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anyone growing baobabs (outside Madagascar)?@


Sandy Loam

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I just bought one, going to plant it tomorrow. No pictures yet but it is small.

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Lived in Cape Coral, Miami, Orlando and St. Petersburg Florida.

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There is one at the U of A is Tucson

http://arboretum.arizona.edu/heritage-trees

Edited by Xerarch
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Corpus Christi, TX, near salt water, zone 9b/10a! Except when it isn't and everything gets nuked.

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Baobabs are amazingly fast growing when put in the ground small from seed.  I have Adansonia madagascariensis and perrieri from seed and they've both grown several feet in one year.  I also have A. digitata, za, and fony growing here also.  Maybe 6-8 ft tall.   I'll take and post some pics tomorrow.   Baobabs are so hardy in nursery pots for such a long time (and they fatten up that way), that their natural growth rate isn't often reached.  I've seen them in pots with just a root blob and barely any dirt and they do ok.  

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I WOULD LOVE TO PLANT ONE IF I KNEW WHERE I COULD FIND ONE IN CALIFORNIA FOR SALE?

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Carlsbad, California Zone 10 B on the hill (402 ft. elevation)

Sunset zone 24

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Josh, the seeds are readily available online, they store for long periods of time, they germinate in a few days when the seed coat is nicked (I've always used toenail clippers with good success), and they grow rapidly.  

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Here are the pictures. 

This is Adansonia perrieri on April 19, 2015.  It's the only Baobab I've seen with crinkly leaves.

Baobab1.thumb.jpg.c1d08e6a901f44e032e40d

 

Here is the same tree on Nov 10, 2015 (starting to drop its leaves for the winter)  It's about 7 ft tall now

 

Baobab2.thumb.jpg.043500694fd4968ed4cf99

 

All the rest of the photos were taken today, Nov 10, 2015    Some of them are leafless for winter already.

 

Adansonia Za

BaobabZa.thumb.jpg.a191af8f696fafe045959

 

Adansonia Digitata (it tilted over in a storm, then I cut broken leader off to see if the side branch would go vertical and take over.....still in that project and probably need to crank on it with some tied)

 

BaobabDigitata.jpg.b4dd85aa2807cbf16e717

 

Adansonia fony/rubrostipa

BaobabFony.thumb.jpg.d6da15ed0ee01e8ad70

 

Adansonia grandidieri

BaobabGrandidieri.thumb.jpg.10497a09a517

 

Adansonia gregorii

BaobabGregorii.thumb.jpg.d80dabf14654ea3

 

Adansonia samibarensis (supposedly)

BaobabSamibarensis.thumb.jpg.a6b6eb1893a

 

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I always have a few Adansonia species growing here in Mass. They do great in pots. 

Edited by santoury
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There is a native Baobab - Cavanillesia arborea - in South America too.  It grows in a semi-arid region in Central Brazil in the state of Bahia.  Anybody tried growing it?  Or anybody know where seeds might be available?  I'd love to try grow it.

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Hawaii Island (Big Island), leeward coast, 19 degrees N. latitude, south Kona mauka at approx. 380m (1,250 ft.) and about 1.6 km (1-mile) upslope from ocean.

 

No record of a hurricane passing over this island (yet!).  

Summer maximum rainfall - variable averaging 900-1150mm (35-45") - Perfect drainage on black volcanic rocky soil.  

Nice sunsets!

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I've never heard of Cavanillesia trees referred to as Baobabs, only Adansonia as such, but every region has their own names.  Both genuses are in the Bombacaceae family and they both have relatively smooth, fatty trunks with light wood.  

Here's my Cavanillesia platanifolia.  It's just over 8 ft tall.

Cuipo1.thumb.jpg.b5b7e4883aba04d3b809349

Cavanillesia arborea.  The top snapped off when a flying something hit it in a storm.  It grew 2 new leaders from the break point and I cut the one off earlier this year.  That is the kink there.  Invasive Sri Lanka Weevils aggressively eat these (and all Bombacaceae) leaves....even with systemics and foliar contact insecticides.

Cuipo2.thumb.jpg.4eadb43c0034fb6a5ef9eec

The Cavanillesia seeds are housed in a large paper-winged fruit.  They are very showy and colorful when fresh on the tree.  The fruit/pulp.much that surrounds the seed in the center is like a thick gel when fresh and wet.  The seeds readily germinate in this.  I doubt there is much viability from stored seeds.

Cuipo3.jpg.fb5ef72c9387ab9bc9aab19e782b9

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Awesome trees, Adam! Those are gonna look so awesome in a few decades. 

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Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

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Baobab trees are truly impressive and amazing looking trees. On our recent trip to Madagascar, Kim and I visited Morondava on the west coast, and spent a good amount of time a bit inland from Morondava, enjoying the incredible sight of hundreds and hundreds of baobab trees sprinkled all over a large area there. The most famous part is what's commonly referred to as The Avenue of the Baobabs. I understand these are Adansonia grandidieri. Incidentally, impressive as they are, I am not planning on growing any baobabs in my garden. A bit of patience is required - we were told most of these trees are upwards of 500 years old. :bemused:

DSC_0035.JPG

DSC_0089.JPG

DSC_0206.JPG

DSC_0221.JPG

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Leilani Estates, 25 mls/40 km south of Hilo, Big Island of Hawai'i. Elevation 880 ft/270 m. Average rainfall 140 inches/3550 mm

 

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Are there any animals that depend upon living inside Baobabs? You would think so, but I never hear, or read, about this - other than the occasional coincidential example. 

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I am enjoying a few minutes of free wi fi sitting in the picturesque town square of Las Marías, PR where I drive to get my mail. Good chance to check out PalmTalk.

I love these trees! Thanks for all the photos of all the different species!

Sadly I did not get to the west coast of Madagascar so thanks so much for sharing those gorgeous photos Bo!

And Mike, I do remember admiring your fantastic trees when you treated me and Lucinda to a tour and dinner last year!

I have one struggling Adansonia digitata I grew from seed while still in Virginia. It was one of two that survived to go into the ground here and has struggled for some reason. I lost one and it is only maybe two feet tall after several years in the ground. Too much water maybe?

I have seen ones that have at least the typical trunk shape in Mayaguez,PR, but I get more rain than that city about 25 minutes away. 

I do have a small Canoe tree (in a pot still) and there are nice big specimens at TARS (Tropical Agricultural Research Station) worth seeing along with the Baobabs.

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Cindy Adair

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On 11/15/2015, 12:49:59, bgl said:

Baobab trees are truly impressive and amazing looking trees. On our recent trip to Madagascar, Kim and I visited Morondava on the west coast, and spent a good amount of time a bit inland from Morondava, enjoying the incredible sight of hundreds and hundreds of baobab trees sprinkled all over a large area there. The most famous part is what's commonly referred to as The Avenue of the Baobabs. I understand these are Adansonia grandidieri. Incidentally, impressive as they are, I am not planning on growing any baobabs in my garden. A bit of patience is required - we were told most of these trees are upwards of 500 years old. :bemused:

DSC_0035.JPG

DSC_0089.JPG

DSC_0206.JPG

DSC_0221.JPG

awesome pic's Bo :) 

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Carlsbad, California Zone 10 B on the hill (402 ft. elevation)

Sunset zone 24

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I planted Adansonia grandidierii a couple years ago here in So Cal. It is slow but seems to be going along.

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Rock Ridge Ranch

South Escondido

5 miles ENE Rancho Bernardo

33.06N 117W, Elevation 971 Feet

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  • 1 year later...
On 11/17/2015, 7:59:28, Gtlevine said:

I planted Adansonia grandidierii a couple years ago here in So Cal. It is slow but seems to be going along.

bumping this for a status update here in Southern California.  Post a photo if you can, and it would be nice to see what it looked like in 2015 as well as now.

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33.0782 North -117.305 West  at 72 feet elevation

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On 11/14/2015, 6:45:33, Loxahatchee Adam said:

I've never heard of Cavanillesia trees referred to as Baobabs, only Adansonia as such, but every region has their own names.  Both genuses are in the Bombacaceae family and they both have relatively smooth, fatty trunks with light wood.  

Here's my Cavanillesia platanifolia.  It's just over 8 ft tall.

Cuipo1.thumb.jpg.b5b7e4883aba04d3b809349

Cavanillesia arborea.  The top snapped off when a flying something hit it in a storm.  It grew 2 new leaders from the break point and I cut the one off earlier this year.  That is the kink there.  Invasive Sri Lanka Weevils aggressively eat these (and all Bombacaceae) leaves....even with systemics and foliar contact insecticides.

Cuipo2.thumb.jpg.4eadb43c0034fb6a5ef9eec

The Cavanillesia seeds are housed in a large paper-winged fruit.  They are very showy and colorful when fresh on the tree.  The fruit/pulp.much that surrounds the seed in the center is like a thick gel when fresh and wet.  The seeds readily germinate in this.  I doubt there is much viability from stored seeds.

Cuipo3.jpg.fb5ef72c9387ab9bc9aab19e782b9

What a beautiful property you have! How did your Bombacaceae fare Irma? Also, thank you for sharing about the weevil! I was wondering what was tearing up my Bombax ceiba and Ceiba speciosas' leaves. Just terrible. I wonder why systemics don't get them under control?

 

On 11/17/2015, 11:36:27, waykoolplantz said:

we got the Bob bug a few years before Adam...but share some of the same sources.

 

197.JPG

199.JPG

 

205.JPG

Oh wow! How old are these trees?

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Naples (inland), FL - technically 10a but more like 9b in the winter :hmm:

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We germinated a dozen of these but they froze all the way down in the greenhouse this winter and 5 came back and are 3' tall. They are less hardy than bananas. 

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1 hour ago, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

We germinated a dozen of these but they froze all the way down in the greenhouse this winter and 5 came back and are 3' tall. They are less hardy than bananas.

Which species are you referring to?  I ask because I just planted Adasonia digitata last night.  Realistically, I don't have space for it in the place I planted it.  It's fair to say that in my lifetime, it will likely just be renting space before it has to be removed or moved at a later date.  Either that, or I'll have to try to buy out my neighbor behind me to accommodate it.

20171020-104A7755.jpg

20171020-104A7754.jpg

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33.0782 North -117.305 West  at 72 feet elevation

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9 hours ago, santoury said:

Cindy,

What's a "canoe tree?" That doesn't seem to bring up anything relevant when googling it. 

Simply a tree whose trunk can be carved into a canoe. There are many trees who have that distinction.

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Thanks Gonzer, 

Cindy's comment sparked my curiosity based on it seemingly being a specific type as per her comment as pasted below. I know a lot of trees are used in making canoes - and many aren't even fat. Birches, for instance. 

I do have a small Canoe tree (in a pot still) and there are nice big specimens at TARS (Tropical Agricultural Research Station) worth seeing along with the Baobabs.

 

 

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^^ While not a 100% positive id, its possible the "Canoe"Tree" Cindy was referring to is Cavanillesia platanifolia. Did a quick search after seeing her reference of trees located at the Tropical Ag. Research Station. This species came up.

Further detective work suggests this sp. is a likely candidate for building such boats from where it grows ( near rivers, large bodies of water, etc) in Panama. Trunks of native sp. of Sterculia have been referenced as possible candidates for canoe building in Panama as well.

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Cannot speak to Old World canoe trees, but all of the giant Malvaceae that occur in LatAm fit the bill, so IME this is a catch-all, not a specific vernacular, term. While easy to hollow out, they are not especially hard wearing. Some of the easily-carved large precious hardwoods, like Cedrela and Swietenia are also favored by rivermen where they are still common.

As an interesting anecdote, some Amazon region naturalists/foresters/botanists say that a riparian forest patch is "canoe paddled out" when all the large and medium-sized buttresses on canopy trees have all been chopped out. These trees will either die standing or topple in storms, giving what is often an "old" forest the look of a secondary forest. The advantage of these large, flat buttresses is that a paddle/s can be jigsawed out of them and easily whittled to proper contours. This practice, for some reason, appears to be less prevalent in Mesoamerica.

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  • 9 months later...

Anybody know of any larger A. rubrostipa or grandidieri growing in South Florida? Photos?

Thanks.

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I am growing Grandidieri in So Cal

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Rock Ridge Ranch

South Escondido

5 miles ENE Rancho Bernardo

33.06N 117W, Elevation 971 Feet

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2 hours ago, Gtlevine said:

I am growing Grandidieri in So Cal

Picture, dude? Por favor?

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This Madagascan Boabab thriving in the George Brown Botanical Gardens, Darwin. 

5snuBB3h.jpg

North Western Australia has a magnificent native Adansonia ( Gregorii ) that is locally common throughout the WA Kimberley and Vic River District in the NT. They grow very well in Darwin and there are quite a few old historical specimens in the older suburbs of Darwin. 

 

 

boab.jpg

NT010.JPG

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