Natal Orange
Strychnos spinosa
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Adansonia rayanne2
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Loganiaceae
- Genus:
- Strychnos
- Species:
- Strychnos spinosa
- USDA Symbol:
- STSP8
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, mammals, elephants, monkeys
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock after fire; common in fire-prone 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 and woodland areas
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 21–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have a hard coat requiring scarification or removal of pulp. Germination is erratic and can be slow.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI