Eucalyptus deglupta

Eucalyptus deglupta is one of the most beautiful, large trees in the world, with an incredible stature, its multicoloured trunk undoubtedly leads to its name of Rainbow Eucalyptus. Native to tropical regions, it dislikes the cold and tolerates high temperatures with a high humidity level. In its natural environment, aside from its status as an ornamental tree, it serves as a forestry tree, providing essential resources thanks to its wood.

Eucalyptus deglupta is a species native to Mindanao, an island of the Philippines archipelago. It is also found naturally in Hawaii, New Britain, French Polynesia, as well as the Indonesian islands of New Guinea, Seram and Sulawesi. In these exotic or tropical regions, it grows in a humid and warm climate. Belonging to the Myrtaceae family, it is commonly called: Rainbow Gum or Rainbow Eucalyptus. The designation deglupta comes from the Latin degluptere which means: to peel. It should be noted that among the 900 species of eucalyptus, it is the only one not to produce essential oil. In many countries this eucalyptus is called Kamarere and is cultivated for the production of paper pulp, used in cabinetmaking for the production of plywood and particle boards or simply as firewood.

This eucalyptus forms a tree with a straight trunk, an upright and balanced habit. With very rapid growth, in the first years, it can grow 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) high and 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 in) in diameter per year. In its natural environment, it reaches a height of 60 to 80 m (196 ft 11 in to 262 ft 6 in). It sports an evergreen foliage made up of single and alternate leaves, ovate in shape, with a short petiole, in a lovely bluish green. As the tree ages, it loses its bark, continuously and at different times. It flakes off in thin strips, revealing a sub-layer, marked with extremely colourful vertical spots, which evolve over time. In tropical climates, flowering occurs sporadically, on plants a few years old. The inflorescence is made up of floral buds gathered into a tight bouquet and blooms into small flowers with numerous cream-white anthers, forming a pompon about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter. Rich in nectar, they are very attractive to bees. After flowering, the fruits appear in the form of a woody, hemispherical capsule, attached to the branch by a short petiole, containing tiny brown-black seeds.

The Rainbow Eucalyptus can find a place in a large garden provided it can withstand hardiness close to 0°C, planted alone, in a clear space, to appreciate the elegance of its stature and the beauty of its bark. More generally in our climates, it will be for collectors or bonsai enthusiasts. Grown in a pot, it requires a light and filtering potting medium, based on a neutral (non-acidic) substrate supplemented with perlite, sand or pumice, on a draining bed composed of gravel or expanded clay. In winter, it is advisable to bring the Eucalyptus deglupta indoors, in a bright room, possibly heated.