Barwood

Pterocarpus erinaceus

Native to:
Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Pterocarpus
Species:
Pterocarpus erinaceus
USDA Symbol:
PTER

Growth Characteristics

Height:
1500 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
feb,mar,apr
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, livestock browse
Fragrant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the root crown after fire; common in fire-prone West African savannas and woodlands.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to savanna regions; drought-tolerant

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Mechanical scarification or soaking in hot water improves germination. Fresh seeds germinate readily.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI