BLUE GUM 



Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) is the best known species in California, , 

 and derives its name from the light bluish-green color of its juvenile foliage. 

 It is probably the fastest grower of any of the eucalypts. In Australia the 

 usual height is over 200 feet. In California trees 'thirty years old have at- 

 tained the height of 1 50 feet and a diameter of from three 'to four feet under 

 good soil and moisture conditions. 



Blue gum reaches its best development along the coast and river bottoms 

 where moisture is plentiful and foggy days frequent. It is frequently found 

 in the towns of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, however, and en- 

 dures frost as far north as Tehama County. 



Individuals of this species grow straight as a rule and develop handsome, 

 globular heads. On old trees, the leaves are elongated, sickle-shaped and 

 dark green on both sides. The white flowers which appear from January to 

 May give rise to a dark green valve shaped fruit. 



Although blue gum is a beautiful tree, its size makes it unsuitable for 

 street planting because of the damage which it eventually does to curbs and 

 sidewalks and the invasion of sewers by its roots. It is best adapted to wide 

 boulevards where it can develop without interfering with adjoining improve- 

 ments. 



RED GUM 



Red gum (Eucalyptus rostrata) is almost as fast a grower as blue gum 



and has the advantages of being able to stand more cold in its youth as well as 



more drought. This makes it a good choice for interior sections where there is 



. considerable range in temperatures. Its chief objection is that it does not tend 



to grow erect even in close plantings. 



The twigs of old trees have a reddish hue, and the trunks are dark gray, 

 and the head broad. The leaves are elongated and narrow, and the white 

 flowers which appear in May and June are borne in clusters. Red gum at- 

 tains considerable size under a wide variety of soils even when some alkali 

 is present, and forms a large percentage of plantations in the northern part of 



the state. 



MANNA GUM 



Manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) is a handsome tree with long pendu- 

 lous branches which makes it picturesque for boulevard planting. The bark is. 



(70) 



