Baobab — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Adansonia digitata |
|---|---|
| Seed germination (days) | 14–30 |
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 23.9–32.2 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 3650–36500 |
| Measured from | Seed |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 762–1524 |
| Mature height (cm) | 609.6–1828.8 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 609.6–1219.2 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 10–12 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Low |
| Sowing method | Direct sow |
Growing directions
Plant Baobab in deep, freely draining, sandy to loamy soil in full sun; they are highly drought-tolerant once established and dislike any root waterlogging — excellent drainage is non-negotiable; water moderately during summer active growth and reduce or stop watering in winter when deciduous; container-grown Baobabs make striking bonsai or patio specimens for decades before size becomes an issue. Baobab is one of the most extraordinary trees on Earth — capable of living 2,000–5,000+ years (and possibly far longer), storing thousands of liters of water in its massive, spongy, swollen trunk, and providing food, medicine, fiber, and shelter for both people and wildlife across its native sub-Saharan Africa range. The large, white, bat-pollinated flowers open at night and are strongly fragrant; they are followed by the football-sized, hard, hanging fruits — known commercially as 'baobab fruit' or 'monkey bread' — containing dry, chalky-white pulp naturally rich in Vitamin C (6x more than oranges per weight), calcium, potassium, and antioxidants. The pulp, leaves, seeds, bark, and roots all have documented food and medicinal uses across Africa; commercial baobab fruit powder has grown into a global superfood industry. In zone 10–12, it makes a spectacular, extraordinarily long-lived specimen tree; young plants grow slowly but rewards patient gardeners with one of the planet's most remarkable organisms.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
OpenPlantDB · adansonia-digitata
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0