While eucalyptus trees may inspire thoughts of the land “Down
Under” and koala bears, the rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta) is unique
among eucalypts. Unlike other members of the genus, rainbow eucalyptus hails
from the Philippine Islands; specifically, the island of Mindanao, which is why
the tree is also referred to as a Mindanao gum. E. deglupta was introduced to
the Hawaiian Islands in 1929.
In fact, many people have their first experience with these
trees while visiting Hawaii. Rainbows are tropical trees accustomed to a
rainforest type of environment. While they grow more slowly in the cooler
winter weather of South Florida, the trees retain their leaves year-round.
Rainbows should be protected from freezes, but they can withstand light frost
conditions for short periods. Summertime is when these trees can really show
their vigor and growth speed. They may grow 8 to 10 feet in a growing season,
and even more with extremely good care.
Beautiful Bark
The tree gets its common name from the striking stripes of color
on its trunks and limbs. While they look as though they were painted on, these
ever-changing colors are an entirely natural feature. Unlike trees such as
oaks, rainbow eucalyptus does not have a thick, corky layer of bark on the
trunk. Instead, the bark is smooth and vibrantly alive, and as it grows, it
ex-foliates thin layers of spent tissue.
This process occurs in irregular zones at different times. Once
the layers come off, they reveal new and fresh green bark. As the newly exposed
bark slowly ages, it changes from bright green to a darker green, then bluish
to purplish, and then pink-orange. Finally, the color becomes a brownish maroon
right before exfoliation occurs. Since this process is happening in different
zones of the trunk and in different stages, simultaneously, the colors are
varied and almost constantly changing. As a result, the tree will never have
the same color pattern twice, making it like a work of living art.
Water Liberally
Water is very important to rainbow eucalyptus, especially when
it is young. If this tree is grown under conditions where water is not
abundant, the growth rate will be much slower, and the exfoliation will occur
in small flecks rather than long strips. When growing in containers, never
allow E.deglupta to dry out, as this can prove fatal to the tree very quickly. For
landscape use, the ideal location for rainbow eucalyptus is near freshwater
ponds, lakes, or canals. Mature trees can survive and grow in drier areas, but
they become their most luxuriant when they have access to abundant moisture.
Other Advantages of E.deglupta is largely pest-free. Occasionally a
few mealybugs or aphids may appear, and the odd caterpillar or leaf-cutting bee
may disfigure some leaves, but the tree can be grown without excessive concern
about pest damage. Growers should consider an application of mycorrhizal inoculums
to their plantings, especially when planting in developed areas where the soil
has been severely disturbed. Although rainbow eucalyptus is a wonder to behold
and can add a magical dimension to the landscape, it produces none of the
familiar aromatic oils that other eucalypts do — making it ideal for those who
desire a quieter olfactory environment. This tree deserves to be more widely
planted in the warmer climate areas of the mainland United States.
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