The incredible, otherworldly sight of a rainbow eucalyptus tree momentarily teleports us to Alice in Wonderland. The large, wide tree is perhaps the most colorful in the world. Its bark reveals vibrant colors – greens, purples, blues, oranges, reds and yellows. As if we needed another reason to love where the koalas reside!
The brilliant hues of rainbow eucalyptus have fascinated people for hundreds of years. Known to science as eucalyptus deglupta, this is the only member of the eucalyptus species to live in rainforests. If you’re wondering whether the colorful tree is native to only Australia, we have good news. Rainbow eucalyptus grows naturally out of Australia, and is endemic to the Northern Hemisphere! You can find it in the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. If you’re looking to spot this heavenly tree in the USA, you will find it in Hawaii, Texas, Florida and Southern California, where the no-frost conditions allow it to live happily. But because the tree is not naturally occurring in these regions of the USA, it does not reach its full grandeur.
But how does the rainbow eucalyptus get so colorful?
The tree sheds its bark all year round, which helps reveal a fresh, softer layer. This layer is originally green, but as it matures, it transforms into colors. Each layer reveals a different color – the rainbow bark making the tree truly jovial and full of life.
The gorgeous tree grows lightning quick – it can double in size in the course of a year. In its natural habitat, the rainbow eucalyptus grows up to 250 ft(!), and it’s trunk spreads over a diameter of six feet. When not growing at its home, though, the tree reaches a height of 100-150ft.
Believe it or not, its burst of colors is not the only thing eucalyptus deglupta is known for. It makes a great commercial tree, because it is an extraordinary source of pulpwood. Which means that it Is used for making paper. Now, isn’t that phenomenal? The paper you wrote on today might have been made using the rainbow tree!
Quick question: would you write on this paper or preserve it?
Loved learning about the rainbow eucalyptus? You’ll also like the 5 oldest trees in the world.
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