African Tulip Tree

Spathodea campanulata

These trees are harvested from the

wild for various commodities,
including food and medicine. It is
used for reforestation projects, for
soil conservation, and as a crop for
the production of plywood and
Among the most beautiful of charcoal. African tulip trees attract
flowering trees, the African tulip tree birds and other wildlife with their
comes from tropical Africa, where it copious nectar and ability to hold
reaches heights of 60 feet (18.3 rain and dew.
meters) or more; in San Diego, they The ecological and economic impacts Methods of control: Young
average 25 to 40 feet (7.6 to 12.3 are immense. For example, in Fiji, trees can be hand-pulled
meters) tall. Now a widespread and problematic They can quickly become the dominant agriculture is the largest sector of the when the soil is soft, but adult
species throughout Australia and the forest tree which has detrimental economy, but only 16% of the island is trees need to be chopped
When in bloom, the tree puts on a Pacific Islands, including Hawai’i, the impacts on the vines and animals that suitable for farming. Many locals will down and their stumps coated
spectacular display, aglow with a Galapagos, Fiji, Palau, and more, it was
largely intentionally introduced in the
depend on native trees. clear sections of land to make it more Exotic Plant: African
with herbicide. Herbicides can
profusion of stunning, orange-scarlet African tulip trees are extremely harmful amenable to farming, resulting in either be painted, sprayed, or
flowers. This beautiful tree native to 1900s as a street and household
ornamental tree
to native stingless bees and a public damaged land that is ideal for Tulip Tree
injected into the tree. 
Africa is widely cultivated in the safety hazard (when these trees are colonizing trees like the African tulip.
Philippines. Planted as an Why are they harmful?: Known for their planted along footpaths, their dropped The problem in Fiji as grown over the
ornamental plant grown in parks, big bright, trumpet-shaped flowers, these flowers can create a slippery walking last ten years, and now African tulip
gardens, and even along roadsides. fast-growing trees can quickly spread in surface). The tree will reproduce via trees make up 20% of regrowth forests
agricultural areas, forest plantations, and seeds and suckers and is very capable previously cleared for agriculture. In a
African tulip trees can be found in natural ecosystems. African tulip trees of spreading from a single planting. survey conducted by the UN Food and
many countries throughout Central crowd out native species and are Areas most at risk include gullies, areas Agriculture Organization, the trees
and South America, Asia, and the extremely difficult to remove as they can of vegetation around waterways and appeared on 98% of the farms
Caribbean. They are primarily grow back from root fragments and its disturbed rainforest. Removal of African surveyed. 
invasive in the South Pacific. wind-dispersed seeds. tulip trees is highly recommended,
particularly when they are in close
proximity to natural areas.