Meliaceae
Turraea wakefieldii
Mozambique honeysuckle-tree
T
Available in our catalogue
We propagate this species and you can order it from our catalogue.
View in catalogue →About
A shrub or small tree, sometimes scrambling, growing up to 7 metres tall, with shiny, broadly ovate to lanceolate-elliptic leaves. It produces sweet-scented white flowers, often turning yellow with age, which attract sunbirds and moths. The woody fruits are deeply ribbed capsules containing red seeds with a white aril.
Where it works in Kilifi
Native to the Kenya Coast, this species thrives in wet tropical biomes near sea level. It is suitable as a specimen tree in a Kilifi garden or for coastal restoration, preferring well-drained, moist loamy soils in partial sun to full sun.
Growing notes
Once established, this plant is moderately drought-tolerant, needing water every 2-3 weeks. Propagation can be achieved from seeds, which may benefit from scarification and overnight soaking to aid germination, or from semi-hardwood cuttings.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: jstor.org, kew.org, kilifigarden.info.ke, grokipedia.com, picturethisai.com, worldagroforestry.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.