Does it need much water?

No, it is highly drought tolerant and prefers to dry out between waterings.

Can I grow it indoors?

It is difficult to keep indoors due to its size and need for intense, direct sunlight.

Pflanzenratgeber

Gum arabic tree.

Senegalia senegal

Aussprache sen-eh-GAY-lee-ah SEN-eh-gal

Auch bekannt als Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic, Gum Arabic Tree, Senegal-gum, Sudan Gum, Sudan gum-arabic, Three thorned senegalia

The gum arabic tree is a hardy, drought tolerant shrub or small tree native to arid regions. It is famous for producing the sap known as gum arabic, which has been used for centuries in food and art. You will find it thrives in hot, sunny environments with very little water.

Ein weiteres Foto von Gum arabic tree — Foto von Denis Bastianelli (CC BY) über iNaturalist

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe: Einfach
Pflanzenart: Deciduous shrub or tree
Licht: Full sun
Licht im Innenraum: Direkte Sonne
Gießen: Alle 14 bis 30 Tage
Endgröße: 15 to 20 feet
Wachstum: Langsam
Winterhärte: USDA 9 bis 12
Blütezeit: Late spring to early summer

Pflege

Keep this plant in a spot with intense, direct sunlight to mimic its natural desert home. Watch for yellowing leaves or leaf drop, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet for too long. It is very sensitive to overwatering, so always let the soil dry out completely between drinks.

Gießen: Allow the soil to dry out entirely between waterings to prevent root rot.
Düngen: Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
Schneiden: Prune lightly in late winter to maintain shape and remove any dead or crossing branches.
Umtopfen: Repot only when the roots have clearly filled the container, as this plant prefers to be slightly root bound.
Boden: Sandy or rocky well draining soil
Boden-pH: 6.0 to 8.5
Temperatur: 5 bis 45°C
Luftfeuchtigkeit: 10 bis 40%
Trockenheitstoleranz: Hoch
Lebensdauer: Long-lived perennial, often 30 to 50 years.
Duft: Leicht
Wildverbiss-Resistenz: Hoch

Anzeichen fürs Umtopfen

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface for too long.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Sicherheit

Menschen: The plant is generally non-toxic, though the sharp thorns pose a significant physical injury risk.
Kinder: Keep children away from the branches because the hooked thorns are extremely sharp and can cause deep cuts.
Kontaktallergene: The sharp, hooked thorns can cause painful skin punctures and scratches.
Allergene in der Luft: The pollen can trigger mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals during the flowering season.
Essbarkeit: The gum arabic harvested from the tree is edible, but raw seeds should be avoided as they may contain anti-nutrients.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

Small, feathery bipinnate leaves
Hooked thorns in pairs or threes
Creamy white cylindrical flower spikes
Flat, papery brown seed pods

Höhe: 2 bis 6m
Breite: 2 bis 5m
Blätter: green, gray-green, deciduous
Blüten: cream, white, 1 bis 2cm
Früchte: brown, Late autumn

Häufige Probleme

Root rot — Occurs when the soil remains waterlogged for too long in poorly draining containers.
Scale insects — Small sap-sucking insects that can cluster on stems and weaken the tree.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung: seed, cuttings
Pflanzzeit: Spring
Überwinterung: Move the plant to a frost-free location if temperatures drop near freezing. Reduce watering significantly during the winter dormancy period.
Im Kübel: It can be grown in large containers with excellent drainage, but it will eventually outgrow most indoor spaces.

Seed Scarification

1. Nick the hard seed coat with a file.
2. Soak seeds in warm water for 24 hours.
3. Plant in well-draining sandy soil.

Group this tree with other drought-tolerant species that do not require frequent irrigation to prevent root rot.

Gute Pflanzpartner

Wüstenrose — They share similar requirements for high heat and low water.
Echte Aloe — These succulents thrive in the same arid, sunny conditions.

Botanisches

Familie: Fabaceae
Gattung: Senegalia
Ordnung: Fabales
Klasse: Magnoliopsida
Ursprüngliche Heimat: Sub-Saharan Africa, Oman, and Pakistan.
Artenschutz: It is not currently listed as endangered, but wild harvesting of gum must be managed to prevent over-exploitation.

It survives in harsh, arid environments by shedding its leaves during extreme drought to conserve moisture.

Nutzen für Wildtiere: nectar source, habitat for birds
Bestäuber: Bienen, Schmetterlinge
Verwendung: gum arabic production, xeriscaping, soil stabilization, fodder

Im Jahresverlauf

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Blüte

Fruchtbildung

Laub

Ökologische Zeigerwerte

Salzgehalt: 4/9
Bodenreaktion: 7/9
Licht: 9/9
Temperatur: 8/9
Feuchtigkeit: 2/9
Nährstoffe: 2/9

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Does it need much water?: No, it is highly drought tolerant and prefers to dry out between waterings.
Can I grow it indoors?: It is difficult to keep indoors due to its size and need for intense, direct sunlight.

Woher der Name kommt

The name Senegalia refers to its prevalence in the Senegal region, while the specific epithet senegal confirms this origin.

Gut zu wissen

The gum is harvested by making small incisions in the bark.
It is incredibly drought tolerant and thrives in arid desert conditions.
The wood is very hard and durable, often used for tool handles.
It fixes nitrogen in the soil, helping nearby plants grow better.

Auch in

Probleme mit Gum arabic tree?

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App holen

Dieser Ratgeber wurde mit KI erstellt und mit der GBIF-Taxonomie abgeglichen. Er dient zur allgemeinen Information und ersetzt keine gärtnerische oder tierärztliche Beratung. Hier erfährst du, wie wir diese Ratgeber erstellen.