Silkrubber
Funtumia elastica
- Native to:
- Benin, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Matilda Smith (died 1926)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Apocynaceae
- Genus:
- Funtumia
- Species:
- Funtumia elastica
- USDA Symbol:
- FUEL
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers forested environments with organic matter
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are short-lived and should be sown fresh. Requires warm, humid conditions for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI