Gum Arabic

Senegalia senegal

Native to:
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Senegalia
Species:
Senegalia senegal
USDA Symbol:
SESE16

Growth Characteristics

Height:
900 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
white, cream, yellow

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, birds, livestock browse
Fragrant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts vigorously from the base after fire or cutting. Common in fire-prone African savannas.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Seeds have hard coat requiring scarification (mechanical or hot water treatment). Germinates readily after treatment without cold stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI