Fabaceae-Mimosaceae
Albizia glaberrima var. glabrescens
Lowveld albizia · Mchani, Mkumba mbega
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Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This deciduous tree can reach up to 30 metres tall with a flattened, umbrella-shaped crown and greyish bark. It features bipinnately compound leaves with 1-3 pairs of pinnae, and 3-6 pairs of obliquely rhombic-ovate leaflets per pinna, which are typically glabrous (hairless) on the underside. Its white flowers appear in semi-spherical heads, leading to narrow, oblong brown pods up to 30 cm long, containing flat oval seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
Albizia glaberrima var. glabrescens thrives in full sun and is well-suited for coastal and adjoining inland areas like Kilifi, found from near sea-level up to 760m. It serves as an excellent shade tree and nitrogen-fixer, suitable for general garden planting, agroforestry, or ecological restoration projects, particularly in semi-deciduous or riverine forest settings.
Growing notes
This species exhibits a slow growth rate and seeds often require scarification, such as hot water treatment, to aid germination. Once established, it is relatively hardy in tropical conditions but young seeds are highly susceptible to insect attack, which can be mitigated by adding ash during storage.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, zimbabweflora.co.zw, wikipedia.org, prota4u.org, jstor.org, worldagroforestry.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.