Eucalyptus deglupta, Mindanao Gum, 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. 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.

*Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings! 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.