Sausage Tree
Kigelia africana
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
H. Zell
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Bignoniaceae
- Genus:
- Kigelia
- Species:
- Kigelia africana
- USDA Symbol:
- KIAF
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- aug,sep,oct,nov
- Bloom Colors:
- maroon, red
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bats, birds, elephants, large mammals
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Tolerates savanna fires and resprouts from the base after burning. Common in fire-prone African woodlands and riparian zones.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers riverbanks and floodplains in native habitat
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seed germinates best; soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Requires warm temperatures (25-30°C) for optimal germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI