Sydney blue gum is native to Australia. The preferred climate is warm temperate to subtropical with a mild dry season of not more than 4 months. Although it can tolerate short dry periods, best growth is achieved on sites with a high rainfall well distributed throughout the year. The tree is mainly of fertile valleys and slopes. In Kampala, Sydney blue gum can be found within Uganda Golf course club among other places.

Sydney blue gum is a tall evergreen tree with an open, irregular, spreading crown. It generally grows 30 - 50 meters tall, with a diameter of up to 2 meters, although exceptional specimens can grow 65 meters tall and attain a diameter of 2.5 meters. The bole is generally of excellent form, straight and clear of branches for half to two thirds of the total tree height.

BARK: rough and dark brown-grey in colour at the base, which then extends up into smooth, blue-grey and white bark. A somewhat flaky bark is retained at the base for 1-4 m, decorticating in long strips to leave a smooth, bluish-grey to white surface.

LEAVES: 1st opposite and then alternate, ovate to broadly lanceolate, green, strongly discolorous; adult leaves are alternate, simple pendulous, lanceolate, 9- 17x 2-3 cm; petiole 15-25 mm long, pinnately veined or with parallel veins, aromatic when crushed, glabrous.

FLOWERS: simple, axillary, white, with 7-11 flowers; peduncles flattened, 4-18 mm long; pedicels are present, up to 3 mm long, or absent, angular; the angles often continuing as ribs on the hypanthia; buds more or less ovoid, 6-9 x 3-4 mm; opercula conical.

FRUITS: sessile or very shortly pedicillate, campanulate, cylindrical or pyriform, 5-8 x 4-7 mm; disk narrow, descending; valves 3 or 4, usually with thin, pointed tips, erect, protruding just above the rim level or strongly exserted, usually conspicuously out-curved.

Agro-forestry: can be used in apiculture (useful in stimulating colonies and may be helpful in queen-rearing and re-stocking programs), used in reforestation.

Medicine: resin. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Eucalyptus+saligna

The tree is a source of fiber. Young, fast-grown trees are used for semi-chemical pulp.

The tree is a source of timber which is used for construction, flooring, cladding and panelling.

Provide an essential oil. It has insecticidal properties against bedbugs, black beetles, flies, lice, and mosquitoes.

The bark contains 5.9-8.4% tannin.

Kino (a red substance resembling resin) is obtained from the tree and can be used medicinally and for tanning.

Provides fuel.