Malvaceae
Carpodiptera africana
Mlanga
T
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
View in catalogue →About
This small to medium-sized tree typically grows 1-13.5 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres. It features alternate, ovate to oblong leaves, up to 20 cm long, which are stellate hairy when young. The tree produces unisexual flowers with white or pink petals and distinctive ellipsoid, 2-valved capsules, each with two unequal, leaf-like wings that turn reddish or purplish brown as they mature.
Where it works in Kilifi
Native to coastal Kenya, this tree thrives in coastal woodlands, thickets, and forest margins up to 900m altitude, making it suitable for restoration, shade, or as a garden specimen in Kilifi. It can also be considered for woodlots due to its ability to coppice well.
Growing notes
Carpodiptera africana is known to coppice well. In Kenya, it typically flowers between December and July.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: prota4u.org, theferns.info, mozambiqueflora.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.