Meliaceae
Melia volkensii
Mukau · Mpendabure
T
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
View in catalogue →About
This deciduous tree typically grows 6 to 20 metres tall, featuring a grey bark that furrows with age and bright green, bipinnate leaves. It produces small, fragrant white flowers and oval, drupe-like fruits that mature from green to pale grey. Highly valued for its durable, termite-resistant timber, it also provides fodder, firewood, and bee forage, and its leaf extracts have insecticidal properties.
Where it works in Kilifi
Ideal for sunny, dryland gardens and landscapes, this tree thrives in well-drained, sandy or loamy soils typical of the Kilifi coast. It serves excellently as a shade tree, a timber crop, or integrated into agroforestry systems with spacing of 4x4m to 8x8m to allow for intercropping.
Growing notes
A fast-growing species, Melia volkensii is highly drought-tolerant once established, shedding its leaves in dry seasons to conserve water and rapidly re-foliating with rains. It prefers moderate to hot temperatures (20-35°C) and requires minimal watering after establishment, thriving when soil dries out between watering. Avoid waterlogged conditions and black cotton soils; young trees benefit from pruning to encourage a straight bole and can be toxic if ingested.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: kefri.org, worldagroforestry.org, nri.org, scribd.com, antropocene.it, beyondforest.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.