Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada
Types
Kigelia africana
-
Number of Varieties
940
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
marshes, meadows, Slopes, Upland savannas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-124-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm15.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
White, Purple, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
Do Not over Water, Medium
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
Balanced garden plant fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Gray mold, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
Dizziness, Nausea
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Anodyne, Antibacterial, Astringent, Diarrhea, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Repellent, Used as a general tonic
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
LIATRIS spicata
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Gayfeather, dense blazing star, prairie gay feather
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
Gayfeather
In German
Sausage Tree
Gayfeather
In French
saucisse Arbre
Gayfeather
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
Gayfeather
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
Gayfeather
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
Gayfeather
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Gayfeather
In Latin
farciminis ligno
Gayfeather
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Asterales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Liatris
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Tecomeae
Eupatorieae
Subfamily
-
Asteroideae
Number of Species
951
1
27800
👆🏻