Description
INTRODUCTION : A native of tropical Africa, this large, upright, 50 to 60-foot tree has a dense, 40-foot-wide crown and one-and-one-half-foot-long, pinnately-compound, evergreen leaves composed of four-inch leaflets (Fig. 1). Due to its size it is best located in large, open landscapes and is generally not suited for small residences unless your objective is deep shade. During winter and until late spring, African Tulip-Tree produces terminal clusters of beautiful blooms held above the foliage, a profusion of upwardly-facing, orange and yellow flowers which open several at a time from curved, two-inch-long, fuzzy brown flower buds filled with water. African Tulip-Tree is quite spectacular when in bloom. It is often used as a framing, shade, or specimen tree but must be used only in frost-free areas. Also, its soft, brittle wood is easily broken by high winds, and trees should be located either in sheltered locations or where falling branches will do no damage.
GENERAL INFORMATION Scientific name: Spathodea campanulata Pronunciation: spath-OH-dee-uh kam-pan-yoo-LAY-tuh Common name(s): African Tulip-Tree Family: Bignoniaceae USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Fig. 2) Origin: not native to North America Uses: shade tree; specimen; no proven urban tolerance Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree
DESCRIPTION Height: 50 to 60 feet Spread: 35 to 50 feet Crown uniformity: irregular outline or silhouette Crown shape: round; spreading; upright
Crown density: moderate Figure
. Growth rate: fast
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: odd pinnately compound
Leaflet margin: entire
Leaflet shape: elliptic (oval); oblong
Leaflet venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: broadleaf evergreen; evergreen
Leaflet blade length: 2 to 4 inches
Leaf color: green
Flower color: orange; yellow
Flower characteristics: spring flowering; very showy; winter flowering
USE AND MANAGEMENT
Eliminate major branches that will form embedded bark as early as possible. Save those that are oriented more horizontally, with stronger attachments to the trunk. Keep them from growing larger than about half the trunk diameter by periodic thinning. African Tulip-Trees will grow rapidly in full sun on any soil of reasonable drainage and fertility. Plants should be regularly watered until well-established and will then require little care. Propagation is by seed, softwood cuttings, or root suckers