Loganiaceae
Strychnos henningsii
Henning's Strychnos · M'bathe
T
Not currently in the nursery
We can propagate most native species on request — get in touch to discuss timeline and quantity.
About
This small to medium-sized tree typically grows 2-15 metres tall, occasionally reaching 20 metres, with a pale grey bark that becomes rougher with age. Its leathery, glossy leaves are broadly oval and feature 3-5 prominent veins from the base. Small, scented, yellowish-green flowers mature into round, fleshy fruits that ripen from orange to red or purple, each containing 1-2 coffee-bean-like seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
Well-suited for Kilifi-coast gardens, thriving in coastal forests, wooded hillsides, and stream banks. It serves as an excellent shade tree and can be used for soil erosion control, requiring full sun to partial shade.
Growing notes
This species exhibits a slow growth rate, with seed production and germination often being erratic and poor. It readily produces root suckers and responds well to coppicing. Caution: the bark and fruits contain poisonous bitter alkaloids.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: internationalscholarsjournals.com, worldagroforestry.org, prota4u.org, zimbabweflora.co.zw, theferns.info, researchgate.net. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.