Family: Bombaceae
Common Name: Baobab

Native to the tropics, these extraordinary deciduous trees have huge bloated trunks, up to 9 m (30 ft) in diameter, with a rather small mass of twisted branches and twigs at the top. They grow to 15 m (50 ft).

Species

A. digitata, monkey-bread tree or baobab, from tropical Africa, produces drooping fragrant white flowers and also fibrous hairy fruit 30 cm (12 in) long. The bark of the baobab is sometimes used for fiber.

A. gregorii, native to the Northern Territory and northern areas of Western Australia, is grown in tropical parts of Australia.

Cultivation

Baobabs are grown as specimen trees in the tropics but in colder Climates can be grown in pots or tubs in a warm glasshouse or conservatory.

Climate

Suitable for zone 10 and above.