Kigelia africanaSausage Tree

The Kigelia africana is unmistakable once it fruits. The Sausage Tree hangs grey woody fruit up to 60 centimetres long on cords a metre or more beneath its spreading crown, and before that comes a stranger display still: large maroon-red bell flowers on the same long stalks, opening at night and pollinated by bats.

It is a riverbank and savanna tree across tropical Africa, and it is planted in parks and open landscapes for deep shade and for the sheer curiosity of what it carries.

Specifications

• Height10 to 20 metres, occasionally to 25 metres
• Width10 to 15 metres
• Native toTropical and southern Africa, along riverbanks and in savanna woodland
• FoliageLarge pinnate leaves with glossy leathery leaflets; held year round in moist sites and shed briefly where the dry season is severe
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers deep, well-drained alluvial soils and performs best with access to ground water
• LightFull sun
• WaterModerate; regular while establishing
• ClimateThrives in tropical and subtropical savanna regions

Additional Features

• FlowersLarge maroon-red bell flowers on long pendulous stalks, opening at night
• FruitHeavy grey sausage-shaped fruit up to 60 centimetres long, hanging on long cords
• UsesIdeal as a large shade and curiosity tree for parks, open landscapes and generous avenues
• SpacingPlant 10 to 12 metres apart to allow the crown to spread
• Low MaintenanceNeeds little routine care, but the heavy fruit falls without warning, so site well clear of parking, paths and seating
• Pest ResistanceGenerally robust in a suitable climate
• Wildlife AttractionNight flowers feed bats and the fallen fruit feeds a range of animals
• Cultural SignificanceLong used across Africa in traditional medicine and craft

The Sausage Tree gives an open park deep shade and a genuine talking point, provided the fruit fall is designed around.