Kigelia africana (Sausage Tree)
Botanical Information
| Family | Bignoniaceae |
| Genus | Kigelia |
| Species | africana |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Found across sub-Saharan tropical Africa and as far south on the continent as South Africa. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | All parts of the plant are toxic. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10-12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1b-H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -1.1-15.6 |
| Temperature (°F) | 30-60 |
| Height | 15-18 m |
| Spread | 15-20 m |
| Growth | Medium |
Description and Growing Information
| Propagation | Propagated by seed. |
| Cultivation | Best grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Needs consistently moist soil. |
| Pests | No significant insect or disease problems. |
| Notable Specimens | Bethesda by the Sea, Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Naturally found in riverbanks, floodplains, open woodlands and savannas. |
| Bark/Stem Description | The trunk is smooth and grey but will crack and flake with age. |
| Leaf Description | The compound leaves are held in groups of three at terminal branches and are up to 20 cm long with 3-8 leaflets per leaf. They are a light to dull green in colour with a light leathery texture. |
| Flower Description | Blooms are tubular information and are dark red with yellow veins. The dark coloured bloom is pollinated by Hawk Moths and bats, with it believed that the bats are attracted to the dark flowers (bats typically pollinate white coloured blooms) because of the unpleasant scent. |
| Fruit Description | Unique fruit that is sausage shaped, tawny beige-brown, with about a 5-10 cm diameter and up to 90 cm in length. They can be quite heavy and an individual may weigh in excess of 1 kg. |
Photographs
A tree in fruit in Kissumu, Kenya in April.
Kigelia africana, fruit. Bethesda by the Sea, Palm Beach, Florida, United States of America.