Calabar Bean

Physostigma venenosum

Native to:
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Physostigma
Species:
Physostigma venenosum
USDA Symbol:
PHVE11

Growth Characteristics

Height:
1500 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Mussidia nigrivenella

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Notes:
Seeds require scarification (nicking or soaking) to break physical dormancy; germination is erratic.