10 Markhamia zanzibarica Seeds - Bell bean tree, Klokkiesboontjieboom - Indigenous

Markhamia zanzibarica, a tropical tree with striking flowers and decorative fruits is a small, upright tree with slender, crooked branches and a soft green crown. It grows about 3.5 m tall but can reach up to 7 or 8 m. Its bark is grey-brown, smooth and glossy when young and flaky in older trees.

The striking flowers are yellow with maroon flecks, bell-shaped, 2-3 mm long, with spreading lobes. They appear on the old wood, in racemes, during spring to summer.

This is a tropical tree occurring at medium to low altitude from Tanzania and Malawi, south to the Kruger National Park in South Africa, and westward to Botswana, Namibia and the Caprivi Strip. It is found in bushveld, in riverine fringes, and often on rocky ridges and on hill slopes. It is commonly found growing among rocks on the dry northern slopes of the Soutpansberg.

The wood is fairly hard and durable, pale brown to yellowish, finely grained and produces a smooth finish. It is used in buildings for roof timbers and to make tool handles. It is well suited for the manufacture of ornaments. Branches are usually too small to be of value. The roots are used in traditional medicine to treat backache.

Grow it in a warm, sunny spot in well-drained, fertile soil, and give it ample water during the summer. It is relatively slow growing and its small size makes it suitable for small gardens and courtyards.

On offer is a pack of 10 Seeds