Malvaceae
Cola uloloma
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
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This evergreen small tree, occasionally a shrub, typically grows 1.5–10 metres tall, sometimes reaching 25 metres, featuring a clean trunk and a dense, rounded crown. Its pale grey bark can be rough or smooth with longitudinal striations. A distinguishing characteristic is its leathery, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate leaves, 4–12 cm long, with uniformly short petioles. The aromatic flowers are whitish, yellowish, or pinkish-brown, and the ripe fruits are orange and obliquely obovoid.
Where it works in Kilifi
Native to coastal forest fragments like the Kaya forests in Kilifi District, this species thrives in wet tropical biomes. It is suitable for restoration plantings within appropriate indigenous forest landscapes, and as a specimen or shade tree in large coastal gardens, especially in areas mimicking its natural partial-shade forest understorey conditions.
Growing notes
This species is considered rare and poorly known, and is assessed as vulnerable to extinction. General cultivation for the genus suggests it requires regular watering to prevent root rot and prefers stable, warm temperatures, avoiding extremes.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: jstor.org, kew.org, picturethisai.com. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.