Swap out an African Tulip tree

Right now, African tulip trees are impossible to miss. Their bright orange-red flowers are in full bloom, making this the perfect time to identify trees growing on your property.

If you have an African tulip tree, follow the flowers down to the trunk and mark it for future management.

Once flowering finishes, it can be surprisingly difficult to tell which trunk belongs to which tree, especially in dense vegetation.

While attractive, African tulips are invasive environmental weeds spreading into our region’s littoral rainforests and lowland tropical rainforests.

These threatened ecological communities provide critical habitat for species such as the Southern cassowary, Mahogany glider, and countless native birds, insects and other wildlife.

Littoral rainforests and coastal vine thickets help protect shorelines from erosion, buffer coastal areas from extreme weather, and support dozens of threatened species.

Lowland tropical rainforests help regulate climate, absorb carbon, reduce erosion and flooding, and form part of an important habitat corridor stretching from the ranges to the coast.

African tulip trees also pose a hidden threat to pollinators.

The nectar can be toxic to native bees. With the ongoing challenges posed by Varroa mite, supporting healthy pollinator populations has never been more important.

Plant me instead

If you’re considering removing an African tulip tree, why not replace it with a native species from our local lowland tropical rainforest ecosystems?

Black Bean (Castanospermum australe)

Also known as Moreton Bay chestnut, this hardy native tree produces striking red and yellow flowers that attract birds, bats, butterflies and other pollinators.

As it matures into a big shady tree, it develops valuable habitat features, including hollows, while its large seed pods provide an interesting garden feature.

Damson Plum (Terminalia microcarpa)

This beautiful native tree is known for its seasonal flush of red leaves and spreading branches.

Its flowers produce large amounts of nectar for pollinators, while the seeds are eaten by wildlife including black cockatoos and cassowaries.

By planting local native species, you can help transform your backyard or large property into a thriving ecosystem that supports biodiversity, provides habitat, and is often better adapted to local conditions than introduced species.

Managing African Tulip trees

For landholders seeking control options, the current recommended treatment is the drill-and-fill method using Tordon RegrowthMaster® (1:4), in accordance with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) Permit 11463. The APVMA administers a permit scheme that allows for the legal use of chemicals in certain ways. 

The drill-and-fill method is highly effective and minimises off-target impacts.

The permit also allows drill-and-fill applications using approved glyphosate-based herbicides. Drill holes on a 45 degree angle approximately 5 to 10cm apart around the base of the tree and as close to the ground as possible.

Every African tulip tree replaced with a native species is a small but important step towards protecting the unique rainforests and wildlife of the Wet Tropics and Dry Tropics regions.

Call to action

If you live in the Rollingstone and Crystal Creek area and would like to plant native trees, please call our office on 4799 3500 and ask to speak with one of our Living Landscapes team members.

Rollingstone and the Crystal Creek area are known for their lush lowland tropical rainforests. This region services as the stunning southern gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

To learn more about lowland tropical rainforests, read about our Conserving Threatened Wet Tropics Vegetation project.

NQ Dry Tropics is leading a four-year project to protect and restore threatened ecological communities and species in the Wet Tropics north of Townsville. 

The project focuses on improving the condition of endangered ecosystems, including broad-leaf tea-tree (Melaleuca viridiflora) woodlands, beach scrubs (littoral rainforest), coastal vine thickets and lowland tropical rainforests.