Where “Gum Tree” Comes From
“Gum tree” is the everyday Australian name for a eucalypt. There are hundreds of species, from tall mountain ashes to twisted mallee, and many have smooth bark that peels in strips.
Koalas feed on gum leaves, and the oils in them give the bush its distinctive smell.
“The koala was asleep in the gum tree.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it in bush, garden and wildlife talk, and in sayings.
In Real Life
Gum trees are the backbone of the Australian bush. Their leaves are food for koalas, their flowers feed birds and bees, and their hollows shelter possums and owls. They shed bark and branches, which is why people say never to camp under one in the wind. It also turns up in Australian sayings such as “up a gum tree”, meaning in a tricky spot.
Quick Questions
Are all gum trees eucalypts?
Yes. “Gum tree” is the common name for eucalypts.
Why do gum trees drop branches?
They shed limbs in hot, dry or windy weather, which is sometimes called “widow-maker” behaviour.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: GUM TREE.
In conversation:
- We sat under a gum tree.
- The koala climbed the gum tree.
- Gum trees line the river.
Good to know: Gum trees can drop branches without warning, so don’t camp under a large old gum in windy weather.
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