Salvadoraceae
Salvadora persica var. persica
Toothbrush Tree · Mswaki
T
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
View in catalogue →About
This unique plant often grows as a sprawling shrub, sometimes appearing as a herb with succulent characteristics and tubers allowing it to survive arid conditions. Historically, its fibrous twigs have been widely used as natural toothbrushes due to their antiseptic properties.
Where it works in Kilifi
An excellent choice for challenging coastal Kilifi gardens, it thrives in full sun and tolerates poor, sandy, or even saline soils. Ideal for arid landscaping, coastal restoration, or as an informal, low-maintenance hedge due to its spreading habit.
Growing notes
It exhibits a moderate to fast growth rate and is remarkably drought-tolerant once established, requiring very little supplemental water. Highly resilient, it is well-suited to the hot and often dry conditions prevalent along the Kenya coast.
Sources
Drafted from: Gemini 2.5 Flash. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.