The Last African Tulip

[bubba]

African Tulip season in this area is usely from Dec-Feb.This was a bad Winter and bad Afican Tulip season and I found a tree with a couple left:

[Justin]

Wait, they bloom only Dec-Feb? That's very surprising to me. Usually they bloom whenever it is warm. Here in SoCal, depending on proximity to the coast, they can bloom starting as early as June and ending as late as January. So I would assume that in Florida, they'd bloom all summer long.

[epicure3]

Wait, they bloom only Dec-Feb? That's very surprising to me. Usually they bloom whenever it is warm. Here in SoCal, depending on proximity to the coast, they can bloom starting as early as June and ending as late as January. So I would assume that in Florida, they'd bloom all summer long.

I seen them bloom in Del Mar as early as May.

[JASON M]

You must not see that Africa is on the southern hemisphere and they have summer those times

[Daryl]

They bloom almost year-round here, only stopping in the very middle of winter for a few weeks. The flowers make great mulch!

Daryl

[rozpalm]

Bubba I think that is only when they are young. Once they are large enough, they pretty much bloom all year round with maybe the exception being Feb-Mar if we get a really cold winter.

[Walt]

From my observations, of the few African tulip trees in my environs, they are wintertime bloomers. At least that's when I see the heaviest blooms, not to say they don't have less or more sporadic blooms at other times of the year.

The largest African tulip tree in my area is the one up in town. For the first time in the 12 years living here it was defoliated from the succession of cold days and nights this past January.

I took the below photos just mere days (or maybe weeks) before the defoliation:

I must check on this tree now to see if it leafed back out yet.

[Palms1984]

I've seen Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip trees bloom every month of the year in San Diego, CA. However, most typically bloom from May - Dec. depending on the tree and the area of San Diego.

[Justin]

It's interesting to note the Floridians observations versus the Californians. It makes me think they bloom most profusely when BOTH warm and dry. When they are cold, they don't appear to bloom, but since Florida's winter isn't nearly as cold, and it's dry, they continue to bloom, or bloom even better. But when it is hot and wet in Florida, it sounds like they don't bloom as much, perhaps because they are too busy putting out new leaves and branches?

[rozpalm]

It's interesting to note the Floridians observations versus the Californians. It makes me think they bloom most profusely when BOTH warm and dry. When they are cold, they don't appear to bloom, but since Florida's winter isn't nearly as cold, and it's dry, they continue to bloom, or bloom even better. But when it is hot and wet in Florida, it sounds like they don't bloom as much, perhaps because they are too busy putting out new leaves and branches?

I can only speak for the one I have in my garden and it blooms pretty much all year round. It is a very messy tree but given the color it adds to my garden, its well worth it.

[Donald Sanders]

Here in the Hawaiian islands the African tulip tree is an invasive species. It comes up everywhere and grows very quickly blooming when very young. It is a hard tree to kill as it sends down a taproot and even small seedlings are often difficult to pull up.

I have seen both colors blooming constantly and you can often observe the trees in near desert conditions, naturalized and boooming profusly.

This is a beautiful tree for areas where you do not have to worry that it will be invasive. I think it is perfect for the near frost free areas of S.Cal. Beware in Florida!

Good luck and aloha,

Don

[Wai`anae Steve]

I have a few in my yard as they are beautiful and produce shade quickly.

Here is a photo of one I took today up in Wai`anae Valley. Sorry the shot is across a gulch and I couldn't get closer even w/5X optical zoom. Yes it is invasive, but so pretty.