Red versus blue: Why the right gum tree matters in a healthy wetland

February 29, 2024 7:11 PM

Red versus blue: Why the right gum tree matters in a healthy wetland. Most of the 1000 different Eucalyptus tree varieties are native to Australia but not all belong in a pristine wetland.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (7 comments total)

(I get it, it's Eucalyptus) Wow. As far branding trees. Please never brand them as Red vs. Blue. That's a recipe for shit you don't want.
posted by Avelwood at 9:30 PM on February 29

So many varieties of Eucalyptus!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:03 AM on March 1

(I get it, it's Eucalyptus) Wow. As far branding trees. Please never brand them as Red vs. Blue. That's a recipe for shit you don't want.

The common names of the trees are Blue Gums and Red Gums, and this dates back to decades before US Politics became a garbage fire.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries at 4:25 AM on March 1 [10 favorites]

I find the names interesting, since (in the photos at least), they don’t really scream “blue” or “red” to me, where a bunch of the other varieties are named by scent — I figure I might be able to ID a Lemon-scented Gum without too much trouble.

It’s also interesting that fairly related species are so ecologically different, and more evidence that tree plantations are always a problem.
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:04 AM on March 1

Eucalyptus trees are really bad. When the western part of San Francisco was being developed, eucalyptus trees were planted to stabilize the sand dunes, but they turned out to be brittle & flammable. Whenever we have a big storm, they're the most likely to fall or have large branches break off, and in dry weather they often catch fire.
posted by mike3k at 2:00 PM on March 1

Eucalyptus oil is awesome for loads of stuff, and any time I use it I think “Oh, that’s why they burn so well…”.

Also they drop branches for a laugh. Yes, they’re probably trying to kill you.


The common names of the trees are Blue Gums and Red Gums, and this dates back to decades before US Politics became a garbage fire.

In the US they call redgums bluegums, and bluegums redgums.
posted by pompomtom at 10:47 PM on March 1

The red river gum is Australia's favourite tree, I think, the poll run in the last couple of years. There's some really lovely life giving affirming stuff happening where people listen to the indigenous custodians and restore natural landscapes to what they should be.

Eucalyptus trees aren't universally bad! Perhaps out of place, and yes, flammable- but fire is a part of some Eucalyptus life cycles.
posted by freethefeet at 2:08 AM on March 2 [1 favorite]