Acacia nilotica SEEDS

Acacia nilotica seeds grow into a thorny, spreading deciduous tree native to the tropics and subtropics of Africa and the Indian subcontinent, where it is one of the most widespread and ecologically important acacias of the dry savannah and semi-arid zones. Known as babul in India and by various names across Africa, this member of Fabaceae develops a distinctive umbrella-shaped canopy, pairs of long white spines on the young branches, fragrant spherical yellow flower heads, and distinctive thick, constricted seed pods that are diagnostic for the species. The tree produces a gum resin from bark incisions with industrial and traditional medicinal uses across its range.

Highly drought-tolerant and adaptable to alkaline and saline soils, A. nilotica is used extensively in agroforestry, wind-breaks and land stabilisation across its broad African and Asian range. It thrives in full sun and tolerates seasonal flooding.

• Umbrella canopy; pairs of long white spines; fragrant yellow spherical flowers
• Thick, constricted seed pods the diagnostic fruit character
• Africa and Indian subcontinent tropics and subtropics; highly drought-tolerant
• Bark gum used in medicine and industry across its range
• Adaptable to alkaline, saline, seasonally flooded soils; full sun

Acacia nilotica is one of the most useful and ecologically significant trees of the African and Asian dry tropics a thorny, fast-growing savannah tree with a long history of use in agroforestry, traditional medicine and land management across two continents.

IMPORTANT: Pictures show the adult plant, which is not for sale. The offer is only for seeds.