The mgambo tree is hardy, drought tolerant, and a popular tropical tree for people who are looking for a very decorative plant.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of resources online regarding the proper care of these trees. Therefore, we have organized everything you need to know.
What Is The Mgambo Tree?
Before discussing how to cultivate the mgambo tree, let’s take a better look at this exotic plant.
To call it by its real name, the Majidea zanguebarica is a tree in the soapberry family. In fact, it is a close relative of trees like the longan and litchi tree.
The most impressive thing about the mgambo tree is its height. They reportedly reach heights of up to 80 feet in the wild, but we’ll look at that more later.
Important to note – The larger your tree goes, the more pruning you will have to do and so that is something to consider before beginning.
The mgambo tree would normally be found growing in lowland areas. It has compound leaves that have up to 10 pairs of leaflets on each leaf.
One of the attractive features of these trees is the leaf structure; they’re shiny and have a deep green color.
You’ll also see that the mgambo tree has beautiful flowers that grow at the tips of the branches.
While the flowers are small, they are unique with their greenish coloration and hints of red/pink and are perfect for small talk.
What Makes Mgambo Tree so Special?
Nevertheless, the main source of attention that the mgambo tree brings are the seed pods; these capture everyone’s attention and the reason this tree is most loved.
The seed pods are three-side shaped and change color as they develop.
At first, they are a light shade of green that eventually turns into a tanned brown.
Then the seed pod will burst and the inside will be a bright pink/red color that attracts everyone’s attention.
Inside the seed pod – there are grey seeds that are covered with hairs inside and they are known as velvet seeds and they are very sought after.
There are many other names for the mgambo tree but this particular name originates from the Swahili language which means ‘proclamation’ or ‘announcement’.
It is very clear what inspires this name when those seed pods pop.
But you might hear people refer to it as black pearl tree, velvet seed tree or chocolate velvet seed tree.
How Big Does The Mgambo Tree Grow?
Growers should be aware when taking on a mgambo tree that they can get quite big!
Some mgambo trees in the wild can reach 80 feet tall.
That said, this represents a chain of extreme heights and you’re unlikely to end up with something that big.
On the flip side, there are some mgambo trees that will be no taller than six feet.
In all likelihood, your tree will be somewhere near the middle of these extremes. The average mgambo tree while growing in its native habitat averages about 16 feet tall.
Now, as mentioned, many people grow the mgambo as a bonsai. Bonsai are purposely stunted trees in small containers.
Bonsai trees are a terrific way to grow ornamental trees that would otherwise grow to great heights.
How To Grow Mgambo Tree From Seed
One of the incredible perks about growing the mgambo tree from seed is that you’re not limited as to when you can plant it.
These trees can be started from seed any time of year. That being said, keep in mind they are only hardy in frost free zones.
Before you plant the seed you will need to soak them in water to help the germination process.
Generally speaking you will want to soak the seeds in lukewarm or warm water for approximately 48 hours.
You will want to ensure that the soil is moist, and once you covered the seeds with some glass or plastic foil.
This will provide the seeds a consisten temperature, and you will want to bring the seeds indoors to a warm location.
What Are The Best Growing Conditions For The Mgambo Tree?
When you grow any plant/tree, it is important to make sure it grows in the right conditions otherwise the tree is never going to flourish.
The mgambo tree is native to East Africa that has growing conditions extremely different from much of the USA.
That said, you will find mgambo trees grow very well in zones 9 through 11
The growing zones rarely experience, if is ever a frost of any kind. Even during winter, temperatures rarely drop below 25 or 40 degrees fahrenheit under extreme conditions.
The mgambo tree will flourish in hardy conditions where there isn’t frost typically, but typically wouldn’t want to keep it permanently in temperatures below 50 degrees.
With all of the above advised, you can quite easily grow mgambo as a bonsai in any zone since it will be kept indoors.
The mgambo tree does best, when being placed in full sun.
That said, I read that some growers would grow their trees in varying amounts of shade depending upon their conditions. Shade is ok but the sunnier the area, the better the tree will flourish.
The best type of soil for mgambo trees is a little bit more acidic. If you don’t live in a location with acidic soil then there is things you could potentially add to the soil to make it more acidic.
This could include products like sulphur, compost, pine needle mulch or a liquid feed designed to raise acidity.
Watering Mgambo Trees
One of the aspects that makes mgambo trees quite easy to grow is that they are very drought tolerant.
While that is true, you shouldn’t forget about watering your tree because, after all, there is only so long that the tree can go without water before it begins to suffer.
The secret to watering your mgambo tree is to make sure the soil is kept moist, check it every couple days and water it at that time.
You also want to make sure that you use a soil that drains well. While the soil does need to stay moist, any water that is sitting in the pot will hurt the roots of the tree.
Medicinal Properties Of The Mgambo Tree
A tree (and a plant, of course), like many trees and plants, the mgambo tree has well-known medicinal factors.
One of the best things about the tree is that it is often associated with a rate natural antibacterial agent.
The leaves and pods of the tree are filled with antibacterial properties and this is one of the primary uses of the tree.
Furthermore, the tree is native throughout East Africa and is used for treatments of fever, wound healing, and gastrointestinal issues.
Of course, we would never suggest using natural remedies without first consulting a professional.
Other Uses For The Mgambo Tree
In addition to its well-known medicinal uses, the mgambo tree has a wide variety of uses as well.
First of all, it is highly sought after for its natural materials, which are often used in the making of jewelry.
You can find mgambo pods and seeds used to make necklaces and bracelets. The silky, smooth seeds are particularly sought after in the production of jewelry.
Additionally, once they have dried, the fruit pods are a common component in potpourri mixes and floral arrangements. They have a very unusual aesthetic that is attractive to the eye.
There are a lot of concerns with the use of exotic hardwoods in the making of furniture. However, there is no denying the fact that the mgambo tree can be transformed into beautiful furniture.
With a very fine grain, the wood takes a beautiful finish that is frequently used in making cabinetry.
Collecting The Seeds
No matter if you want to preserve the seeds for medicinal purposes or just want to enjoy their decorative attributes, it’s nice to understand when to collect them.
The wonderful thing about the mgambo tree is that it generally fruits twice-yearly. This typically occurs in the fall, but it’s the delicate, but intensely fragrant flower that first blooms late summer.
These flowers are incredibly engaging to pollinators so if you <1314desire to have more pollinators in your garden, it’s worth putting mgambo in.
- bees
- butterflies
- and hummingbirds
Then, as we move into the first part of fall, you will find the fruit. Of course, this will eventually dry out and split open.
Inside is the pretty seed that we sometimes call black pearls.
A lot of people choose to wait until it splits open to collect the seeds but you certainly can take the pod as soon as it begins to lose its green color.
The advantage to this is that the seeds will not be too dry to drill and you can use a needle instead.
When collecting seeds especially for things like jewelry making, and after the pieces fall and dry out, just be aware not to rub off those little hairs onto the seed, if you do rub them off it’s a good idea to go for another seed.
Conclusion
The mgambo tree is a beautiful exotic tree that can get big. It has pretty flowers and seed pods that pop open to have some black pearls that make nice pieces of jewelry.
It is usually easy to moderate to grow these trees. As long as you provide the right conditions, the mgambo is a pretty hardy tree.
You can even enjoy the mgambo tree as a bonsai if you don’t live in the right growing zones.
Either way, you just need to make sure that tree has slightly acidic, well draining soil and plenty of sunshine.