An evergreen tree’s leaves are easy to recognize throughout the year. If you are looking for sweetgum leaves make sure you check before winter arrives. This tree is deciduous, and they will fall in the fall.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Sweetgum leaves are five-lobed and form a star-shaped shape. The tips are pointed with small serrations on the outside.

Like the blue gum, Eucalyptus trees do not have lobes. The leaves are more oblong-shaped, resemble a canoe, and slightly blue. Redgum trees’ leaves look more like a spear tip and are longer than blue gum trees. The leaves are also simpler green, rather than being tinged with bluish.

Both black gum (non eucalyptus), and water gum have oval-shaped leaves. The leaves of a water gum will stay green throughout the year, but the leaves of black gum will turn to brilliant red in autumn.

Bark Differences Between Gum And Eucalyptus Trees

According to the University of Tasmania, Eucalyptus trees forests have a high tendency to light fires.

Eucalyptus trees are a forest fire hazard because they’re very dry. Their bark can often be seen separating from the trees and littering the forest floors. These strips, once caught, transfer the fire to crown of trees, where volatile oil is found on the leaves. The fire then catch fire.

Sweetgum trees have light gray bark and vertical and rounded ridges running along their trunks. This distinguishes the sweetgum tree from the eucalyptus, which has a more smooth appearance and a lighter brown/tan color. The bark of an eucalyptus tree can often appear as though it’s peeling off the trunk.

Differences In Height At Maturity Between Gum And Eucalyptus

Both gum trees and eucalyptus are quick growers. This is why they are grown in North America, despite being from Australia. They are able to grow quickly and have a hardwood nature which makes them ideal for making furniture and cabinets.

Sweetgum and water trees can grow up to 130 feet if allowed to flourish. According to the University of Kentucky, black gum trees can reach a height of 30-50 feet.

The height of Eucalyptus gum tree is generally higher than that of non-eucalyptus trees. Blue gum can grow up to 265 feet. This is a large tree! According to the USDA Fire Effects Information System, 70% of the growth of blue gums occurs within the first 10 years.

Native Range Of Eucalyptus And Gum Trees

We already mentioned that the majority of eucalyptus trees and gum trees are Australian-natives. But let’s get into the details.

Eucalyptus Blue Gum Trees are at home in Tasmania, southeast Australia and California. They have since been able thrive naturally in the U.S. They can be found in Arizona as ornamental trees and windbreaks.

The sweetgum tree is a native American species. They are found in the southeast, from east Texas to central Florida. They can also be found in the southern regions Illinois and Arkansas as well as Connecticut. The U.S. is also home to black gums.

The main difference is that eucalyptus trees are not native to Australia or its islands. The United States is home to other gum trees, such as sweetgums or black gums.

Growth Cycle Of Eucalyptus And Gum Trees

Trees spend a lot of time growing, gathering resources and then growing more. They also spend a lot of time trying to conserve energy so that they can grow and succeed.

The leaves help trees grow through their photosynthesis process. However, as fall and winter near, the days get shorter and the photosynthesis party slows.

This is why deciduous trees such as the sweetgum or black gum tree lose their leaves in fall. This prevents moisture loss and puts the tree into semi-dormant mode.

Evergreens like eucalyptus lose their leaves slowly over the year. This helps to prevent moisture loss and reduces the tree’s energy expended on dropping leaves.

Fruits Produced By Gum And Eucalyptus Trees

These two trees produce very different fruits, as can be seen in our comparison of eucalyptus gum and non-eucalyptus sweetnessgum.

Bluegum trees produce fruit that looks like a spinning top. It is narrower at its bottom and wider at its top. The top is capped with a cap. Although each fruit has many seeds, the likelihood of them becoming trees is very low.

Sweetgum trees produce bizarre, alien-looking fruits. They are round and spiky. These spiky fruits, which are usually green when they are on the tree’s branches, are usually green. Once they are removed, they quickly turn brown. Two seeds are averaged in each fruit.

Another difference between the two trees is the timing of their fruits. Blue gums and Eucalyptus trees will usually ripen between October to March. It seems like a strange time to grow fruit. It’s because in Australia, October is about springtime, and March is the beginning of fall.

Sweetgums usually ripen their fruits in the same season. In North America, however, it is generally from April to September. These sweet fruits are best found in the early fall, so make sure you wear shoes!

Differences In Environmental Needs Between Eucalyptus And Gum Trees

Sweetgums and eucalyptus both love the sun. They love full sun, but they can tolerate some shade, especially sweetgums.

Although Eucalyptus trees prefer well-drained soils with low salt content, they can thrive in many soils and climates. Blue gums, for example, can grow in soil that has high acidity and is made from volcanic ash in Hawaii. They can be found in soils that are limestone- or sandstone-derived in Portugal.

When it comes to soil conditions, sweetgums can be more adaptable than eucalyptus tree. They can thrive in sloping areas, clay soils and near river bottoms. They can survive heat and cold and thrive at temperatures of 100°F and -5°F, respectively.

The blue Eucalyptus gums are less sensitive to cold temperatures. They begin to shiver at around 30°F and can’t withstand temperatures below 20°F.

Hardwood Use Of Eucalyptus And Gum Trees

Many things are made from trees, including furniture, paper, cabinets, wine corks and chewing gum.

They are a great candidate for semi-sustainable resources due to their rapid growth rates of sweetgum and eucalyptus trees. They can be harvested from tree plantations in as little 7 years. These trees were to be used for furniture, railroad ties and firewood.

In California, things didn’t go as planned…

Blue gum trees were planted in millions of locations, with the hope that their wood could be used to make useful products.

It was soon discovered that the lumber could easily split, twist and crack. The wood was also difficult to treat, so it couldn’t even be used for furniture or lumber.

Blue gums can still be used as shade trees, windbreaks and ornamental trees in yards. They can also be used for firewood and have medicinal benefits.

The lumber industry finds sweetgums more useful than eucalyptus or eucalyptus tree. It is resistant to cracking and twisting, which makes it ideal for use in a variety of applications, including railroad ties, pulpwood plywood, plywood, trim, boxes, general lumber, veneer, and crates.

Root Differences Between Eucalyptus And Gum Trees

A tree’s roots are an essential part. Sometimes, the tree is only a small part of an organism.

Blue gum and Eucalyptus trees don’t have taproots. This root grows from the tree’s trunk and anchors it in place. Blue gums, on the other hand, will develop a network of shallower roots that extend beneath the trunk.

Blue gums can affect water resources up to 45 feet below the ground and up to 100 feet from the tree, despite the absence of a taproot. This can lead to soil erosion and lower water levels in the vicinity of streambeds.

Sweetgums can live with or without taproots. They are adaptable. They will change according to the conditions. Sweetgums that grow on windy slopes will develop a strong taproot to keep them from being blown away by the wind.

Sweetgums that are grown in poor, swampy soils will not develop taproots. They will instead develop shallow root systems that spread upwards rather than downwards.

Why Are They Called Gum Trees?

What does it have to do chewing gum? Yes, it does! Gum tree produce sticky sap when they are injured. The sap covers the wound in a similar way to how skin scabs. This prevents any insects or birds from getting into the wound.

The sticky sap forms a chewing gum substance when it hardens. In the past, the sticky sap was used by soldiers and settlers at Fort Smith in Arkansas to make candy and pass the time.

Are Eucalypt And Eucalyptus The Same Thing?

You may stumble upon eucalypt while surfing the web to satisfy your curiosity about eucalyptus. What the hell is this? Does it sound like eucalyptus or something else?

A group of eucalyptus tree is often called Eucalypt. You might hear, for example, the term “a eucalypt forests”, which refers to a forest full of eucalyptus tree. It can also be used as the plural form eucalyptus. This is similar to the plural form cactus.

That’s All For Now

This article should clarify the differences between gum trees and eucalyptus. Although most gum trees are eucalyptus, there are some that are classified as sweetgums or black gums.

Both non-eucalyptus and eucalyptus gums grow fast, which makes them valuable for making wood products and medicinal medicines. There are many differences among the trees.

Let’s recap: The major differences between these two are:

• Leaves
• Bark
• Height at maturity
• Native range
• Growth Cycle
• Fruits
• Environmental needs
• Uses
• Roots

Each tree has its pros and cons. However, both trees are impressively tall and fast growing trees that provide the world with a bit more natural beauty.