Scientific name: Spathodea campanulata

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 57.67″ N, 64° 49′ 47.95″ W

Observations:

Phenological Markers – African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata)

1. Leaf Behavior
The African Tulip Tree is evergreen to semi-deciduous depending on local rainfall and soil conditions.

• It may shed older leaves during dry spells or drought, particularly between January and March in St. Croix.
• New leaf flush is common after flowering or at the start of the wet season.

Observation Tips:

• Watch for leaf yellowing and partial drop during dry periods.
• Young leaves appear bronze-tinted or reddish, maturing to glossy dark green.

2. Flowering
One of its most distinctive features, Spathodea produces large, bell-shaped flowers that range from deep orange to scarlet, with frilly yellow margins.

• Flowers are held in dense terminal clusters, often resembling tulip bouquets.
• Flowering peaks in late dry to early wet season—usually March through June in St. Croix.
• The tree often flowers while retaining most of its foliage.

Observation Tips:

• Record first bud formation, peak bloom, and flower fall.
• Watch for early morning nectar pooling inside the flowers—often visited by birds and bees.
• Flowers drop heavily, forming a colorful carpet under the canopy.

3. Fruiting
Fruits are long, curved seed pods, up to 20 inches long, which develop after flowering.

• Pods are green when immature, ripening to brown and woody as they mature.
• When dry, they split open, releasing flat, winged seeds that are wind-dispersed.
• Fruiting typically begins in mid to late wet season and may continue through early dry season.

Observation Tips:

• Note pod length, surface texture, and degree of splitting.
• Check for seed fall zones under breezy conditions.

4. Seasonal Pattern (St. Croix)

• Jan–Mar: Occasional leaf drop
• Mar–Jun: Flowering peak
• May–Sep: Pod formation and ripening
• Oct–Dec: Seed dispersal, leaf flush renewal