Scientific: Eucalyptus rudis
Common: desert gum, red gum, flooded gum
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: Found broadly in riparian areas of coastal southwestern Australia around Perth.

Pronounciation: Ewe-ka-LIP-tus RU-dis

Hardiness zones
Sunset
12-13, 16-24
USDA 9-11

Landscape Use: Wind break and shade tree for desert locations.

Form & Character: Upright and rounded, heavy, bluish gray, often dowdy looking.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, broadleaf perennial tree, upright, rapid growth to 50 feet with near equal spread, sometimes pendulous.

Foliage/texture: Juvenile leaves are ovate shaped (not lanceolate or falcate). Adult leaves are bluntly lanceolate (not falcate like many other eucalypts) and glaucous with reddish petioles and stems. Trunk bark is rough, persistent, and dark gray brown with fine fissuring which extends to the large branches; medium texture.

Flowers & fruits: Flowers whitish and grow in clusters on axillary meristems in winter, not showy; fruits are small brown capsules.

Seasonal color: None

Temperature: Hardy to 20oF, heat loving.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant of drier sites.

Watering: Infrequent, irregular deep irrigations are best.

Pruning: Raise the crown to elevate the canopy base or else this tree can extend its canopy to the ground.

Propagation: Seed predominantly, but cutting, budding and grafting are also done with some success.

Disease and pests: None

Additional comments: Desert gum was once a popular eucalypt for Arizona landscapes, but since 1990 it has fallen out of favor. Mature desert gum as landscape trees produce copious amounts of litter.

Native alert: Desert gum trees are experiencing significant decline within their native habitat in western Australia.