Name:
African Tulip Tree

Botanical name:
Spathodea campanulata

Description:
Without a doubt, one of the most outstanding flowering trees in the Parklands would have to be the African tulip tree, or Spathodea campanulata.

A member of the Bigonia family, this spectacular tree comes from tropical central and western Africa, mainly around Lake Victoria and is therefore suited to warm coastal sites. Curiously, although it is an evergreen tree in the more tropical climates, it is semi-deciduous in Centennial Park. It grows to a height of eight metres, with a single trunk and a broad-domed crown and displays compound leaves that are dark green and slightly shiny above, while paler and dull beneath.

The highlight for most admirers of the African tulip tree are the beautiful bellshaped flowers ranging from yellow at the base to scarlet near the mouth on the inside, and bright orange merging to orange-scarlet on the lobes. It is these flowers that give the tree its latin name ‘campanulata’ meaning ‘with bell-shaped flowers’.

Although the striking, perfumed flowers are this tree’s most eye-catching feature, the fruit of the tree is also very interesting. After the foliage is shed during the cooler months, the fruit ripens in autumn and persists on the tree, forming numerous, flat, oval wing-shaped seeds that are quite unique.

Where can they be seen in the Parklands:
Landscape Architect, Gillian Smart, first introduced the African tulip to the Parklands as part of the award-winning redevelopment of the Centennial Parklands Café forecourt in 1997.

This tree is now the subject of much discussion and query from Park visitors, many of whom marvel at the beauty of the tree and seek advice from Parklands Arborists to see if they can have one in their own garden.

- Frank Hemmings

Further reading:

• Queensland Department of Primary Industries
• James Cook University