Gabon tulip tree

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Leisure · Subcategory: Singular trees

The Gabon tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata) is native to tropical West Africa and has adapted well to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Several specimens can be seen along its streets, squares and parks. This one on Calle Emilio Calzadilla is notable; there is another at Calle Robayna corner with Sabino Berthelot, and several more in Parque García Sanabria.
In the wild this tree can grow to more than 30 metres; the one on Calle Emilio Calzadilla reaches almost 15. Its dark-barked trunk splits into many branches with leaves of 4–8 pairs of elliptical leaflets.
It flowers spectacularly in autumn and winter, when large cup-shaped flowers gather in dense terminal clusters. Their golden-yellow colour contrasts strongly with the green foliage. Water collects among the unopened buds, which is why the flowers were also known as “water cups”. The fruits are brown capsules that open along the side and release winged seeds.
Gabon tulip trees, with their fire-red or yellow flowers, add a striking richness to the Santa Cruz streetscape.

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