There are perhaps a dozen Adansonia digitata trees in the subtropical / tropical 10b Ft Lauderdale / Miami area I know of:
...Read More
1. Two “young” ones had been foolishly planted next to each other near the foundation of Historic River House. They’re probably about 20 years old. One is missing since Hurricane Irma 2017.
2. One is planted at the intersection of US 1 and Griffin Rd, maybe 30 years old.
3. Three or four are planted at Young’s Circle (US 1) in Hollywood, FL. They do not appear in aerial photos of the circle from the 1940’s. They are probably about 50 years old.
4. At least one is part of the collection at Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Coral Gables, FL. Fairchild is reputed to have introduced Baobab cultivation to southern FL.
5. The most dramatic in SE FL are a group of 4 or 5 at Collins Park South Beach Miami, which are probably about 70 years old.
They flower in such abundance in late May to early June that the ground is littered with their large white angelic blossoms. Their flowers in form are one of the most “exotic” and dramatic to be seen on any tree in SE FL. Their seed pods (source of Cream of Tartar) are very ornamental when dried, covered in a velvety golden-brown. The leaves are reminiscent of Pachira acquatica (Guiana Chestnut / Money Tree). They are leafless in the dry season, and leaf out and bloom with the onset of the wet season in May/June.
We are in 9 a/b CHZ with a fortuitous microclimate surrounded by a lake and bay head swamp. We planted a 3 foot tall specimen in our yard...Read More one year ago. We know this a a stretch to grow it here. It survived one of the coldest winters seen here in decades. It had a period of dormancy in the spring. By mid summer it is growing vigorously. It has doubled in size since planting. It has required spraying twice for spider mites. It's parent plant 100 miles to our south in Homestead is 4 feet in diameter at 15 years. We believe it is worth a try.
While living in the Florida Keys, I started 2 Baobabs from seed, in very large pots. I pulled them out the first Winter and tossed them i...Read Moren a dark corner of the garage. The second Winter I just moved the pots to a spot sheltered from the rain. I got up to 14 inches in circumference but I moved upstate and lost the plant the following Winter. http://nonsai.com/pics/14inch.jpg
'BAOBAB', 'LEMONADE' or 'MONKEYBREAD TREE'. The famous African tree with a huge swollen trunk up to 30 feet in diameter, and not more tha...Read Moren 60 feet tall. The thickest trunk in the world. Large, white, hibiscus-like 6" flowers are pollinated by bats. The foot-long, gourd-like fruits are filled with refreshing, lemon-flavored pulp and edible seeds. Leaves are eaten like spinach. The trunk stores considerable water, and is used as a reservoir, sometimes being tapped for as much as 1000 gallons. Hollowed out, they are used as rooms. Worshipped as a fertility tree. Nick and soak to germinate in 1 - 7 weeks.
Great little tree and easy to care for. I have had mine for a few years now and its doing great. I am training it as a bonsai and have ha...Read Mored a lot of success at growing it. I have found that it really needs to go dormant for 90 days+- in order to thrive. while the plant is dormant do not give it any water. In fact some people I have read about take the plant out of the pot, wrap it in news paper, and place it in the closet for this period. I however do not do that and still have the plant going through its dormant period just fine with giving it no water. After the 90 days I start to add water and it comes back in full force.
I am very happy with this tree and recommend it for any bonsai collection.
In one of my favorite books, The Little Prince (Le Petite Prince) by Antoine de Sainte Exupery, the fictional title character hates the B...Read Moreaobab tree. He says whenever one sees one sprouting it must be pulled up. This tree would destroy his planet. I really didn't know the Baobab was a real tree until I found it in DG. How interesting that the Little Prince finds this tree so pernicious!
Coral Springs, FL (Zone 10b) | May 2010 | positive
I received a seed in a trade. It germinated fairly quickly. I thought that I lost it in our cold winter this year (low 40's for days) bu...Read Moret the "dead stick" came back and is now growing again. Requires very little attention.
I grew two species,digitata and another unidentified ,for years in a greenhouse.Very prone to aphids.But one was close to thirty years ol...Read Mored and spent most of its life in a San Francisco living room cherished as a vacation memory of a trip made to Africa in the early 70's. And it was ceiling tall. It's now part of a San Francisco college collection.
There is one specimen growing in Balboa Park, San Diego. It is about four feet tall and the trunk is about 12 inches across at the ...Read Morebase.
The gardeners have created a series of microclimates to support the diverse plantings in this wonderful place. The density of the growth keeps the area warmer in the winter and the irrigation techniques keep the place more humid than the natural environment.
This tree is growing in a more open area with a southwestern exposure for warmth and gravelly soil for rapid drainage. the surrounding plantings are aloe, madagascar palm, acacia, various cactus and banksia. While it is alive and growing it is not thriving.
UPDATE:
The adansonia digitata in Balboa Park is no longer there. My assumption is that it died and was removed.
It was being grown xeriscape. The problem with that tactic for this plant is that when the natural water is available the plant is dormant and cannot use it. When the temperature is up high enough for this plant to grow thee is no water available. I think it is possible to grow this plant outdoors in San Diego if the plant is kept dry in the winter and watered during the summer and fall.
I have had a seedling for years. I remember buying that seed and watching it grow. Even young, it has a little fat caudex. I notice th...Read Moreat I cannot manipulate it to think it is rainy season and grow, (It breaks dormancy when it wants to in the spring) but it will go dormant obediently if I withhold water. Perhaps it is photoperiod sensitive, even indoors.
My important suggestion to anyone starting it from seed: Use a deep pot or in-ground, as the taproot will coil in a small pot and the fat base will form sideways.
If ever I move to a frost-free place, I will plant it in-ground.
This is am impressive African tree with a massive, succulent base rapidly tapering to little branches above. It is deciduous during the ...Read Moredry season and makes incredible silhouettes on the landscape. However, it takes centuries to attain those sizes. For me, this tree was just bit too tropical in its needs, and it rotted in the winter rains.
There are perhaps a dozen Adansonia digitata trees in the subtropical / tropical 10b Ft Lauderdale / Miami area I know of:
...Read More
We are in 9 a/b CHZ with a fortuitous microclimate surrounded by a lake and bay head swamp. We planted a 3 foot tall specimen in our yard...Read More
While living in the Florida Keys, I started 2 Baobabs from seed, in very large pots. I pulled them out the first Winter and tossed them i...Read More
'BAOBAB', 'LEMONADE' or 'MONKEYBREAD TREE'. The famous African tree with a huge swollen trunk up to 30 feet in diameter, and not more tha...Read More
Great little tree and easy to care for. I have had mine for a few years now and its doing great. I am training it as a bonsai and have ha...Read More
In one of my favorite books, The Little Prince (Le Petite Prince) by Antoine de Sainte Exupery, the fictional title character hates the B...Read More
I received a seed in a trade. It germinated fairly quickly. I thought that I lost it in our cold winter this year (low 40's for days) bu...Read More
I grew two species,digitata and another unidentified ,for years in a greenhouse.Very prone to aphids.But one was close to thirty years ol...Read More
There is one specimen growing in Balboa Park, San Diego. It is about four feet tall and the trunk is about 12 inches across at the ...Read More
I have had a seedling for years. I remember buying that seed and watching it grow. Even young, it has a little fat caudex. I notice th...Read More
This is am impressive African tree with a massive, succulent base rapidly tapering to little branches above. It is deciduous during the ...Read More