Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Moringa drouhardii
Bottle Tree Moringa
From the spiny forests of southwestern Madagascar, the Moringa drouhardii puts up a smooth pale trunk that swells into a tapered bottle and then breaks into a fine, sparse, feathery crown. The effect is closer to sculpture than to a tree, and it is achieved on some of the driest, thinnest limestone ground on the island.
Where an arid scheme needs a vertical element that will not ask for irrigation, this is one of a very short list of candidates.
Specifications
- Height8 to 12 metres, occasionally to 15 metres
- Width3 to 6 metres
- Native toThe dry southwest of Madagascar
- FoliageFine, twice to three times pinnate leaves in a sparse open crown; shed through the dry season
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilRequires sharply drained sandy or limestone soils; rots in heavy or wet ground
- LightFull sun
- WaterVery low; strongly drought-tolerant once established
- ClimateThrives in arid and semi-arid tropical regions
Additional Features
- FormSwollen pale bottle-shaped trunk with smooth grey-white bark, tapering to a fine open crown
- FlowersCreamy-white flowers carried in dense panicles
- UsesIdeal as an architectural feature in desert landscapes, xeric gardens and arid avenues
- SpacingPlant 5 to 8 metres apart so the trunk form reads clearly
- Low MaintenanceNeeds almost no routine care in a dry climate; the main risk is overwatering
- Pest ResistanceGenerally robust where drainage is sharp
- Drought ToleranceStores water in the trunk and holds condition through prolonged drought
Bottle Tree Moringa brings sculptural height to a desert scheme without adding to its water demand.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026