Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is a giant evergreen tree.
In the tropical rainforests of the Philippines, New Guinea, and Indonesia, there exists a tree that looks more like a painting than a tree. Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is named for its vibrant stripes on the trunk, which appear as the tree sheds its thin bark throughout its life.
Eucalyptus deglupta is commonly referred to as the rainbow eucalyptus due to its unique bark-shedding process. After the outermost layer of bark peels away, the trunk reveals a bright green color, which gradually transitions to blue, purple, orange, and finally, chestnut brown. The rainbow eucalyptus does not shed its bark all at once; rather, it sheds in parts throughout the year, creating a stunning rainbow effect.
Trunk of the rainbow eucalyptus
Close-up of tree bark
Throughout a year, the rainbow eucalyptus undergoes multiple bark shedding processes. After each shedding, the color effect becomes more pronounced as it reveals the inner bark in shades of green, orange, and purple.
In particular, after rain, clearer skies create ideal conditions for the tree’s bark to showcase its most brilliant colors.
Also known as “Mindanao Gum” or “Rainbow Gum”, this beautiful tree is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. It is the only eucalyptus species that typically thrives in rainforests, with its natural distribution extending to the Northern Hemisphere, and is one of four eucalyptus species out of more than 700 that do not occur in Australia.
Rainbow eucalyptus is a fast-growing tree.
The outer brown bark peels off in long, narrow strips, revealing a vibrant green inner bark that gradually changes color upon exposure to air – transitioning to blue and purple, then to shades of red, yellow, and finally brown. In recent years, these colorful trees have also been used as ornamental plants, primarily for landscape design to add color to the lush scenery in parks, residential areas, or botanical gardens.
Eucalyptus deglupta is a fast-growing tree, typically reaching heights of 60–75 meters with a trunk diameter of up to 240 cm. This species is widely cultivated around the world in tree plantations, primarily for wood pulp used in making white paper. It is the dominant species used for pulpwood plantations in the Philippines. In the United States, rainbow eucalyptus grows in frost-free climates in Hawaii and southern areas of California, Texas, and Florida. However, on the U.S. mainland, the tree only reaches heights of 100 to 125 feet (30-38 m).
This species is the dominant one used for pulpwood plantations in the Philippines.
Typically, these trees grow from 1 to 1.5 meters each year. The fastest growth rate occurs in the first decade. Depending on conditions, your rainbow eucalyptus can live anywhere from 50 to 150 years.
