The Checklist of Coastal Forests lists 7 Genera, 28 Species
I am growing:
Family: Bignoniaceae
KSW: Mwegea, Mvungwa
GIR: Muratina
Tree to 20M. Maroon trumpeted flowers. Fruits like giant sausages
Flowers attract. insects and birds. Monkeys and porcupine eat fruit. Monkeys eat flower nectar. Antelope eat fallen flowers. May be pollinated by fruit bats. Charaxes visit the tree.
Fruit is used for skin cream.
Locally available at nurseries.
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Family: Araceae
GIR: Konzwi
Evergreen with potato like rhizome. Grows on the coastal cliff face and will grow in dark dry shade.
Propogate from leaf cuttings, stem cuttings or rhizome offshoots.
An extract from the plant is used for ear drops.
An attractive foliage plant very suited to coastal climate.
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Family: Apocynaceae
KSW: Madiga
GIR: Mwanyoka/Mwadiga
This is a low maintenance spectacular shrub very suited to coastal gardening. Grows from seed.
This species is understood to be poisonous, but it is used medicinally.
Shrub available from local nurseries.
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Small tree to 5M high with fragrant flowers.
Grow from seeds & cuttings. Requires shade.
The plant is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Mkilau fragrans plant is quite interesting, and it has several unique properties which make it integral to the culture of coastal communities in East Africa. From aphrodisiac to wedding decor, the flower is truly unique…
Essential oils have been extracted for centuries by coastal communities in Kenya—as well as other coastal communities—to provide perfume for social gatherings such as weddings. Mkilau fragrans essential oils are not typically used in used in the perfume industry, however. This results in a lack of incentive to grow these plants, and has ultimately lead to the species to be placed in the “Vulnerable” category in terms of endangerment.
Additionally, Mkiluaynoic acid A, which can be extracted from the fruit of the plant, demonstrates anti-fungal properties.
The fun doesn’t end there. This flower turns out to be an aphrodisiac. Yes…the same flower used in weddings is also the one used in the bedroom. This flower is most notably known for its ability to keep men in the bedroom after the sun has set.
Quoted from – The Mysteries of the Mkilua fragrans, by Max Higgins.
Available from local nurseries
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Family: Amaryllidaceae
Eng: Blood Lily
Perennial herb, growing from a large bulb. The plants die back every year and usually flower before the leaves fully develop. A single spherical inflorescence, containing up to 150 individual flowers, is borne on a fleshy stem.
Habitat: In grassland and woodland, in humus among boulders and on termite mounds
Source: Flora of Zimbabwe
Easily cultivated from seed. Place seed on the surface of well-drained sandy soil mixed with compost.
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Family: Acanthaceae
Shrub 1.5 m to 2 m tall. Flowers purple to dark purple.
A fantastic shrub that is regularly in flower. Grows from cuttings.
Sometimes available for sale at coastal nurseries.
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Family: Acanthaceae
Perennial or shrubby herb
Commonly cultivated on the coast.
Groundcover. Easily propagated from cuttings.
Shade or sun. Flowers throughout the year.
Attracts insects and birds. Many butterfly caterpillars
feed on Barleria (see Acanthaceae butterflies)
Possibly a larval foodplant to:
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