Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees Are Unreally Beautiful

When I first saw images of rainbow eucalyptus trees (Eucalyptus deglupta) while scrolling through social media one day, I figured they couldn't possibly be legit. The multicolored bark looks like something you might see in a Dr. Seuss book as if the trees have been decorated with a giant paintbrush. But this eye-catching type of tree does actually exist.

Rainbow eucalyptus trees are native to tropical regions such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. And there are a few places in the southernmost parts of the U.S. where you can see them growing.

Rainbow eucalyptus is an evergreen tree with spear-shaped, silvery-green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers. The most stunning feature is the trunk, which grows rainbow bark in shades of green, blue, orange, red, and purple. As it grows, the bark peels off in strips to reveal new colors and patterns, its beauty constantly evolving.

Only certain parts of the United States are home to rainbow eucalyptus trees because they need a consistently warm climate with plenty of rain to grow. San Diego, California, is becoming a destination to view the trees. You can see them at Balboa Park, along Sports Arena Boulevard, the San Diego Zoo, and parts of Mission Bay.

You'll find rainbow trees in certain parts of Hawaii, too. There's a famous grove of trees in Maui along the Hana Highway, and you can also spot them at Ke'anae Arboretum. On Kauai, you can stroll along the Princeville walking path to see groups of rainbow eucalyptus, and they're at the Wahiawa Botanical Garden and Honolulu Zoo on Oahu.

In Florida, you can snap a selfie with a rainbow eucalyptus tree at the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens, Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, the Naples Botanical Garden, and Mounts Botanical Garden in Palm Beach County.

Depending on where you live, it may also be possible to grow your own rainbow tree ($100, Fast Growing Trees). They're hardy in Zones 9-11, which includes parts of southern California, Texas, Florida, and Hawaii. Rainbow trees grow best in full sun with consistently moist soil (they can tolerate short periods of drought, but it's best to keep them well-watered). You can also grow the trees in containers in Zones 4-11 if you bring them indoors before the first frost.

In their native environment, rainbow eucalyptus trees can reach over 200 feet tall. However, they'll stay around 100 feet in the U.S. (they won't grow quite as tall outside their native tropical forest habitat). You can keep them even shorter by pruning them regularly. These trees grow fast, and it's not uncommon for them to shoot up by five feet in a single season, so they can reach towering heights in almost no time.

Check restrictions for your local area before planting. Right now, the University of Florida's Assessment of Non-Native Plants advises against planting them because they have the potential to be invasive.

Although pictures of these trees are stunning, they don't quite capture the awe of seeing them in person. A real rainbow eucalyptus can stop you in your tracks, so if you find yourself in an area where the trees grow, be sure to check them out.