Spathodea campanulata and similar items

Spathodea campanulata, the African tulip tree is a spectacular flowering tree. Spathodea campanulata is a fast-growing, about 80' high, ever-blooming tree. When young, the leaves are bronze; deep glossy-green at maturity. Large clusters of velvety, bronze-green, kidney-shaped buds are to see at the ends of the branches. Spathodea campanulata is also called “flame of the forest” and is an ornamental tree in the tropics. The unopened buds contain water, which squirt when squeezed or pierced, f.i. by birds. Out of each bud come, large orange-red flowers. The bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine in Ghana. Culture: full sun; moist rich soil, foliage will be killed at 28 - 30 F, but the roots survive down to 20 F. Plant in frost free areas. Soak them in water and put in a plastic pot. Sow the seeds on the peat pellets and cover the seeds with a thin layer of peat (about 2 mm). Then put the plastic pot in a zip-lock bag - with a pot size of 6 cm , a zip-lock bag of size 12 x 17 cm is recommended . Fill in the zip-lock bag as much tap water with a few drops of universal fertilizer, so that after the absorption of the substrate a few mm of water remain on the bottom. Location: on the windowsill or in a small greenhouse in partial shade, daytime temperatures at about 75-83 F, somewhat lower at night at 68-75 F. price is for 15 seeds