This striking tree is the Rainbow Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus deglupta.

Its most remarkable feature is its bark. As the outer bark peels away in strips, it reveals fresh green tissue beneath. Over time, the exposed areas change through shades of blue, purple, orange, red, and brown, creating the multicolored trunk that gives the tree its common name.

The colors are not pigments arranged like paint. They represent different ages of exposed bark, with newer sections appearing green and older sections gradually darkening.

Rainbow Eucalyptus is unusual because it is the only eucalyptus species naturally found in the Northern Hemisphere. It is native to tropical rainforests in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

The tree can grow very quickly and may become extremely tall in humid tropical conditions. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its small pale flowers are far less conspicuous than its dramatic trunk.

Although it is often planted for its beauty, Rainbow Eucalyptus is a very large tree with powerful roots and falling bark, so it requires plenty of space. Its constantly changing trunk makes it one of the most visually distinctive trees in any tropical garden.