Anthocleista grandiflora

[PalmsZA]

Hi all

I am sure many of you have heard of/seen these beauts. Some of you may even own a few. I planted this tree in Feb this year and it was 20cm tall (8 inches), it is a becoming a bit of a monster and has grown none-stop since planting.

They grow in the area we call the Low Veld up to Kenya, lots of water keeps them happy and they dont seem fussy as to soil.

I have been trying to get seed of these trees to no avail, but I wont give up.

The slop is a UK size 10.

Cheers

Dennis

[Peter]

Beautiful Dennis!  I'm quite excited since I have finally been able to get my hands on one of these.  A friend brought one bare-rooted seedling back here to Southern California from South Africa last month-I'm quite nervous while I wait for it to recover.  And we appreciate any efforts on your part to locate seeds-please let us know as there is a big demand here in the US for this tree.

Cheers,

Peter

[PalmsZA]

Hi Peter

Congrats on getting a seedling, they are just soooo scarse over here its sickening. They are very strong trees so I think yours will be fine. I went to the nursery that I bought my seedling at and they had one plant left (from the same batch as mine), and it was the size of one of my plants leaves. So get yours in the ground A.S.A.P or over-pot.

Cheers for now

Dennis

[Peter]

It's already in a large 5g pot-thanks Dennis!   I'm only concerned because it's now going into winter over here, while my tree is ready for spring-we'll see what happens.

And my friend had a very hard time purchasing them over there-while they were not commonly planted they were around, however when he went to the local nurseries, even ones specializing in SA natives, he said they all looked at him like he was crazy when he asked for a Forest Fever tree.  Apparently it's not that common in the nursery trade there, although he did finally find a small nursery that had a couple.  They were grown from cuttings; apparently the seed is very small and not that easy to harvest, although it seems like it would be worth the effort.  Keep us posted on your tree's progress please.

[PalmsZA]

As I live in a valley the temp dropped to just above 5c on a tooo many mornings for me to want to remember! The Anthocleista didnt seem to notice. I am not sure of frost and from the look of the leaves they will more than likely burn.

Did your mate find the plants in Durban? If so I hope he didnt "steal" the last from the local indigneous nursery, I have my eye on another!

Cheers

Dennis

[DoomsDave]

That is pretty!

How big does it get eventually?

(And how long is a UK size 10?)

dave

[Peter]

Dave, the one at the Huntington was planted in '86 and is about 25-30' tall.  I've got a photo or two which I'll try to dig up.

[PalmsZA]

Hi Dave

I have seen some that are 15m or 49 feet. A UK size 10 is USA 12 I believe.

Cheers

Dennis

[Peter]

Dennis, I don't think he was in Durban, so please go ahead and grab that other one.  That way when there will be more seeds in a few years for you to harvest  ;-).

Peter

[Zac in NC]

Its a neat looking plant Dennis. I had never heard of it and I can't recall seeing the plant at the big H. Oh well, perhaps on my next trip out there ( whenever that is....probably a long time)

Zac

[aussiearoids]

Been meaning to hack a path thru the giant weeds to get a pic of this tree for ages .

Leaves are nice and big .

Even spotted one of the Mauritia flexuosa growing well up thru Yasi debris .. so hopefully all 3 in that spot are OK .

[ThunderSRQ]

Very nice! I've got one of these growing in the ground, as well (and a few still in pots). My planted one got burned back all the way to the ground by frost it's first year and then 'hurt' by cold the next winter (I had moved it under canopy) -- but both times it rebounded very well (so this tree does have some cold tolerance).

Tim

[Peter]

Here is one that was planted out last year in West Hollywood, California. They seem to be slow so far here:

[Palms1984]

Here is one that was planted out last year in West Hollywood, California. They seem to be slow so far here:

Peter:

That's absolutely gorgeous! How long do the leaves grow?

[Peter]

The leaves on the older plant at the Huntington are 3'+.

[Palms1984]

Peter:

Thanks! That's a huge leaf! The leaves on the plants you posted above looks like they're about 18 - 24 inches wide....am I correct?

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Looking good Peter! I germinated seed at the same time as the plant Peter shared above. The seed are so so small! I think out of 200 seed I got 10 to pop. Then lost half! I have two nice plants left and I gave the rest to Peter. I hope the seed comes around again! This is turning out to be a great plant for California. Thanks Peter for bringing in the seed and sharing it with me! I would love to see a updated picture of Dean's plant in Hawaii.

[Dypsisdean]

Looking good Peter! I germinated seed at the same time as the plant Peter shared above. The seed are so so small! I think out of 200 seed I got 10 to pop. Then lost half! I have two nice plants left and I gave the rest to Peter. I hope the seed comes around again! This is turning out to be a great plant for California. Thanks Peter for bringing in the seed and sharing it with me! I would love to see a updated picture of Dean's plant in Hawaii.

Your wish is my command.

Yours truly with a recently dropped dead leaf.

[Peter]

Awesome Dean! Any sign of flowers? I know they're hard to see as I think they bloom on top of the leaves and are on the small side.

[Dypsisdean]

Awesome Dean! Any sign of flowers? I know they're hard to see as I think they bloom on top of the leaves and are on the small side.

I haven't looked. But even if they are there, I couldn't come close to reaching them.

But Bill Austin has tried to put an air layer on it. But it didn't take last time we checked. But that was quite a while ago. Time to check again.

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

Thanks for the picture Dean! Awesome tree!

[ariscott]

Are they on steroid, Dean? Very nice... I wish I could say the same with my garden at the moment.... TOO DRY!!! Need rain...

Regards, Ari

[Dypsisdean]

Are they on steroid, Dean? Very nice... I wish I could say the same with my garden at the moment.... TOO DRY!!! Need rain...

Regards, Ari

No Ari - but I could probably use some.

[Shon]

Dude Dean serious hair farmer.

[Palms1984]

This is my friend’s Anthocleista grandiflora in northern San Diego, CA.  It’s been in the ground for a while, probably 5 years. 

[Tracy]

On 10/9/2006 at 3:00 PM, Peter said:

Dave, the one at the Huntington was planted in '86 and is about 25-30' tall.  I've got a photo or two which I'll try to dig up.

Peter, next time you get over to the Huntington, try to get a photo of there specimen if it is still alive.  Would be interesting to see how big it has become here in Southern California.  I wouldn't ask except that it seems you do get over there periodically and probably know where it is growing.  It is a very appealing tree, just wish I had more space for one.

[Peter]

No problem Tracy; it's still there but hasn't grown much in the last several years.  Will take a photo the next time.

[aussiearoids]

Mine has formed a massive clump ..

[Mnasi]

Not a very good picture, sorry, but they grow like weeds in western Kenya (on the right of the picture). I can get seeds and seedlings easily, but getting a phyto is the issue. At least 2 species - a highland and a lowland counterpart - I will get good pictures and share soon.

Edited August 9, 2023 by Mnazi
Bad picture

[Palms1984]

An update on my friend’s tree.  It’s grown quite a bit in the last year and half with all the rain these last two winters.  Photo taken July 28, 2024.