Rainbow Eucalyptus

Description

Evergreen with a Rainbow Shade

The Rainbow Eucalyptus has many uses, primary among which is as an ornamental plant. It is used to a large extent as an element in landscape design and in the decoration of tropical and subtropical gardens. That is thanks to its colorful nature and the allure that the multi-colored stripes (predominantly green, red, and purple) decorating its trunk. These colors are at their brightest during the plant’s earlier growth phases. That is how it came to be commonly known as “Rainbow Eucalyptus.”

The Eucalyptus deglupta species is also commonly used for pulpwood plantations that later go into white paper manufacturing. This use of the Rainbow Eucalyptus is especially prevalent in the Philippines and Indonesia as well as in other parts of East Asia. Its native lands of origin include Papua New Guinea, Sulawesi, Mindanao, and New Britain. That is because the Rainbow Eucalyptus flourishes in regions dominated by tropical forests since tropical rains are its main source of nutrition. It also thrives best in areas with damp soil.

The plant also grows in areas in the United States where the climate is frost-free and highly humid. That is because it does not have the capability of resisting frosts and will not stand for long in the face of intense frosts or ones that continue for a long period. The Eucalyptus Deglupta is the only Indigenous Eucalyptus Tree in the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found growing in parts of southern California, as well as Hawaii, Texas, Florida, and parts of Louisiana. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, it grows in zones where the temperature is 35 ℉ or higher, with a climate ranging from 65-70 ℉ making the ideal environment for the growth. It can grow in a temperature as low as 26-28 ℉ but won’t endure these conditions for a long period of time.

The Rainbow Eucalyptus is a massive plant. In the areas in which it grows inside the continental US, it can grow up to a range of 100 to 125 feet tall. Where it grows natively, it can reach double that size or more. However, it can be restricted to much lesser heights if that is desired, and it is usually kept within the range of 60-80 feet tall.

In the native land, the Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree can grow up to 250 ft. They are also found in the frost-free areas in Hawaii and other areas such as California and Texas, where the temperatures are higher. However, these trees do not grow as tall here as they do in their native environments. 

Caring for your Rainbow Eucalyptus

If you want to grow the Rainbow Tree, you must make sure that you get a big container and choose a sheltered environment as these plants do not do very well with cold and drying winds. Moreover, these plants grow quickly and can be quite big. This is why it is best if you grow them away from things such as other structures or power lines. They have sprawling roots, and that can pose to be a problem for the underground drainage and wiring systems. 

Light

This Eucalyptus Tree requires a lot of direct sunlight. If you take our advice, you must plant it in a place where it can get as much direct sunlight as possible. These plants are better kept out of your home so that there is no filtered light. If the plant does not get enough unfiltered light, it may hinder its growth significantly. 

Soil

When planting the Rainbow Eucalyptus, it is important to check whether the soil is alkaline or not. If the soil is alkaline, the plant won’t do very well. Get neutral soil. You can also get weak acidic soil for optimal growth. 

Water

The Rainbow Eucalyptus is drought tolerant. However, in the first year of its growth, it is important for you to water it regularly. This plant grows so fast that it usually drinks the entire pot’s worth of water in just a day. If you have a long shipping time and you receive this plant with dried leaves, just water daily and the leaves will come back in about 2-3 weeks. Pot should have a pan underneath to really allow the soil to soak up all the water.These trees, however, are not tolerant to flooding or overwatering, so you must make sure that you avoid watering them too much and in small intervals. 

You can keep the trunk moist to support the swelling of the bark and the trunk. This can result in colorful stripes. 

Fertilizer

These trees do not need a lot of fertilizer. They can do pretty well if the soil is rich enough. However, if the soil is not rich enough, you might have to add some fertilizer. However, be sure to skip on phosphorus as that is not very good for the growth of the tree. 

If you want the plant to grow slowly, then you must skip on the fertilizer as that will only make it grow taller. 

Common Issues Of Eucalyptus deglupta 

The Rainbow Eucalyptus is one of the most low-maintenance trees. You do not need to be very careful with the maintenance as they are not very prone to diseases. However, there are some aspects that you must look out for.  

Pests

While the warding off bark makes sure that your plant stays safe from pests, you still need to keep some of the pests away. For example, the whiteflies, psyllids, and beetles are some pests that can cause potential harm to your Rainbow tree. Other than that, whiteflies and sharpshooters are also attracted by the leaves. 

To get rid of these pests, you can either use a solution of eucalyptus oil, water, and hand soap or get an insecticide to ward off all the pests. 

Disease

Despite being very resilient, the tree can still suffer from root rot. This happens due to overwatering. 

Pruning Rainbow Eucalyptus 

You don’t really need to prune the tree. You can let it maintain its height unless and until you want to shape it. If you want to remove any damaged branches, then the best time to do it is in winter or spring. 

Propagation

You cannot propagate the Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree when it matures; this is why you must propagate it while it is still young. 

Potting / Repotting

You can plant the Eucalyptus tree in moist soil with seeds. But it is best for you to move the seedlings outside so they can grow without any damage to the roots that usually happen during the process of repotting. 

This plant grows so fast that it usually drinks the entire pot’s worth of water in just a day. If you have a long shipping time and you receive this plant with dried leaves, just water daily and the leaves will come back in about 2-3 weeks. Pot should have a pan underneath to really allow the soil to soak up all the water.