Eucalyptus plantations are among the most productive forest stands in Portugal and Spain, being mostly used for pulp production and, more recently, as an energy crop. However, the region's Mediterranean climate, with characteristic severe summer drought, negatively affects eucalypt growth and increases mortality. Although the physiological response to water shortage is well characterized for this species, evidence about the plants' recovery ability remains scarce. In order to assess the physiological and biochemical response of E. globulus during the recovery phase, two genotypes (AL-18 and AL-10) were submitted to a three-week water stress period at two different intensities (18% and 25% of field capacity), followed by one week of rewatering. Recovery was assessed one day and one week after rehydration. Drought reduced height, biomass, water potential, NPQ and gas exchange in both genotypes. Contrarily, the levels of pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fv /Fm and ɸPSII ), MDA and ABA increased. During recovery, the physiological and biochemical profile of stressed plants showed a similar trend: they experienced reversion of altered traits (MDA, ABA, E, gs , pigments), while other parameters did not recover (ɸPSII , NPQ). Furthermore, an overcompensation of CO2 assimilation was achieved one week after rehydration, which was accompanied by greater growth and re-establishment of oxidative balance. Both genotypes were tolerant to the tested conditions, although clonal differences were found. AL-10 was more productive and showed a more rapid and dynamic response to rehydration (namely in carotenoid content, ɸPSII and NPQ) compared to clone AL-18.