Birthday
HydrangeasRainbow eucalyptus looks as if its trunk had been painted by hand: stripes of green, blue, purple, orange and maroon blend into one another. It is neither paint nor photo editing but a natural feature of the tree. Here is where rainbow eucalyptus grows and where its colours come from.
Eucalyptus and greenery in bouquets: spray roses and potted plants.
What kind of tree it is
Rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is the only eucalyptus species that grows naturally in the Northern Hemisphere: on Mindanao in the Philippines, in Indonesia and in Papua New Guinea. It is a fast-growing tropical tree that can reach 60–70 metres in the wild. It is planted for timber and paper pulp and grown as an ornamental in tropical parks.
Why the bark is multicoloured
The bark sheds in narrow strips at different times. Each patch that peels away reveals bright green young bark, which gradually darkens to shades of blue, purple, orange and maroon. Because different parts of the trunk renew at different times, every stage is visible at once, creating the rainbow pattern.
Where to see it
- In the wild on Mindanao, in Indonesia and New Guinea.
- In Hawaii, where the trees line roads and grow in botanical gardens on Maui and Kauai.
- In tropical botanical gardens and glasshouses around the world.
The colours are brightest in warm, humid tropical conditions; in cooler climates the stripes are less vivid.
Can you grow one at home?
Rainbow eucalyptus loves warmth and cannot survive frost, so it does not grow outdoors in Ukraine. It can be kept as a young plant in a pot in a very bright spot, but it is a large, fast-growing tree and the rainbow bark only appears on mature trunks. For homes and bouquets other eucalypts are used, such as silver dollar and blue gum; see “Eucalyptus in floristry”.
Other remarkable trees
Baobabs, dragon trees and giant sequoias are among the world’s most striking trees. See “Unusual trees of the world” and, for the largest tree on Earth, “General Sherman”.
FAQ
Is rainbow eucalyptus bark painted?
No, the colours are natural: they are layers of bark revealed as it peels.
Does rainbow eucalyptus smell?
Its leaves contain essential oils like other eucalypts, but the scent is weaker than in the species used in floristry.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
