Combretaceae
Pteleopsis tetraptera
T
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This deciduous tree grows to 15 metres or more, featuring greyish-white, lightly pubescent branchlets and grey to grey-green bark. Its subopposite, elliptic leaves are up to 7 cm long, somewhat glutinous when young, and become mostly glabrous with a pubescent midrib. The small white or cream flowers are borne in axillary racemes, developing into distinctive four-winged, subcircular fruits approximately 1.2 cm in diameter with a slender stipe, which are wind-dispersed.
Where it works in Kilifi
Native to coastal lowlands of southeastern Kenya, this tree thrives in bushland, wooded grassland, and dry evergreen forests. It prefers full sun and well-drained sandy soils, including those over coral rag, making it suitable for restoration or as a specimen tree in a Kilifi-coast garden.
Growing notes
Adapted to semi-arid to sub-humid conditions with annual rainfall between 900-1400 mm and mean temperatures of 24-30°C, it is drought-tolerant once established. Little is known about its specific growth rate due to its rarity and limited documentation.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: grokipedia.com, jstor.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.