Fabaceae-Papilionaceae
Craibia brevicaudata
Mountain ironwood · Mfunda mweupe
Canopy/Emergment Tree
132 small available right now.
About
This evergreen tree typically reaches 2 to 20 metres tall, boasting a rounded, spreading crown. Its leaves are imparipinnate with 5-7 leathery, dark green leaflets. It produces strongly scented, creamy-white flowers with a greenish centre, arranged in compact racemes, which are followed by flat, creamy-grey pods that explosively eject reddish-brown seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
Well-suited for a Kilifi-coast garden, this tree thrives from sea level up to 1,800 metres and can be found in coastal forests. It makes an excellent shade tree or an ornamental specimen due to its rounded, spreading crown and attractive blooms.
Growing notes
This is a slow-growing species that prefers full sun and well-drained soil. While drought tolerant once established, it requires supplemental watering during its first growing season to ensure proper root establishment.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: grokipedia.com, wikipedia.org, theferns.info, zambiaflora.com, worldagroforestry.org, selinawamucii.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.