Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Tipu Tree
Tipu Tree is a wide-spreading shade tree that covers itself in yellow to apricot pea-shaped flowers in early summer. Its light green, feathery leaves make a broad canopy 35 to 50 feet tall and wide. It keeps most of its leaves in mild winters. In the Valley it looks best with regular, ample water.
Best for: broad summer shade, early summer flower color, and big yards, parks and open lawns.
Its wide canopy of feathery leaves can reach 35 to 50 feet across. It is used as a shade tree for big yards, parks and streets.
Yellow to apricot pea-shaped flowers cover the tree in early summer. The show is a highlight when few big trees are blooming.
It grows in lawns and open ground that get regular water. Give it room to spread well away from the house.
It drops lots of leaves, flowers and seed pods, so keep it away from pools. Trees near hot concrete and asphalt can suffer in extreme heat, and young trees take frost damage.
For the first two weeks, water a new tree every 1 to 2 days in summer, or every 3 to 4 days in cooler months. Ease to about weekly by the second month, and keep up deep, regular soaks for its first 3 years. Once rooted, soak it at the drip line every 7 to 14 days in summer and every 2 to 4 weeks in winter. It looks best with ample summer water.
Take off the nursery stake at planting, and stake only if the tree cannot stand on its own or sits in a windy spot. Use two stakes outside the root ball and soft, wide ties that let the trunk sway. Remove them after about a year.
Train it young to one strong trunk with well-spaced branches, because low, split trunks can fail later. Raise the canopy slowly, and never take more than a quarter a year.
It is rated to about 25°F, and young trees can be damaged in Valley freezes. Cover young trees on frost nights, and wait until about March to trim damage.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does a tipu tree get?
It grows about 35 to 50 feet tall with an equal or wider spread. Plant it only where it has that much room.
When does tipu tree bloom?
It blooms in early summer with yellow to apricot flowers. Plant it where you can enjoy the show, and plan on some cleanup afterward.
How much water does it need in Phoenix?
It needs ample, regular water in the Valley to look its best. Give it deep soaks every 7 to 14 days in summer once it is rooted.
Is tipu tree messy?
Yes, it drops lots of leaves, flowers and seed pods in season. Keep it away from pools and patios you want clean.
Is it evergreen?
It keeps most of its leaves in mild winters but can drop many in cold ones. Expect some winter leaf drop.
How cold hardy is it?
It is rated to about 25°F, and young trees can be damaged in Valley freezes. Cover young trees on frost nights.
How do I prune a young tipu?
Train it young to one strong trunk with well-spaced branches, since low split trunks can fail later. Raise the canopy slowly over time.
Can it grow near my driveway?
Trees near hot concrete and asphalt can suffer heat stress in extreme summers. Plant it in open ground away from large paved areas.
Tipu Tree for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Tipu Tree is a big, wide shade tree with yellow flowers in early summer. Below: size, water, flowers, litter, cold, training young trees and where it does best in the Valley.
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Tipu tree size in Arizona
It grows about 35 to 50 feet tall with an equal or wider spread, so give it plenty of room.
When does tipu tree bloom?
It blooms in early summer, with yellow to apricot pea-shaped flowers.
Is tipu tree messy?
Yes, it drops lots of leaves, flowers and seed pods. Keep it away from pools.
Watering tipu tree in Phoenix
It needs ample, regular water to look its best, with deep soaks every 7 to 14 days in summer.
How cold hardy is tipu tree?
It is rated to about 25°F, and young trees need frost cover.
Training a young tipu tree
Train it to one strong trunk with well-spaced branches to prevent weak splits later.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.