Malvaceae
Sterculia rhynchocarpa
Small/Medium Tree
12 small available right now.
About
This deciduous small to medium-sized tree typically grows 0.6–9 metres tall, occasionally reaching 15 metres, often branching from the base with a swollen bole. It features smooth, purplish, grey, or reddish-brown bark that can sometimes peel, and orbicular to ovate leaves, sometimes shallowly 3-lobed. Its distinctive fruits are woody, beaked follicles, usually warty or spiny and grey-green, containing grey-black, tick-like seeds. The bark yields fibre for tying, and its seeds are edible.
Where it works in Kilifi
Ideal for a Kilifi-coast garden or landscape, this tree thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established. It suits a range of soils, including sandy types over limestone, making it an excellent specimen or medium shade tree.
Growing notes
This deciduous species can be propagated from seeds or cuttings and requires a sunny position. Once established, it is drought-tolerant, needing watering every 2-3 weeks, allowing the soil to dry between applications. Handle fruits with care, as they possess irritating hairs.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, prota4u.org, jstor.org, bihrmann.com, researchgate.net, picturethisai.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.