North America Non-native Plant

Eucalyptus Formanii

Botanical name: Eucalyptus formanii

USDA symbol: EUFO8

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Eucalyptus formanii: A Mysterious Member of the Eucalyptus Family If you’ve stumbled across the name Eucalyptus formanii in your plant research, you’re likely scratching your head wondering what exactly this species is all about. You’re not alone! This particular eucalyptus species appears to be one of those botanical mysteries that ...

Eucalyptus formanii: A Mysterious Member of the Eucalyptus Family

If you’ve stumbled across the name Eucalyptus formanii in your plant research, you’re likely scratching your head wondering what exactly this species is all about. You’re not alone! This particular eucalyptus species appears to be one of those botanical mysteries that keeps even experienced gardeners and plant enthusiasts guessing.

What We Know (And Don’t Know)

Here’s the honest truth about Eucalyptus formanii: reliable, detailed information about this species is surprisingly scarce. While the name suggests it belongs to the vast and diverse eucalyptus family, comprehensive data about its characteristics, native range, and cultivation requirements simply isn’t readily available in standard botanical or horticultural references.

This lack of information could mean several things:

  • It may be an extremely rare species with limited distribution
  • It could be a recently described species that hasn’t yet been widely studied
  • The name might not be currently recognized in mainstream botanical classification

The Eucalyptus Family Context

What we do know is that eucalyptus species, in general, are primarily native to Australia, with a few species found in nearby regions. The genus includes over 800 species, ranging from small shrubs to towering forest giants. Most eucalyptus species are known for their distinctive aromatic leaves, interesting bark patterns, and rapid growth rates.

A Word of Caution for Gardeners

Before considering any eucalyptus species for your landscape, it’s important to understand that many can become quite large and some have proven invasive in certain regions outside their native range. Without specific information about Eucalyptus formanii’s growth habits, mature size, or environmental impact, it would be difficult to make informed decisions about cultivation.

Better Alternatives for Your Garden

If you’re interested in adding unique, aromatic trees to your landscape, consider these well-documented alternatives:

  • Native trees species appropriate for your specific region
  • Well-researched eucalyptus species with known cultivation requirements
  • Other aromatic native trees that provide similar aesthetic appeal

The Bottom Line

Sometimes the most responsible approach to gardening is admitting when we don’t have enough information to make good recommendations. With Eucalyptus formanii, that’s exactly where we find ourselves. Until more comprehensive research becomes available, it’s probably best to focus on better-documented plant choices that we know will thrive in your specific growing conditions.

If you’re a plant researcher or have encountered this species in scientific literature, we’d love to learn more about your experiences. After all, every mystery plant has a story – we just haven’t uncovered this one’s tale yet!

Eucalyptus Formanii

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Rosidae

Order

Myrtales

Family

Myrtaceae Juss. - Myrtle family

Genus

Eucalyptus L'Hér. - gum

Species

Eucalyptus formanii C.A. Gardner

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA