African Copaiba Balsam Tree

Daniellia oliveri

Native to:
Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan-South Sudan, Togo, Uganda

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Daniellia
Species:
Daniellia oliveri
USDA Symbol:
DAOL

Growth Characteristics

Height:
2500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
feb,mar,apr
Bloom Colors:
white, cream

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, birds
Fragrant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Thick corky bark protects against savanna fires; resprouts vigorously after burning. Common in fire-maintained West African savannas.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy to loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
prefers savanna regions with seasonal rainfall

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Hard seed coat requires scarification; soaking in hot water or mechanical scarification improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI