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Tropicals, Woody > Kigelia > Kigelia africana > Kigelia africana

Kigelia africana


Sausage Tree




Origin:  Found across sub-Saharan tropical Africa and as far south on the continent as South Africa.
Family
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Kigelia
Species
africana
Category
Tropicals, Woody
Type
Tree (evergreen)
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
Canadian Hardiness Zone
Requires cold protection under glass.
RHS Hardiness Zone
H1b-H3
Temperature (°C)
-1.1-15.6
Temperature (°F)
30-60
Height
15-18 m
Spread
15-20 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
Cultivation
Best grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Needs consistently moist soil.
Growth
Medium
Pests
No significant insect or disease problems.
Habitat
Naturally found in riverbanks, floodplains, open woodlands and savannas.
Bark/Stem Description
The trunk is smooth and grey but will crack and flake with age.
Leaf Description
The compound leaves are held in groups of three at terminal branches and are up to 20 cm long with 3-8 leaflets per leaf. They are a light to dull green in colour with a light leathery texture.
Flower Description
Blooms are tubular information and are dark red with yellow veins. The dark coloured bloom is pollinated by Hawk Moths and bats, with it believed that the bats are attracted to the dark flowers (bats typically pollinate white coloured blooms) because of the unpleasant scent.
Fruit Description
Unique fruit that is sausage shaped, tawny beige-brown, with about a 5-10 cm diameter and up to 90 cm in length. They can be quite heavy and an individual may weigh in excess of 1 kg.
Notable Specimens
Bethesda by the Sea, Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.
Propagation
Propagated by seed.
Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer)
All parts of the plant are toxic.
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