Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree Flowers

are many of your plants a month early ~ most of ours are a month late!!

No, this one is a month early for the first time. Most other trees are late because of the unseasonably cool Jan/Feb this year.

We do have plants and trees blooming all year here, though. Many of the interesting tropical trees/shrubs bloom during winter.

Stunning colour...

Yes, this tree is super spectacular when in full bloom. The only tree which surpasses it is Delonix regia, which is considered by many the most floriferous and beautiful tree in the world!

Is your avatar named after the delonix Regia?

Yes, my screen name and avatar is a Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) in full bloom. It's from my photo of a beautiful flowering tree here in San Diego, CA.

Here's some of my Delonix regia trees flowering here in San Diego, CA:

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/218573-delonix-regia-royal-poinciana-flamboyant

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/231745-delonix-regia-royal-poinciana-flamboyant-flowers-in-san-diego-ca

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/231745-delonix-regia-royal-poinciana-flamboyant-flowers-in-san-diego-ca

It's like a tree full of poinsettia flowers......magnificent!

Poinsettia flowers are very different. I'm of course comparing them to the poinsettia trees/shrubs which grow outside here.

Here's some of my poinsettia tree pics in flower

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/54990-euphorbia-pulcherrima-poinsettia/tag/pulcherrima

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/124748-euphorbia-pulcherrima-poinsettia-christmas-plant/tag/pulcherrima

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/122995-euphorbia-pulcherrima-poinsettia-christmas-plant/tag/pulcherrima

I think you would probably laugh if you saw the plants we have at Christmas time, they are very attractive but almost unrecognisable from the trees you grow......just the last photo reminded me of our plants when they grow a bit taller but generally we don't get the flowers back if we can keep them a second year!

That last Poinsettia photo tree gets cut back every year after blooming. It's always best to cut Poinsettias back a bit after flowering so they come back bigger and stronger (even ones in pots).

dont you have to keep them in the dark or something to get those red coloured bracts back?

Yes, they shouldn't be planted by a porch light or street light because then they will not bloom (it interrupts photoperiodism) . They start blooming during the shorter days in late fall and early winter.

if only we had the warmth here ~ the necessary dark would be no problem at all!! we have plenty of shorter days!

When Poinsettia is grown indoors it should be kept in darkness for 12 hours during night starting in Oct. This should be enough darkness to initiate flowering bracts.

and in daylight for the other 12 hours?

Yes, 12 - 14 hours of darkness and 10 -12 hours of sunlight.

might try that out then, thank you!

You're welcome. :)

:-)