Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Mexico, Central America
Types
Kigelia africana
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Number of Varieties
93
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1211-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Broad, Unlobed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
THEOBROMA cacao
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
कोको संयंत्र
In German
Sausage Tree
Kakaopflanze
In French
saucisse Arbre
usine de cacao
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
planta del cacao
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
φυτό του κακάο
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
planta do cacau
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Kakao roślin
In Latin
farciminis ligno
Cocos herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Malvales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Sterculiaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Theobroma
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Tecomeae
Theobromeae
Subfamily
-
Byttneroideae
Number of Species
922
1
27800
👆🏻