African Tulip trees are one of our fastest sub-tropical flowering trees we carry here at the nursery.
Native to Africa, this tree is known for its beautiful cup shaped orange/reddish flowers. In tropical areas these trees can get huge up to 80ft tall but here in our area they normally stay within 15-25ft.
 
African Tulip Growing Tips:
 
Best time to plant: Anytime night temperatures are at least 50F and expected to rise in the next month or so. This is going to be mid to late spring for most people.
 
Sun: Full sun anywhere in the U.S. It doesn't grow well in the shade. 
 
Winter: Young trees tend to be cold sensitive at temperatures in the high 20F's. Older trees will withstand temperatures in the mid-20f's but you may experience die back. If your tree is fully rooted in ground, it will readily come back in the spring. 
 
 
Root system: Roots grow straight down several feet. Tap root. 
 
Growth structure: Single trunk up right growth with a dense canopy. Tree can reach a height of up to 80ft in tropical areas. Colder areas they tend to stay smaller. Usually 15-25ft.
 
Flowering: These trees will flower at about 1-2 years old even in containers. Flowering usually happens mid to late summer.
 
Watering: Shallow water first season in ground. As the tree gets older, deep water. Do let soil dry somewhat in between watering. This is an evergreen tree in warm areas. In cold areas during winter, this tree can become semi-deciduous. Once it drops all it leaves, do let soil fully dry in between watering.
 
Fertilization: In containers, any slow release fertilizer will work. In ground, compost and mulch is all you will ever need. No special fertilizers needed. 
 
Container Grown: Due to its root system, this plant doesn't grow well in a container long term. We recommend you to plant in the ground rather than growing it in a container.
 
Personal Growing Tip: Once you plant this tree in ground, no top growth is normal until the tree roots in ground. The rooting process can take 1 year+ depending on your local night temperatures. Hot=It Grows faster, Cold=It grows slower. It's very important to plant early in the season to allow your tree to grow roots in ground before winter. A fully rooted tree will come back from cold damage in the spring. A tree not rooted in ground will not.