Fabaceae-Papilionaceae
Dalbergia melanoxylon
African Blackwood · Mpingo
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Source of the world's most valuable timber for woodwind instruments and Makonde carvings. Slow-growing, deeply rooted, and increasingly threatened by overharvesting across its East African range.
Where it works in Kilifi
Suits well-drained, even rocky coastal soils. Plant as a long-horizon investment tree in sunny positions — also valuable in agroforestry as a nitrogen-fixing legume.
Growing notes
Very slow growth — expect decades for timber-grade trunks. Drought-hardy once established. Coppices readily. Listed as Near Threatened (IUCN) and on CITES Appendix II — planting it is a direct conservation action.
Sources
Drafted from: IUCN Red List, CITES, PROTA. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.