Spathodea campanulata, commonly called African tulip tree, is a large, fast-growing tree that is native of tropical African forests where it typically grows to as much as 80' tall. In cultivation, it grows to a much shorter 25-40' tall. It is noted for producing an often extraordinary bloom of reddish-orange, tulip-like flowers at the tips of branches clad with attractive pinnate compound evergreen leaves. This tree has now been extensively planted as an ornamental in tropical areas around the world. In the U. S., it currently grows in far southern Florida, southern California and Hawaii. Best ornamental display usually occurs in locations where trees are protected from strong winds and can develop large, rounded, umbrella-like crowns. Although generally considered to be everblooming, specific flowering times for this tree vary somewhat depending upon climate and geographic location. In southern Florida, the main bloom occurs in spring (March-April) with continued but irregular additional bloom throughout remaining part of the year. Somewhat buttressed trunk has warty gray bark. Each large compound leaf (to 20" long) has 5-19 deeply veined oval leaflets (to 4" long). Upward-facing campanulate flowers (each to 3" across) in dense clusters (racemes) emerge from velvety, horn-shaped buds located at the branch tips. Each flower is reddish orange with a crinkled yellow corolla margin and 4 brown-anthered center stamens. Flowers are followed by upward pointing, greenish brown seed pods (to 8" long), each of which contains about 500 papery seeds with transparent winglets. Pods split open when ripe to release abundant seed to the wind. Wood is weak and brittle. High winds can do significant damage to branches and tree shape.