How to grow the African Tulip Tree? Read this and you will understand
1. Sunlight and temperature.
The African Tulip Tree is native to Africa and is a sun-loving plant that tolerates drought and high temperatures and is not afraid of strong light. Its suitable growing temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees. It should be noted that when the African Tulip Tree blooms, if the temperature is not high, the number of flowers will be few.
2. Soil.
The African Tulip Tree has strong adaptability and has no specific requirements for soil. However, in order for it to grow healthily and well after planting, it is best to choose a sunny plot and use sandy soil with deep soil layers and good drainage.
3. Watering.
The African Tulip Tree tolerates drought, so there is generally no need to water it specially. However, during high summer temperatures or dry periods, attention should be paid to watering young trees to supplement moisture.
3. Fertilizing.
When first planting, sufficient base fertilizer should be added. During the growth process, fertilize according to the principle of frequent application of thin fertilizer. Generally, fertilizing 3 to 5 times a year is enough. The fertilizer should mainly be compound fertilizer and organic fertilizer. During the growth and development period, one additional application may be appropriately added to promote growth.
4. Propagation.
The African Tulip Tree is usually propagated by cuttings, sowing, and air layering, with spring as the propagation season.
5. Weeding.
When the African Tulip Tree is planted in fields, intertillage and weeding should be carried out in May and June, as this can promote the root system of the African Tulip Tree to absorb nutrients. The depth of intertillage should be determined according to the growth condition of the seedlings.
The African Tulip Tree needs high temperatures when blooming, so it is widely planted in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, China, while in the northern part of South China, due to lower temperatures, the African Tulip Tree may not bloom or may bloom less during its flowering period. I believe that after reading the above introduction, everyone must be very fond of and longing for the African Tulip Tree.
Cultivation methods and precautions for the African Tulip Tree
Chinese scientific name: African Tulip TreeLatin scientific name: Spathodea campanulata Beauv.Other names: Fire Flower, Fountain Tree, Bract Calyx Tree, Flame TreeBinomial name: Spathodea campanulataKingdom: PlantaePhylum: AngiospermsClass: DicotyledonsSubclass: SympetalaeOrder: TubifloraeFamily: BignoniaceaeTribe: TecomeaeGenus: SpathodeaSpecies: African Tulip TreeDistribution area: native to Africa, now widely cultivated in India and Sri Lanka; introduced and planted in China.The African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata Beauv.), also known as Fire Flower, Fountain Tree, Bract Calyx Tree, and Flame Tree, is the national tree of the Republic of Gabon. It is a large deciduous tree of the family Bignoniaceae, also called Bract Calyx Tree, native to Africa, with a flowering period between winter and spring. Its flowers are large and cup-shaped, the tree is about 10 m tall, the flowers are about 10-12 cm long, and the crown is relatively broad. It is often used as a shade tree or street tree, and is also suitable for planting in parks, communities, tourist areas, and other places. On closer inspection, the deep red petals have a ring of golden yellow markings along the edge, exceptionally gorgeous.1. Morphological characteristics
Tree, 10 m tall, bark smooth, grayish brown. Odd-pinnately compound leaves, opposite, up to 45 cm long including the petiole; leaflets 13-17, leaf blades elliptic to obovate, 5-9.5 cm long, 3.5-5 cm wide, apex acuminate, base rounded, margin entire, veins on the abaxial surface pubescent, base with 2-3 glandular spots; petiole short, puberulent. Corymbose raceme, terminal, dense; rachis about 12 cm long, covered with brownish puberulence, with obvious lenticels; pedicels 2-4 cm long; bracts lanceolate, 2 cm long; bracteoles 2, 2-10 mm long. Calyx spathe-like, externally covered with short tomentum, apex recurved and split, base entire, 5-6 cm long, 2-2.5 cm wide. Corolla swollen on one side, base constricted into a slender tube, limb nearly campanulate, about 5-6 cm in diameter, 5-10 cm long, orange-red, with purple-red spots, inner surface with raised stripes, lobes 5, broadly ovate, unequal, with longitudinal wrinkles, 3 cm long, 3-4 cm wide, orange-red outside, orange-yellow inside. Stamens 4, filaments 5-7 cm long, anthers about 8 mm long, inserted in a divaricate manner. Style 6 cm long, stigma ovoid-lanceolate, 2-lobed. Disk annular, 4 mm high. Capsule dark brown, 15-25 cm long, 3.5 cm wide. Seeds with circumferential wings, nearly circular, both length and width 1.7-2.4 cm. Flowering period April-May.2. Growth habits
Light: positive plant, requires strong light.Suitable growth temperature: 23-30°C
Growth characteristics: tropical tree species, grows fast.
Tolerates heat, drought, moisture, and poor soil; branches brittle and not wind-resistant; easy to transplant.
3. Distribution range
Native to Africa, now widely cultivated in India and Sri Lanka. In China, it is cultivated in Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, China, and Yunnan (Xishuangbanna).4. Cultivation techniques
The fruit matures when it turns from green to brown. After harvesting the fruit, spread it out in a ventilated place, and when the outer shell naturally splits open, the seeds can be obtained. The seeds are flat, thin, and light. For seedling cultivation, broadcast sowing is suitable, with about 0.5 cm of soil covering, and attention should be paid to shading to keep the seedbed surface moist. Germination begins in about 15 days, with a germination rate of 60%. When the seedlings are 3-5 cm tall, transplant them into nutrient bags for cultivation. One-year-old seedlings are 60-80 cm tall and can be planted out. If cultivating large seedlings, they need to be moved to a large seedling bed with a spacing of 1.5 m x 1.5 m. After 2-3 years, when the seedling trunk diameter reaches about 5 cm, they can be planted out. When cultivated as street trees, the spacing is 5.6 m, and the planting hole size is 70 cm x 80 cm, with sufficient base fertilizer applied. The African Tulip Tree has a huge crown, high water content in branches and leaves, a relatively shallow and sparse root system, and is top-heavy, making it highly susceptible to wind damage. When planting, it should be planted somewhat deeply and the soil firmly pressed down, with timely earthing up and pruning afterward to ensure a dignified and beautiful tree shape. When planting the African Tulip Tree as a specimen in courtyards, lawns, parks, and other places, the branching point should be set at about 1.5 m, and through pruning, the crown should be developed into spherical, umbrella-like, and other shapes. After planting, tending and management should be strengthened. In the first 3 years, weed cutting, weeding, soil loosening, hole expansion, and fertilizing should be done 2-3 times each year; after 4 years, tending should be done 1-2 times each year.Management methods
Land preparationPlow the subsoil to a depth of 20 to 30 cm, break up clods, and remove stones, tiles, residual roots, weeds, and so on. Apply 400 to 800 kg of calcium-magnesium-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer per mu. Small mahogany seedlings are cultivated in raised beds, with the bed surface 20 cm above the ground, bed width 1.2 m, and length depending on the terrain. Between every two beds, set a 40 cm wide walkway, and on the outer side of each bed, set a 20 x 20 cm drainage and irrigation ditch. Around the entire plot, set a 40 x 30 cm drainage and irrigation ditch.
Seedling transplantingSeedlings should be lifted when the soil is moist. Water thoroughly 3 hours before lifting seedlings so that moist soil adheres to the root mass and the roots are not injured. When lifting seedlings, plant them as they are lifted, and do not leave them exposed to strong light for a long time. If long-distance transport is needed, the roots of the seedlings should be coated with thin mud slurry and tightly wrapped in plastic bags. After the entire plot is planted, irrigate promptly. The best planting seasons are from early October to mid-December and from early February to late March. From late December to late January, frost damage is likely to occur. Planting after April will affect survival due to strong light and high temperatures. Planting can be done in furrows or holes, with 10,000 to 15,000 plants per mu. For bare-root transplanting, spread the root system in the hole without curling it, cover with fine soil, lift slightly to allow the root mass to spread, then press gently and firmly, water thoroughly to settle the roots, and cover with a layer of surface soil to conserve moisture. Autumn planting should avoid freezing in winter. When the temperature drops below 0°C, cold protection measures should be taken, generally by spreading dry grass and fallen leaves on the seedbed, or by arch-covering with plastic film.
Intertillage and weeding
Intertillage and weeding can promote the absorption of nutrients by the seedling root system. The depth of intertillage depends on the depth of the seedling root system and the growth stage. For young seedlings and small seedlings, intertillage should be shallow; for medium and large seedlings, it should be deep. Near the plant roots, it should be shallow; between plants and rows, it should be deep, generally 3 to 5 cm. Intertillage and weeding are often carried out in May to June. After July, the seedling root system has expanded into the spaces between plants and rows, and intertillage should be stopped; otherwise, the root mass will be cut and the seedlings will be damaged.
Fertilizer and water management
Cultivation is suitable in fertile and well-drained sandy loam or loam. Apply sufficient base fertilizer when planting, and during high temperatures and dry periods, pay attention to supplementing water for young trees. The African Tulip Tree does not have a high demand for fertilizer, but it still needs appropriate supplemental fertilizer during growth and development, mainly compound fertilizer and organic fertilizer.
For red flower mahogany balls planted out at 2 to 3 years old, the purpose of topdressing is to promote the growth of branches and leaves, and more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied, but in the late growth stage of seedlings in autumn, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be increased. In addition to dried manure and human excrement and urine, decomposed pig manure and urine can also be applied as topdressing, which has a reddening effect on the African Tulip Tree. When cultivating on a large scale, chemical fertilizers can also be applied in combination. For seedlings planted out at 2 to 3 years, 1.2 kg of ammonium nitrate, 1.5 kg of superphosphate, and 0.5 kg of potassium chloride can be applied per 100 sq m.
Pest and disease control
Damping-off mainly occurs in spring when there is more rain, and both seedlings and mature plants are harmed. Dark brown lesions appear at the affected areas, and in severe cases they die in patches.Control methods: transplant with disease-free new soil, and the fertilizer used must be thoroughly decomposed; never use fresh farmyard manure. Remove diseased plants promptly. Before transplanting, disinfect the soil with 50 ml of 40% formaldehyde diluted in 6 kg of water per sq m, or mix 70% pentachloronitrobenzene with fine soil at a ratio of 1:30 and spread it on the seedbed soil. One week after spring planting of small seedlings, spray 1000-fold 70% thiophanate-methyl solution or 1000-fold 75% chlorothalonil solution, spraying once every 10 days, alternating use.
Main pests
The main pests include aphids, geometer moths, yellow noctuid moths, sword-grass armyworms, large and small cutworms, and scarab beetles. Aphids affect plant growth and induce sooty mold; geometer moths and noctuid moths damage leaves as larvae, and in severe cases can eat all young shoots clean in 2 to 3 days; cutworms and scarab beetles bore into and feed on the root system as larvae. Cutworms mainly harm cuttings and seedlings, while scarab beetles harm large, medium, and small seedlings. To control aphids, spray 5% diesel emulsion or 3 to 5 degrees Baumé lime-sulfur mixture before sprouting to kill overwintering adults and eggs. Spray a second time after flower drop, and a third time in October in autumn. To control geometer moth and noctuid moth larvae, spray 1500-fold 50% methamidophos solution, and control them early and while small. The larvae of cutworms and scarab beetles are underground pests. The control method is to strengthen nursery management and not apply undecomposed organic fertilizer. Plow in winter to turn overwintering larvae to the surface to freeze to death. Use 3% carbofuran granules at 2 kg per mu, and apply them in furrows 10 to 20 cm deep in the soil.
5. Main values
Ecological value
Making hedgesBecause of its strong adaptability, tolerance to pruning, and liking to sprout, it has advantages as a hedge. The soil for general urban greening is relatively poor, and construction waste cannot be well removed. The African Tulip Tree grows relatively well in this poor environment, has strong natural stress resistance, and has few pests and diseases. As long as it is pruned diligently, a hedge planted in the same year can show results in the same year. The African Tulip Tree is also suitable for planting on slopes and so on. Naturally developing branches of the African Tulip Tree can grow to 1.2 m in one year, and to about 2 m in two years, and begin to flower and bear fruit.
Greening
As a spherical arrangement, the African Tulip Tree can be planted by combining plantings, cutting branches, releasing branches, and pruning and shaping, and planted in a well-arranged manner on
the lawn, dotting the depths of courtyards. The bright red fruit of the African Tulip Tree gives people a warm feeling in the cold winter. The African Tulip Tree balls arranged regularly on both sides of roads or in the median green belts can also play a role in greening, beautifying, and being eye-catching.
Embellishment in scenic areas
As a planting arrangement in scenic forest land, the African Tulip Tree can reflect natural wild charm.
As bonsai and flower arrangement material
The African Tulip Tree tolerates pruning, and the main branches naturally vary greatly. The fruit-viewing period of the African Tulip Tree is from autumn to winter, and the fruit becomes redder and redder. For example, the African Tulip Tree bonsai exhibited every year at the Wuhan East Lake Moshan Bonsai Garden attracts tourists to stop and linger. The fruiting branches of the African Tulip Tree are also flower arrangement material, especially in autumn and winter when arranged with chrysanthemums, wintersweet, and so on for traditional artistic flower arrangements.
Ornamental value
The crown is umbrella-shaped, conical, and so on, the tree posture is graceful, the pinnate leaves are lush, the flowers are large and bright red, blooming above the crown, very much like torches, with extremely high ornamental value. China has already introduced the red-flowered type, while the yellow-flowered one has not yet been introduced. The African Tulip Tree is an excellent ornamental flagship tree species for landscaping in its place of origin. After being introduced to Hainan, because it blooms in winter and has red flowers, it is hailed as "a fire in winter." The African Tulip Tree has great development potential in the tropical and southern subtropical regions of southern China.6. Plant culture
The tree of the Buddha's birth - Fire FlowerIn Xishuangbanna, the Dai people as a whole believe in Theravada Buddhism, and many plants related to Buddhism have been widely planted and worshipped, and the Fire Flower is one of them.
More than 2500 years ago, in the northwest of ancient India, at the foot of the Himalayas (in present-day Nepal), there was the kingdom of Kapilavastu. King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya had been married for many years without having children, until the queen was 45 years old, when one night she dreamed that a white elephant came through the air and entered her belly - the queen was pregnant. According to the customs of ancient India at that time, a woman pregnant with her first child had to return to her parents' home to give birth. On the eve of giving birth, Queen Mahamaya took an elephant-carried palanquin back to her parents' home to give birth. Passing by Lumbini Garden, she felt somewhat tired from the journey and got out of the palanquin to rest in the garden. When Queen Mahamaya walked to a luxuriant Fire Flower tree full of golden yellow flowers and reached out to support herself on the trunk, her labor was triggered, and under the Fire Flower tree she gave birth to a sage for the ages - Shakyamuni. Therefore, almost every Dai village in Xishuangbanna has a temple, and almost every temple is surrounded by planted Fire Flowers. In addition, some families who have no children but wish to have them also often plant a Fire Flower in front of or behind their house.
It is said that as long as one sits under the Sorrowless Flower tree, anyone will forget all their worries and be free from care and sorrow.
The value of the African Tulip Tree
The ornamental value of the African Tulip Tree
Speaking of the value of this African Tulip Tree, the first thing to mention is its ornamental quality. The ornamental value of the African Tulip Tree is still very high; it is mainly a flowering ornamental plant.
The brilliant red flowers of the African Tulip Tree look just like flames, the flowering period is long, and the plant shape is relatively beautiful, so it is very suitable as an ornamental tree, and as a landscape tree and courtyard tree it is also very ornamental.
Next is that the African Tulip Tree has strong adaptability. The African Tulip Tree tolerates pruning relatively well and sprouts quickly, and during cultivation it grows relatively fast. Moreover, the African Tulip Tree can also grow relatively well in slightly poorer environments. For example, in large cities, the soil is relatively poor, and there is a lot of garbage pollution and air pollution. Under such conditions, the African Tulip Tree can likewise grow very well. So using it as an ornamental tree is very suitable.
The medicinal value of the African Tulip Tree
Besides having relatively good ornamental quality, the African Tulip Tree is also suitable for use as a medicinal plant.
The African Tulip Tree has many other names, such as Rescue Army Rations, Rescue Soldier Rations, Life-Saving Rations, and so on, which to a certain extent reflects that this African Tulip Tree has very high medicinal value.
For the African Tulip Tree, generally the fruit, roots, and leaves can all be used as medicine. The fruit is picked in autumn, the roots are dug at the end of winter and beginning of spring, and the leaves can be picked at any time. These parts can exert great effects.
The fruit of the African Tulip Tree has the effects of eliminating food stagnation and stopping dysentery, and activating blood and stopping bleeding. It is mainly used for symptoms such as indigestion and enteritis, and dysentery.
The roots of the African Tulip Tree have the effects of clearing heat and cooling blood. It is mainly used for symptoms such as traumatic injuries, muscle and bone pain, and low back pain.
The cotyledons of the African Tulip Tree have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and can be applied externally to treat sores, ulcers, swellings, and toxins.