Baobab
Adansonia digitata
- Native to:
- Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cameroon, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Ferdinand Reus (www.flickr.com) from Arnhem, Holland
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Adansonia
- Species:
- Adansonia digitata
- USDA Symbol:
- ADDI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bats, elephants, primates, insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thick, fire-resistant bark allows survival of grass fires common in savanna habitats. Mature trees can withstand moderate fire damage and continue growing.
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 regions with seasonal rainfall
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from hot water scarification or mechanical scarification. Germination improved by soaking in warm water for 24 hours before planting.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI