I don’t remember these trees much as a child growing up, but they do grow wild all over the island, particularly in inland areas, and in some gardens. A house that I had some years ago had a wonderful grove of African Tulips growing alongside a watercourse that went along the edge of the property, and it was so lovely and peaceful that I insisted that the house be built to one side so that none of the trees needed to be cut down. It was lovely.
African Tulips are not overly large trees, and put out clusters of bright orange/red flowers that, when seen from a distance, appear like one huge flower - very striking against the papery dark green leaves.
In Barbados, African Tulips are strictly decorative though I believe they have various uses in other parts of the world. Nectar feeding birds such as hummingbirds, feed on the nectar produced by the flowers.
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