Afrocarpus gracilior

Cultivation Details

Within the range of Afrocarpus gracilior, the mean annual temperature is 16.8°c, with an average minimum in the coldest month of 8.7°c, and a mean annual precipitation of 1148mm. The plant can withstand light frosts when dormant, tolerating occasional temperatures falling to between -1°c and +4.4°c^[1]. Succeeds in sun or light shade, young plants tolerating fairly deep shade^[2]. Prefers a well-drained, deep, humus-rich and light-textured soil^[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5^{[2, 3]}. Plants cannot tolerate drought^[2]. This species has been introduced from Ethiopia as a forestry plantation tree into other countries, including India, where trial plantations at Dehra Dun were begun in the early years of the twentieth century^[4]. In northern Ethiopia it is also often planted in church compounds to provide shade and shelter for the congregation^[4]. It is a moderately common ornamental in southern California, and perhaps in other warm areas^[1]. When transplanting the seedling into the open ground, care must be taken not to damage the taproot, as it will result in a long period, sometimes up to a year, during which the tree will show no growth^[5]. A fast growing species, with a mean annual increment of up to 1 metre for the first 15 years; the growth rate is higher under natural conditions in higher rainfall areas and can be very fast under garden conditions^[5]. Trees can commence fruiting when they are about 10 years old from seed^[2]. It can take about 12 months for the seed to develop and it can then hang on the tree for a considerable time^[2]. There is typically heavy seeding at intervals of 2 - 4 years^[5]. On good sites trees should be large enough for harvesting for their wood 40 - 50 years after planting^[5]. Trees live for a long time - perhaps 600 years^[2]. A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required^[2].