“Colors are the smiles of nature.”
—Leigh Hunt
After exploring the bulky Baobab and the umbrella-shaped Dragon’s Blood Tree, our tour of trees that hardly look real continues with one that appears to have been painted by an artist.
The Rainbow Eucalyptus is famous for its extraordinary trunk, which can display streaks of green, blue, purple, orange, red, and reddish brown, all at the same time. Yet no paintbrush is involved. Its brilliant colors are created through the tree’s natural process of shedding and renewing its bark.
Tree Profile
Common Name: Rainbow Eucalyptus, Rainbow Gum, or Mindanao Gum
Scientific Name: Eucalyptus deglupta
Tree Type: Tropical broadleaf evergreen
Average Height: 100–200 feet, occasionally taller
Lifespan: Commonly estimated at 50–150 years
Native Range: The Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea
Where It Grows
When we think of eucalyptus trees, we usually picture the dry landscapes of Australia. The Rainbow Eucalyptus, however, is a tropical rainforest tree that thrives in warm, humid environments with abundant rainfall.
Its native range extends across islands in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It is the only eucalyptus species whose natural range extends into the Northern Hemisphere. It is also unusual because it grows naturally in rainforests rather than the drier habitats associated with most eucalyptus trees.
Outside its native range, the tree has been planted in tropical and subtropical locations, including Hawaii, Florida, Southern California, and parts of Central America. Because it cannot tolerate prolonged cold or frost, it is not suited to most of the continental United States.
How the Bark Gets Its Colors
The Rainbow Eucalyptus does not produce all its colors at once. Instead, sections of its thin outer bark peel away at different times, revealing fresh inner bark that begins as bright green.
As the newly exposed bark ages and reacts to air and sunlight, its color gradually changes. Green gives way to shades of blue and purple, followed by orange, red, maroon, and brown. Because different sections of bark are always at different stages of aging, the trunk develops its famous rainbow-striped appearance.
The colors and patterns are never exactly the same on any two trees. Even the appearance of a single tree continually changes as old bark peels away and new colors emerge.
Wildlife It Supports
The Rainbow Eucalyptus produces clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers. Although they are easily overshadowed by the spectacular trunk, the blossoms provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.
In its native rainforest environment, the tree’s enormous height and leafy crown contribute to the layered structure of the forest. Its branches offer resting and sheltering places for birds, insects, and other small animals, while fallen leaves and bark become part of the organic material on the forest floor.
Environmental Benefits
Like other large trees, the Rainbow Eucalyptus absorbs carbon dioxide, releases oxygen, filters airborne particles, and helps moderate temperatures by providing shade.
Its extensive root system can help stabilize soil in areas with plentiful moisture. The tree also returns organic matter to the ground as its leaves, twigs, and strips of bark fall and decompose.
The Rainbow Eucalyptus produces clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers. Although they are easily overshadowed by the spectacular trunk, the blossoms provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects.
History and Human Uses
The Rainbow Eucalyptus has long been valued for more than its unusual beauty. In parts of Southeast Asia, it is grown commercially for pulpwood used in paper production. Its wood has also been used for lumber, furniture, construction, and fuel.
In tropical parks, gardens, and arboretums, it is planted as an ornamental tree. A mature Rainbow Eucalyptus can become a living landmark, although its towering size makes it far better suited to large public spaces than an average backyard.
The word deglupta comes from Latin and refers to peeling or shedding—a fitting name for a tree whose most remarkable feature is created as its bark falls away.
Why It Deserves Our Attention
The Rainbow Eucalyptus tells us that some of nature’s most beautiful creations are not stagnant. Its colors evolve because the tree is continually shedding, aging, and renewing itself.
What appears to be an artist’s finished masterpiece is actually a work forever in progress. Each falling strip of bark reveals another layer, another color, and another stage in the life of the tree.
Perhaps there is a lesson in that. Change does not always take beauty away. Sometimes change is exactly what reveals it.
Fun Facts
Fun Fact #1: Young Rainbow Eucalyptus trees may have green trunks and show little of the famous rainbow coloring until they mature.
Fun Fact #2: The tree can grow several feet in a single year when conditions are ideal.
Fun Fact #3: Its mature fruit consists of small, woody capsules rather than the colorful fruit its name might suggest.
Fun Fact #4: Despite its tropical origins, the Rainbow Eucalyptus is grown commercially on plantations in several countries for paper pulp production.
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