Fabaceae-Mimosaceae
Senegalia brevispica
Wait-a-bit thorn · mwarara
T
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This thorny shrub or slender tree typically grows 2.5-7 metres tall, forming dense thickets or scrambling over other vegetation. It is characterised by long, rambling branches covered in numerous small, hooked thorns and bears fragrant, yellow-white flowers in globose heads. Its fruits are flat, straight, brown pods, up to 15 cm long, which are thin enough for the seeds inside to be visible.
Where it works in Kilifi
This hardy plant is suitable for Kilifi's coast, thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, including sandy loams. It is ideal for creating robust, thorny live fences or can be used as a specimen tree in larger garden areas.
Growing notes
It is a fast-growing, semi-deciduous species that readily coppices and regenerates after pruning. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires little irrigation, but avoid waterlogged conditions. This species can be invasive in pastures due to its regeneration capacity.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: feedipedia.org, grokipedia.com, worldagroforestry.org, bushtrucker.ch, plantnet.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.