Sapindaceae

Stadmannia oppositifolia

Silky-plum

Canopy/Emergment Tree

Common species

Size

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About

This small to medium-sized tree can reach up to 20 metres in tropical Africa and is recognised by its distinctive bark that flakes in sizable pieces, creating a mottled grey appearance. Its leaves are spirally arranged and paripinnate, featuring 2-3 pairs of elliptic leaflets that are shiny green above and subtly hairy underneath. Small, yellowish, petal-less flowers are borne in racemes, giving way to velvety, 3-lobed fruits that transition from green to red, each containing a brown seed encased in a vibrant aril.

Where it works in Kilifi

Native to coastal Kenya, this tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, typically found in dry evergreen forests and coastal bushland on coral rag. It is an excellent choice for a specimen tree, providing shade in a Kilifi-coast garden, or for restoration projects in coastal areas.

Growing notes

Easily propagated from seed, which should be harvested when ripe, cleaned of their arils, and sown in a suitable seedling mix; germination typically occurs within 7 days. Once established, this species, native to wet tropical biomes, is likely to be relatively low-maintenance, thriving in tropical conditions.

Sources

Researched with web grounding from: zimbabweflora.co.zw, treesa.org, sanbi.org, kew.org, nih.gov. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.