There are many trees that have unique and interesting colors to their leaves, flowers, bark or fruit. The color of a tree can come from pigments produced by the tree, environmental factors that affect color expression, or symbiotic relationships with fungi or bacteria. Some trees even change color throughout the year. The diversity of colors found in trees makes them fascinating to study and observe in nature. In this article, we will explore some of the most uniquely colored trees from around the world.
Rainbow Eucalyptus
The Rainbow Eucalyptus tree has a truly one-of-a-kind coloring to its bark. Native to the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, the Rainbow Eucalyptus gets its name from its amazing multicolored bark. As the tree matures, the bark begins to peel away in strips, revealing a bright green inner bark below. Over time, this peelable bark can take on hues of blue, purple, orange and red as it changes and ages. No two trees have bark colored exactly the same, making each Rainbow Eucalyptus a unique display of nature’s palette.
The vibrant colors of the Rainbow Eucalyptus come from the presence of tannins in the tree’s cells. As the outer bark peels away, the colors change as the underlying cells are exposed to sunlight and air. Once the colored bark strips fall off, the fresh bark underneath is a bright green from chlorophyll. This green inner bark then begins to develop more colors as it matures. The peeling process and colorful display continues as the tree grows, resulting in a stunning living rainbow.
In addition to its extraordinary bark, the Rainbow Eucalyptus has delicately veined leaves that are pale green to bluish-gray in color. The tall, slender profile and peeling bark make this tree truly one-of-a-kind. No other tree has bark that changes color like the Rainbow Eucalyptus.
Japanese Maple
Japanese Maples are treasured for their delicate leaf shapes and range of colors. There are hundreds of cultivars of Japanese Maple trees, featuring leaf forms such as thread-leaf, palm-shaped and deep red lace-leaf. The leaves can be various shades from bright spring greens to autumn reds, oranges, yellows and deep purples. Some types of Japanese Maples even display several colors on a single leaf.
The Japanese Maple is native to Japan, Korea and China and includes the species Acer palmatum. Selective breeding over centuries has resulted in many interesting leaf forms, growth habits and colors. Japanese Maples are widely cultivated around the world as ornamental trees, especially across temperate regions. They bring beautiful color and visual interest to gardens and landscaping.
In the fall, Japanese Maple leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow depending on the cultivar. This makes them a popular choice to provide fall color. Some varieties have striking red or purple foliage that retains its color through the summer. The ‘Sango Kaku’ Japanese Maple even has coral-colored bark that provides winter interest. No two Japanese Maples are alike, making each one a unique find.
Tupelo
Several tree species in the genus Nyssa are commonly known as Tupelo trees. They are native to eastern North America and are revered for their outstanding fall foliage. Tupelo tree leaves turn bright scarlet red in autumn, providing gorgeous late season color.
There are two main species of Tupelo – Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) and Swamp Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica). Both display vivid red leaves in fall. The Black Tupelo is also prized for its horizontal branching structure and attractive bark with thick, block-like plates. Swamp Tupelo prefers very wet conditions and is found in coastal swamps and bottomlands. It can grow adventitious roots up from the trunk when partly submerged.
Tupelo trees grow to 30-60 feet tall and have an oval-rounded crown. The leaves are glossy green in summer, turning various shades of yellow, orange and deep scarlet in the fall. No other native North American tree rivals the Tupelo for its brilliant red fall color. This striking and predictable autumn display makes the Tupelo a favorite for landscaping.
Jacaranda
Jacaranda trees originate from South America and are admired for their lovely purple-blue blooms. There are several species in the genus Jacaranda, all displaying the trademark clustered trumpets of vivid blue to purple flowers in spring and early summer. The flowers completely cover the entirety of the tree when in full bloom, creating a spectacular color display.
Some of the most popular varieties used in landscaping include Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jacaranda acutifolia and Jacaranda obtusifolia. The fern-like green leaves provide a nice contrast with the colorful flowers. After the blooms fade, the tree leaves a carpet of purple beneath it from the fallen blossoms. The flowers are so prolific that it can appear like the tree is raining purple!
Native to Brazil and Argentina, Jacaranda trees thrive in warm climates. They have been widely planted throughout tropical and subtropical regions around the world where they brightly bloom during the spring and early summer months. The vivid purple-blue blossoms make the Jacaranda uniquely colorful and stand out boldly when in full bloom.
Dracaena Cinnabari
Known as the Dragon’s Blood Tree, the Dracaena cinnabari is a remarkable looking tree with blood red sap. The Dracaena cinnabari is endemic to the island of Socotra off the coast of Yemen and neighboring Horn of Africa. The island’s isolated location in the Indian Ocean has allowed many unusual endemic flora and fauna to develop, including the extraordinary Dragon’s Blood Tree.
This tree gets both its common name and scientific name from its dark red resin, known as “dragon’s blood.” This red sap was anciently prized as a dye and medicine. The unique shape of the Dragon’s Blood Tree also makes it visually striking. The stout, bulging trunk tops a canopy of curving, densely packed branches. The foliage is a dense rosette of fleshy leaves at the branch ends. With age, the tree takes on a mushroom-like umbrella habit.
In addition to its bizarre form and useful red sap, it is the Dragon’s Blood Tree’s ability to grow in arid climates that makes it a uniquely adapted species. Thriving in dry, rocky soil, it stores water in its chunky trunk. The Dragon’s Blood Tree can live over 650 years, eventually reaching up to 33 feet in height. Its distinctive shape and blood-colored sap certainly make this a one-of-a-kind tree.
Conclusion
The wide variety of colors, shapes and traits found in trees around the world is truly astonishing. From rainbow bark to blood-red sap, trees have evolved many colorful adaptations and characteristics. The examples explored here, such as the Rainbow Eucalyptus, Japanese Maple, Tupelo, Jacaranda and Dragon’s Blood Tree display the diversity and uniqueness that occurs in the plant kingdom. Nature provides seemingly endless creativity and beauty through the variations seen in the trees that inhabit ecosystems around the globe. Appreciating and studying uniquely colored and shaped tree species helps us understand ecology and biology while adding beauty and joy to our human existence.
| Tree Name | Unique Color | Where Found |
|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Eucalyptus | Multicolored bark in stripes of blue, orange, red and purple | Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea |
| Japanese Maple | Delicate leaves in shades of red, purple, orange, yellow and green. Sometimes multiple colors on one leaf. | Japan, Korea, China |
| Tupelo | Brilliant red fall foliage | Eastern North America |
| Jacaranda | Vivid purple-blue flowers in spring/summer | South America |
| Dragon’s Blood Tree | Blood red sap | Socotra, Yemen and Horn of Africa |
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