Adansonia za – Za Baobab / Madagascar Baobab

A fascinating Madagascan baobab for collectors of unusual, slow-growing plants: Adansonia za Baill., commonly known as the Za Baobab.

Native to western and southern Madagascar, Adansonia za is one of the characteristic baobab species of the island. Like other members of the genus Adansonia, it is adapted to seasonal drought and has the ability to develop a substantial, water-storing trunk with age.

This is not a conventional houseplant and certainly not a plant for those looking for rapid growth. A young baobab is a long-term project – with the right conditions, it can gradually develop into a highly individual specimen with a fascinating trunk and branching structure.

Why Adansonia za is special

• genuine Madagascan baobab species

• Adansonia za Baill.

• native to western and southern Madagascar

• adapted to strongly seasonal, dry conditions

• characteristic water-storing trunk

• slow-growing and long-lived

• fascinating collector plant with excellent long-term potential

• a very different character from ordinary indoor plants

• organically cultivated at TOMs FLOWer CLUB

The name Adansonia bozy is also encountered in horticultural and botanical literature. It is currently treated as a synonym of Adansonia za by Kew's Plants of the World Online, although recent taxonomic research has proposed recognising northern Madagascan populations as A. bozy again. For this reason, I use Adansonia za as the principal botanical name here.

Cultivation

Give your young baobab as much light as possible. A very bright, sunny position is ideal.

During the warmer months, Adansonia za appreciates being outdoors, where natural sunlight and fresh air can produce considerably stronger growth than a permanently indoor position. Acclimatise gradually to intense direct sunlight.

Use a very permeable, mineral-rich substrate. The roots should never remain wet for prolonged periods.

During active growth, water thoroughly and then allow the substrate to dry considerably before watering again. In the cooler and darker season, watering should be reduced substantially. A dry winter rest is an important part of cultivating a baobab successfully.

Adansonia za is not frost hardy. Protect it from temperatures around and below 0 °C and bring it indoors well before the first frost.

TOMs FLOWer CLUB

This baobab has been cultivated with the same principle I apply throughout my collection:

100% organic quality before quantity.

No forced growth, no unnecessary heavy fertilisation and no mass-produced greenhouse culture. The aim is a naturally strong plant with good roots and the potential to develop into an individual specimen over many years.

A baobab is something you grow with patience.

You get the Adansonia za plant in the size shown in the photographs.

Adansonia za – a fascinating piece of Madagascar for collectors who appreciate plants with character, history and long-term potential.

TOMs FLOWer CLUB
Quality before quantity.