Cider Gum vs Common Globe-Thistle

Eucalyptus gunnii compared with Echinops sphaerocephalus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cider Gum	Common Globe-Thistle
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Myrtales (Myrtales)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Myrtaceae	Tenrecidae
Genus	Eucalyptus	Echinops
Species	Eucalyptus gunnii	Echinops sphaerocephalus

Conservation Status

Cider Gum

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Globe-Thistle

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cider Gum	Common Globe-Thistle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cider Gum

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries) and South America (Brazil).

Common Globe-Thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (19 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Australia).

Cider Gum

The cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) is a medium to large eucalyptus tree native to the highlands of Tasmania, Australia, where it grows at elevations up to 1,400 meters in subalpine and montane environments. It is one of the most cold-hardy eucalypts, tolerating severe frosts and occasional snow, which has made it widely popular in cultivation far beyond its native range, particularly in Britain, Ireland, France, and other temperate parts of Europe. In Tasmania, cider gum typically grows along the margins of highland lakes and in subalpine moorland and wet sclerophyll communities. The species reaches 15–35 meters in height, with smooth, pale gray-green to white bark that peels in ribbons. Young foliage is distinctive round and silver-blue, aging to more elongated sickle-shaped adult leaves. The name cider gum derives from the practice of Tasmanian Aboriginal people fermenting the sweet sap that pools in natural wounds to produce a mildly fermented drink. The species is classified as Not Evaluated by the IUCN. Eucalyptus gunnii provides habitat for several Tasmanian endemic species and is considered an important component of highland vegetation communities. In its introduced European range, it is a popular ornamental and windbreak tree. Concerns exist about its naturalization in some European countries where it has established self-sustaining populations.

Common Globe-Thistle

<em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em>, commonly known as the common globe-thistle or great globe-thistle, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. The species has a distribution spanning Europe, North America, and Oceania, with naturalization in several regions outside its native southern and central European range. <em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em> typically inhabits dry, open, and disturbed habitats including roadsides, waste ground, rocky slopes, and steppe grasslands, where it is well adapted to poor, well-drained soils. It produces distinctive spherical, steel-blue flower heads that are highly attractive to pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies, making it a valued plant in native garden planting and ecological restoration. The species is not currently evaluated for conservation status. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. <em>Echinops sphaerocephalus</em> is a robust, spiny plant that can grow to considerable height and spreads readily in suitable open habitats. Its ornamental qualities and pollinator value have contributed to its deliberate planting in gardens and public green spaces beyond its native range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 8 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇫🇷 France 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇴 Norway 🇪🇸 Spain 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom