Rubiaceae
Canthium glaucum
Glaucous Canthium · mtengeji
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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
Canthium glaucum is a spiny shrub, typically growing 2-4 metres high, with brown to grey bark. It features elliptic leaves, usually 2-5 cm long, borne on short petioles below paired spines. Its few, greenish flowers are produced in cymes, and the fruit is square in outline, ripening from green to yellowish-orange. The plant's branched stems are widely used as stirrers, and it is also valued for fuelwood and as a shade tree.
Where it works in Kilifi
This species thrives in coastal bushland and would be well-suited for a Kilifi garden or landscape. It can serve as a specimen shrub, part of a thorny hedge, or for restoration plantings in sun-exposed areas.
Growing notes
This shrub flowers in Kilifi around September. Being native to coastal bushland, it is likely hardy and adaptable to local conditions once established.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: cd3wdproject.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.