The African tulip tree (bot. Spathodea campanulata) belongs to the trumpet tree family and should not be confused with the tulip trees (bot. Liriodendron). These plants differ significantly from each other in both appearance and care.
How do I properly care for an African tulip tree?
To care for the African tulip tree, you need a bright location, nutrient-rich, permeable soil, temperatures around 20 °C and high humidity. Make sure you water and fertilize regularly, as well as frost-free overwintering, as the plant is not hardy.
The best location and the right soil
As the name suggests, the African tulip tree comes from Africa. There it grows primarily in tropical forests and savannas and transitional forests. Accordingly, it prefers a warm location and is not hardy.
It feels very comfortable in a bright, warm winter garden, but could also be outside in a warm summer. Give your African tulip tree nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. You can loosen these up with some gravel (€7.00 on Amazon) or expanded clay. This way you promote permeability and prevent waterlogging.
Water and fertilize the tulip tree properly
The African tulip tree is considered to be quite thirsty. It needs a lot of water in summer and significantly less during winter rest. The soil should never dry out, but neither should it become waterlogged. Due to its high nutrient requirements, you should fertilize your African tulip tree regularly every seven to ten days. Alternatively, you can use a slow-release fertilizer, for example in the form of fertilizer sticks.
The wintering of the tulip tree
The African tulip tree can only survive temperatures close to freezing for a short period of time. In general he doesn't like it below + 10 °C. If it is left in the cold for too long, root damage is the unpleasant result. We therefore recommend wintering at at least 15 °C.
During the hibernation period (around November to March), the African tulip tree requires no fertilizer and significantly less water than in summer. It's completely normal if it loses a few leaves during this time.
The propagation of the African tulip tree
If you like, you can grow the African tulip tree yourself from seeds or cuttings. For both methods, however, you need a constant heat of around 20 °C, ideally combined with a consistently high level of humidity.
The most important things in brief:
- bright location
- nutrient-rich, permeable soil
- Temperatures around 20 °C
- high humidity
- not hardy
Tip
With its spectacular flowers, the African tulip tree is an ornament for every winter garden.
