Shoot Logo
Take a photoPlans & pricingBook a demoGet started

Spathodea campanulata (African tulip tree)

Other names: Flame of the forest, Flame tree, Fountain tree, Nandi flame

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

1

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

2

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

3

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

Laptop, tablet and mobile devices

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

  • ShootChecker™
  • One-stop garden design
  • Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
  • Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started
Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Add to plant list
Species
S. campanulata is a tender, open, evergreen tree with pinnate leaves divided into oblong to ovate, leathery, dark green leaflets and, in spring and summer, panicles or racemes of bell-shaped, scarlet flowers with yellow petal margins. Flowers are followed by woody, green seed pods ripening brown, splitting to release papery, winged seeds.
Add to plant list
ShootChecker™
Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
25 m 18 m 20-50 years
82 ft 59 ft 20-50 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Additional plant details

Cultivation

In frost-free areas, grow in moderately-fertile, moist or moist well-drained soil in a sheltered, sunny site. Tolerates light shade but flowering will be reduced. May lose leaves in dry periods or after light frost. Under glass, grow in a large container in loam-based compost in full light, Water freely & feed monthly in growth. Considered an invasive species in some non-native, tropical areas.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Sub-Tropical, City, Specimen tree

UK hardiness

H1b

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Inappropriate
Central Valley = Inappropriate
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Open branches

Native to

Tropical Africa

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Limbs are brittle so may need pruning after strong storms.

Propagation methods

Seed, Layering, Semi-ripe cuttings

Propagation

Sow seed at 18-24C in spring. Air layer in spring.

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease free.

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Rake up and use fallen leaves to make leafmould

Plant container grown plants in a sunny sheltered spot

Protect from cold drying winds (in cold areas)

Protect from hard winter frosts

Plant in fertile, moisture retentive soil

Apply a fertiliser container grown plants regularly

Take semi-ripe cuttings

Sow seeds in containers with heat (spring)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (1)

Spathodea

Select all Deselect all
0 selected Add to a plant list
0 selected
Spathodea campanulata
View
Select
Spathodea campanulata African tulip tree
Select all Deselect all Add to a plant list

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Spathodea campanulata with other Shoot members
Read more
TOP