Trichilia dregeana

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, but avoiding the wetter regions. It is found at elevations from 800 - 2,000 metres near the Equator, but descends to sea level as it enters the subtropics. It is usually found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 - 2,500 mm^[1]. The plant is sensitive to frost, but as long as the damage is not too severe, it recovers easily^[1]. Succeeds in full sun and dappled to fairly deep shade^{[2, 1]}. Grows best in humus-rich, fertile, moist soils^[1]. Young trees grow fairly quickly, with a mean annual girth increment of 20 - 25mm^[1]. Older plants are fast growing and require little or no management^[1]. Trees growing in open positions start fruiting when about 10 years old, those in more shaded, forest-like conditions may not bear fruit before they are 20 years old^[1]. The tree is tolerant of fire^[1]. The tree coppices well. For ornamental purposes, it may be pruned into shrub form^[1]. Average seed yields per tree in Mozambique are about 20 - 25 kg/year, but in a good year a large tree may produce 180 kg^[1]. Trees that have produced heavily in one year tend to produce little in the next year^[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required.