Sausage Tree
Kigelia africana
The sausage tree is an African tree famous for its enormous, heavy, sausage-shaped fruits dangling on long stalks, and its dark maroon, bat-pollinated flowers. It is a striking specimen of savanna and riverbank landscapes.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
The sausage tree, Kigelia africana, is named for its spectacular fruits, huge grey-brown sausage-shaped pods up to 2 ft long and weighing several pounds, that hang from long fibrous stalks beneath the canopy.
Its flowers are equally dramatic: large, trumpet-shaped, deep maroon-red blooms that open at night, are pollinated by bats, and have a strong scent.
A large spreading tree of African savannas and riverbanks, it is grown as an ornamental and shade tree in warm climates, though falling fruits make it unsuitable near parking or paths.
How to identify it
- Fruit: enormous, woody, grey-brown, sausage-shaped fruits (up to 2 ft, several pounds) hanging on long rope-like stalks
- Flowers: large, trumpet-shaped, dark maroon to wine-red, opening at night with a musty smell, hanging in long panicles
- Leaves: pinnately compound with glossy oval leaflets, in opposite pairs or whorls of three
- Size: large, spreading evergreen to semi-deciduous tree, 30-60 ft tall with a broad crown
- Bark: grey, smooth to flaky
Care & growing
Light: full sun.
Water: moderate; established trees are drought-tolerant but grow best with reliable moisture, as in their natural riverside habitat.
Soil: deep, well-drained soil; tolerant of various types.
Temperature: tropical to subtropical (USDA zones 10-11); frost-tender.
Feeding: little needed once established.
Propagation: readily grown from seed; also from cuttings.
Caution: the heavy fruits can fall without warning, so plant away from people, vehicles and structures.
Habitat & origin
Kigelia africana is native to tropical Africa, from Senegal and Sudan south to South Africa, where it grows in wet savanna, along riverbanks and on floodplains.
It is planted as an ornamental and shade tree in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, valued as a curiosity for its huge fruits and as a habitat tree for wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
What pollinates the flowers?
The large, night-opening maroon flowers are pollinated mainly by bats, attracted by the strong musty scent.
Are the falling fruits dangerous?
Yes, the fruits are heavy (several pounds) and drop without warning, so the tree should never be planted over paths, seating or parking.
How big does the sausage tree get?
It is a large, spreading evergreen to semi-deciduous tree, typically 30-60 ft tall with a broad crown.
Where is the sausage tree native to?
It is native to tropical Africa, growing in wet savanna, along riverbanks and on floodplains from Senegal and Sudan south to South Africa.
Sausage Tree guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Sausage Tree.
