Spathodea campanulata: African Tuliptree1
Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean2
Introduction
A native of tropical Africa, this large, upright, 50 to 60-foot tree has a dense, 50-foot-wide crown and one-and-one-half-foot-long, pinnately-compound, evergreen leaves composed of four-inch leaflets. 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 tuliptree 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 tuliptree 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.
Full Form—Spathodea campanulata: African tuliptree
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General Information
Scientific name: Spathodea campanulata
Pronunciation: spath-OH-dee-uh kam-pan-yoo-LAY-tuh
Common name(s): African tuliptree
Family: Bignoniaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Figure 2)
Origin: native to tropical Africa
Invasive potential: caution, may be recommended but manage to prevent escape (south); not considered a problem species at this time, may be recommended (north and central)
Uses: specimen; shade
Range
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Description
Height: 50 to 60 feet
Spread: 35 to 50 feet
Crown uniformity: irregular
Crown shape: upright/erect, round, spreading
Crown density: moderate
Growth rate: fast
Texture: coarse
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: odd-pinnately compound; made up of 6–8 pairs leaflets and one terminal leaflet
Leaf margin: entire
Leaf shape: elliptic (oval), oblong
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: evergreen, broadleaf evergreen
Leaf blade length: 1½ feet; leaflets are 4 inches
Leaf color: dark green and glossy on top, paler green underneath
Fall color: no color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Figure 3.
Leaf—Spathodea campanulata: African tuliptree
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Flower
Flower color: yellow to orange red with yellow tips
Flower characteristics: very showy; bell-shaped, ruffled-looking, and emerges in clusters on terminal racemes
Flowering: primarily late winter to spring, but also year-round
Flower, Variation—Spathodea campanulata: African tuliptree
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Flower, Variation—Spathodea campanulata: African tuliptree
Credit:
R.A. Howard. ©Smithsonian Institution. Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, Richard A. Howard Photograph Collection. United States, HI, Kauai.
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Fruit
Fruit shape: boat-shaped
Fruit length: 6 to 12 inches
Fruit covering: dry or hard; woody, 2-valved capsule
Fruit color: turns from green to brown
Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically one trunk; no thorns
Bark: tan and smooth, becoming gray, scaly, and shallowly furrowed with age
Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure
Breakage: susceptible to breakage
Current year twig color: brown
Current year twig thickness: medium
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Bark—Spathodea campanulata: African tuliptree
Credit:
Gitta Hasing
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Culture
Light requirement: full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; well-drained
Drought tolerance: moderate
Aerosol salt tolerance: low
Other
Roots: can form large surface roots
Winter interest: yes
Outstanding tree: no
Ozone sensitivity: unknown
Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown
Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases
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 tuliptrees 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.
Pests and Diseases
No pests or diseases of major concern.
Reference
Koeser, A.K., Friedman, M.H., Hasing, G., Finley, H., Schelb, J. 2017. Trees: South Florida and the Keys. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Footnotes
This document is ENH-758, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised February 2013 and December 2018. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department; Ryan W. Klein, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department; Andrew K. Koeser, assistant professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Deborah R. Hilbert, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; and Drew C. McLean, biological scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.
