Rare Malagasy baobab with bottle-shaped trunk, light gray bark, and red night blooms

Adansonia madagascariensis is a rare baobab whose primary characteristic is its bottle-shaped trunk, with a swollen "belly" that can reach 5 meters in diameter. It has smooth, light gray bark and red flowers, and can grow between 10 and 30 meters tall with a sparse, irregular crown. The trunk is usually branchless up to near the top and can be bottle-shaped to cylindrical or tapering.

Baobabs have many peculiar habits: in winter, it sheds its leaves so that the branches look like roots, as if the tree has been planted upside down. It doesn't bloom during the day but at night. It can regenerate its bark directly from the surface of damaged wood. And the trunk actually contains water; the spongy wood absorbs water during the rainy season to survive the dry season.

This is a fast-growing tree that can reach 12 to 15 meters in height with a trunk 40 to 60 centimeters in diameter after 12 years.

Botanical Description

The species is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and fiber source. Little is known about the conservation status of the species, but the clearing of its habitat has been extensive in some places. It is classified as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List.

Care

Prefers full sun. In nature, it grows in well-drained soil, and established plants are drought-tolerant.

Water regularly during the growing season but allow the soil to dry between waterings. Use very well-drained soil with a good proportion of sand, gravel, or perlite.

In winter, the tree goes dormant and sheds its leaves; at this time, reduce watering significantly or stop altogether. Ideal temperature 20-30 degrees Celsius during growth. It cannot tolerate frost and must be kept frost-free year-round in our climate. Buy Adansonia madagascariensis online!