Malvaceae
Nesogordonia parvifolia
Muheru, mrunza
T
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This tree grows 4.5–30 metres tall with a spreading crown and a generally straight, cylindrical bole, often unbranched for up to two-thirds of its length. Its bark is smooth to rough or slightly flaking, ranging from whitish to grey or greyish brown. It produces white or cream-coloured, sword-shaped petals approximately 7 mm long, and develops obconic, 5-ridged capsules (2–2.5 cm long) containing up to 10 winged seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
Native to coastal evergreen forests up to 500 metres altitude in East Africa, this species is well-suited for a Kilifi-coast garden. It can serve as a majestic specimen tree or provide substantial shade in open landscapes, requiring adequate space for its mature size.
Growing notes
Found in coastal dry evergreen forests, this tree is likely resilient once established in a similar environment. Its wood is known to be of good quality, moderately heavy, hard, and tough, indicating a robust growth habit.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: theferns.info, prota4u.org, kew.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.