Eucalyptus deglupta - Rainbow Eucalyptus

[Palm crazy]

Update on the rainbow euc. This fall the lows have been 21F/-6.1C twice and five time at 24F/-4.4C. Thanks to a cover and candle during freezing temps it has made it very good. Over all the winter has been warmer than normal with highs being 5F-10F above average so this really was the best winter to try this cool looking tree. Six weeks in the ground now, will update again come spring.

You can see the cover and tall candle I used to keep warm….yes it really does work. Can’t wait for spring so I can see how fast is grows in a cool summer climate.

[MattyB]

That thing is gonna love your soil

[Palm crazy]

That thing is gonna love your soil

You mean because of the good drainage?

How I planted it…was to put a bag of compost and set the roots on top of that and back fill with native soil. Once those roots go into that nice compost it’s going to grow like a jack rabbit come spring…or…at least the what I’m hoping.

[MattyB]

I'm just thinking about how much moisture your climate has to offer, compared to my dry canyon.

[Palm crazy]

They do love water thats for sure. The first week of planting the weather was dry and I had to water every day to keep it happy. Rainy season last here till late june so should love the weather here. I’ve read that it like temps to be at least 73F to start growing but someone else told me it will grow at lower temps than that. We’ll see come April.

Edited December 14, 2014 by Palm crazy

[exoticatropicals]

Palm Crazy-

That is very interesting that you are trying to grow a Rainbow Eucalyptus up there. I've got quite a few years experience growing them myself- here's my 2c..

They certainly do like (and require) plenty of water and humid conditions are ideal. However, with heavy cold, you may want to mist on occasion with a fungicide just to keep that problem away. I use Daconil in a sprayer, and just give a mist over the leaves and near the base every 2 weeks or so while they are young.

I would definitely try to keep your tree above the 20's if possible. They can take the upper 20's but probably not for extended periods, and they are much more tender when young.

Another thing they need is good air circulation, so if you are keeping it covered, let it get some new air once in awhile and maybe allow the foliage to dry off a bit. This is where fungicide can help. Sometimes they can get all mushy if in an enclosed super wet environment for too long.

As far as growing, I would suspect they will still grow even in the lower temps, although slower. once you have nights in the 40's start giving a half strength liquid fertilizer every week. (miracle gro works)

This will really increase the growth rate.. you'll see tons more leafing using a liquid fert. I would hold off during the real cold times though, since the new leaves are tender.

If anyone is interested, I have a batch of Eucalyptus deglupta seedlings for sale that I can ship.

They are in 4" pots and pretty much ready to go up to 3gallons now ( I skip the 1 gallon) about 2 feet tall and getting taller by the day.

See below for details/contact:

Rainbow Eucalyptus For Sale

[Palm crazy]

Brian thanks for the input, thats pretty much what I have been doing. Were in a sunny dry spell right now with cooler night in the upper 30’s but will go back into the 40’s by wednesday. http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USWA0318:1:US

So far this winter it has been through 21F back in November and December and no freeze since January 2nd this year. All the lower leaves have fried off but the top is still good and thats the most important thing at this stage. I’ll take the cover off in April and I have taken it off when the temps where in the mid 40s at night. Should be interesting to see what it does this year, it growing into much shade but in a protected area. Will update come spring with a pic. Thanks for your help on my totally impulse buying plant, LOL!

[Palm crazy]

Here’s an update photo of the rainbow Euc. You can see how much it has grown in the last two months….which isn’t very much since we’ve only been in the 60’s and low 70’s so far this year 79F was the warmest. A far cry from last years 88F on May first.

It lost most of it leaves and now is starting to regrow lots of new growth. Also you can see some freeze damage on the thin trunks and little limbs. Hopefully growth will speed up once we get into warmer weather in June…poor thing only gets sun in the morning.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Palm crazy

[Pedro 65]

Here’s an update photo of the rainbow Euc. You can see how much it has grown in the last two months….which isn’t very much since we’ve only been in the 60’s and low 70’s so far this year 79F was the warmest. A far cry from last years 88F on May first.

It lost most of it leaves and now is starting to regrow lots of new growth. Also you can see some freeze damage on the thin trunks and little limbs. Hopefully growth will speed up once we get into warmer weather in June…poor thing only gets sun in the morning.

Palmcrazy, they respond "very well" to Nitrophoska blue fert ( only in spring /summer of course) which is a fast release, it will get it motoring along

Pete

[Palm crazy]

Pete thanks for the information on fertilizer. After doing some looking I thought I found some locally at Henderson, WA….except WA is not my WA but Western Australia (WA). LOL!

But I am sure I can find some compatible product in the USA. I gave it some fish emulsion and plan on giving organic all purpose fert. starting in June.

I’ll do another update if theres anything to see in two months. The hot weather doesn’t normally get here till July, so I should see lots of new growth then.

Thanks for looking.

Edited May 19, 2015 by Palm crazy

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Update on the rainbow euc. This fall the lows have been 21F/-6.1C twice and five time at 24F/-4.4C. Thanks to a cover and candle during freezing temps it has made it very good. Over all the winter has been warmer than normal with highs being 5F-10F above average so this really was the best winter to try this cool looking tree. Six weeks in the ground now, will update again come spring.

You can see the cover and tall candle I used to keep warm….yes it really does work. Can’t wait for spring so I can see how fast is grows in a cool summer climate.

I really hate to burst your bubble.... I am one of the biggest proponents of trying tropical trees in marginal climates.

IMO ...These guys are very frost tender.

I had two in 15 gal pots that grew from a 4 inch pot to 15 ft tall in one season.

Frost Damage seems occurs at 31f and I had a low of 29f this winter, I lost every leaf, twig and branch and most of the main trunk of both trees. They were in a somewhat protected location.

As soon as the regrew some leaves .... I got rid of them.

Had this been a normal zone 9b winter... I am sure that they would be dead.

[Palm crazy]

Update on the rainbow euc. This fall the lows have been 21F/-6.1C twice and five time at 24F/-4.4C. Thanks to a cover and candle during freezing temps it has made it very good. Over all the winter has been warmer than normal with highs being 5F-10F above average so this really was the best winter to try this cool looking tree. Six weeks in the ground now, will update again come spring.

You can see the cover and tall candle I used to keep warm….yes it really does work. Can’t wait for spring so I can see how fast is grows in a cool summer climate.

I really hate to burst your bubble.... I am one of the biggest proponents of trying tropical trees in marginal climates.

IMO ...These guys are very frost tender.

I had two in 15 gal pots that grew from a 4 inch pot to 15 ft tall in one season.

Frost Damage seems occurs at 31f and I had a low of 29f this winter, I lost every leaf, twig and branch and most of the main trunk of both trees. They were in a somewhat protected location.

As soon as the regrew some leaves .... I got rid of them.

Had this been a normal zone 9b winter... I am sure that they would be dead.

Jeff there is no bubble to burst…. I seriously doubt I will be able to get it through another winter especially if it goes into z8 winter lows. I’m just trying this for the fun of it and thats about it. Maybe next time I’ll try something easy like a pineapple or coconut palm, I’m kidding of course. LOL!

Sorry to hear about your trees, I was really hoping it would be more hardy for 9b Cali. With your hot long summers I’m not surprised by the size it grew for you in such a short time.

Here at 28- 29F was when I notice seeing leaf damage too.

[SoulofthePlace]

Good day, I have attached three photos of Eucalyptus deglupta shoots or seedlings that are just a few months old. Both smaller and larger box are from the same seeds of the same source in Spain yet the smaller box has so much smaller seedlings than the larger box, even if both have the same soil in it. Also, if you notice from the other pictures that the seedlings in the smaller box are much fewer and their stems are RED, while in the larger box, very rich with seedlings and their stems are mostly green with some redness at the bottom of the stems instead of the entire stem. What could be "wrong"?

[Josh-O]

they sure do grow fast

[_Keith]

My latest plant purchase. It already been down to 30F and this morning at 29F. Yikes. Been in the ground for five days. LOL! I just want to see how fast this thing grows next spring.

I like that pot shape. I haven't seen those locally.

[Josh-O]

these seem to be more cold hardy than I suspected...

[Pedro 65]

My latest plant purchase. It already been down to 30F and this morning at 29F. Yikes. Been in the ground for five days. LOL! I just want to see how fast this thing grows next spring.

I like that pot shape. I haven't seen those locally.

Palm crazy, if you cut the "side" beaches "off" it will grow much "faster" upwards..

Pete

[SoulofthePlace]

And if you cut the tops will it become more like bonsai or umbrella shaped? Can E. deglupta be shaped into a low growing grotesque tree?

[Pedro 65]

And if you cut the tops will it become more like bonsai or umbrella shaped? Can E. deglupta be shaped into a low growing grotesque tree?

The top will "reshoot" and keep growing, with a little bend from the "closest" side branch "if" you cut the Top off.

I can't answer your last Q but near "all" large Eucs we cut here reshoot with "many main stems , so I doubt a Rainbow gum with many trunks would be grotesque

Pete

[Loxahatchee Adam]

I disagree with cutting side branches off to encourage more top growth for several reasons:

-Letting the side branches stay on longer encourages trunk thickening and makes for a stronger tree

-The branches and their leaves are photosynthesis sites to send energy and food down to the roots

-On a neighbor's tree (about 8 feet tall) she wanted to "clean it up" so she cut several of the bottom branches off. She now has to regularly deal with and cut off sprouts/shoots that are growing at bad vertical angles vs the old, strongly-attached, horizontal branches.

-Rainbow eucalyptus naturally self prune in the sense that older branches that are too shaded will atrophy off with a clean break from the trunk as the tree grows taller and wider and light is limited to the older growth.

As far as making a bonsai, some large trees are very well suited for this- Ficus species, most Bombacaceae (Kapoks, Baobabs, Shaving Brush), Cypress. Those trees all are willing and happy to throw energy into branches or the trunk. I don't think rainbows would be though. The rainbows want to vigorously grow vertical with a leader. On one of mine approx 12 feet tall, it snapped off halfway and a 3 foot horizontal side branch quickly start moving itself to vertical and became the new leader and trunk. Also, the colored bark effect is a product of the tree's continued growth and bark shedding as the trunk increases in diameter. In a stunted form, you won't have the new bark rainbow peeling effect.

[Palm crazy]

My latest plant purchase. It already been down to 30F and this morning at 29F. Yikes. Been in the ground for five days. LOL! I just want to see how fast this thing grows next spring.

I like that pot shape. I haven't seen those locally.

Palm crazy, if you cut the "side" beaches "off" it will grow much "faster" upwards..

Pete

I’ve done that in the pass with hardy Euc’s and it does make them grow much faster. I don’t do that till they have some height to them and I leave 2/3 of top growth. I like to walk under the trees so thats why I do it. Funny thing hardy Euc’s grow so fast here and some grow even taller and fatter than in their native areas. Mostly because of all the rain we get 6 months a year. LOL!

The little rainbow euc is still to small to cut the lower branches and I’m not even sure it will make it this winter, especially if it get really cold. I might try making a bonsai one in the future. So far this spring has only grown a few inches since it in way to much shade, but a good micro climate area of my garden. Will update later come Summer with pics.

I’ve hear that the local Bonsai club will prune a tree for free as a demonstration, I may ask them for help next year if I try one. Thats a big maybe if I do. LOL!

Keith - the pot and tree came from Matty in SoCal.

Here’s an updated photo, only grew 5 inches this spring. But still have three more month of good growing.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Palm crazy

[Pedro 65]

My latest plant purchase. It already been down to 30F and this morning at 29F. Yikes. Been in the ground for five days. LOL! I just want to see how fast this thing grows next spring.

I like that pot shape. I haven't seen those locally.

Palm crazy, if you cut the "side" beaches "off" it will grow much "faster" upwards..

Pete

I’ve done that in the pass with hardy Euc’s and it does make them grow much faster. I don’t do that till they have some height to them and I leave 2/3 of top growth. I like to walk under the trees so thats why I do it. Funny thing hardy Euc’s grow so fast here and some grow even taller and fatter than in their native areas. Mostly because of all the rain we get 6 months a year. LOL!

The little rainbow euc is still to small to cut the lower branches and I’m not even sure it will make it this winter, especially if it get really cold. I might try making a bonsai one in the future. So far this spring has only grown a few inches since it in way to much shade, but a good micro climate area of my garden. Will update later come Summer with pics.

I’ve hear that the local Bonsai club will prune a tree for free as a demonstration, I may ask them for help next year if I try one. Thats a big maybe if I do. LOL!

Keith - the pot and tree came from Matty in SoCal.

Here’s an updated photo, only grew 5 inches this spring. But still have three more month of good growing.

All best, they are "fast" growers here in the wet cool sub tropics, I was chasing these for "years", thankfully got 7 in ground thanks to local tree hugger KK Pete

[Palm crazy]

Pete, I went ahead and cut off the two lower branches since there not really doing anything for the tree IMO. July and August are the hottest months so will see how much growth happens then.

[BigFrond]

Nice tree. However, I would not grow one unless I have at least couple of acres for filling space.

[Palm crazy]

Here is this years update of the rainbow tree. Grew two feet (2’) this summer and is now taller than the surrounding plants and that has help it get more sun with faster growth. Will do another update come spring if it still alive.  I have a lot of growing experience with Eucalyptus, just not one this tender, lol! Hopefully this winter will be mild. 

[Josh-O]

Here is this years update of the rainbow tree. Grew two feet (2’) this summer and is now taller than the surrounding plants and that has help it get more sun with faster growth. Will do another update come spring if it still alive.  I have a lot of growing experience with Eucalyptus, just not one this tender, lol! Hopefully this winter will be mild. 

I just love this tree. I just planted out 2 1gal plants last week. For us in So. Cal. they are rocket ship fast. I got all my seedlings from Matty about 3 months ago. They went from tiny little plants to 1 gal size plants in only 3 months.

[Palmaceae]

Looking good!  Here are a couple pictures of my rainbow eucalyptus, the first picture was taken in February of this year, the second picture was taken last week. As you can see they grow extremely fast in Florida.

[Josh-O]

Looking good!  Here are a couple pictures of my rainbow eucalyptus, the first picture was taken in February of this year, the second picture was taken last week. As you can see they grow extremely fast in Florida.

talk about fast. That's insane growth 

[DoomsDave]

oOH HOO HOO yeah

They are fast, like moral decline

Set gallon pots in a corner (hmmmm where do I plant them? ) and they become fifteeners by summer's end.

Love and rockets?

Just rockets.

[Josh-O]

oOH HOO HOO yeah

They are fast, like moral decline

Set gallon pots in a corner (hmmmm where do I plant them? ) and they become fifteeners by summer's end.

Love and rockets?

Just rockets.

no doubt (not the band) they will be 6' tall and in 15 gals tubs if left intended by summers end. It's always a Green Day (not the band) when they are planted out in the garden. In about 3 years when you can see the the color on the trunk they are sublime (not the band)

[Da306]

Greetings from the future, a lot has happened  and I started my own eucalyptus project , mine are a mess but one is tiny but has a little red  on the trunk  I'm separating them tomorrow and putting in much fuller containers