Ebenaceae
Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi
Glossy guarri
T
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
A shrub or small evergreen tree, 1-15 metres tall, with grey-black, rather smooth bark. Its leathery leaves are typically obovate to oblanceolate, glossy dark green above and paler below. Small, creamy-white, sweetly scented flowers develop into edible, subspherical fruits that ripen from red to purplish-black, around 8 mm in diameter.
Where it works in Kilifi
This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and sandy soils, making it suitable for coastal gardens. It serves well as an ornamental, a live fence, or for soil conservation and reforestation, particularly in coastal thickets and dune stabilisation.
Growing notes
Once established, it requires weekly watering but is generally drought-tolerant and resilient. Avoid heavy pruning during active growth to prevent stress to the plant.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: mozambiqueflora.com, jstor.org, worldagroforestry.org, zimbabweflora.co.zw, greenidiom.com, theferns.info. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.