Rainbow eucalyptus (Eucalyptus deglupta)

Rainbow eucalyptus or eucalyptus deglupta is found naturally on many Pacific islands. The unique chromatic bark is its most distinctive feature. Patches of outer bark are shed annually at different times, showing a bright green inner bark. The green bark then darkens and matures to give blue, purple, orange, yellow, green, and maroon tones. Although rainbow eucalyptus is widely grown on plantations for pulpwood to make paper, it is sought after as a statement tree in many landscape designs because of its showy bark.

The Identitatum Arborum collection of knitting patterns was created in conjunction with an art installation made for the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts in summer 2016 for the Natural Threads exhibition. In that art installation I explored the idea of identity using trees as a metaphor.