Safou.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Moyenne

Type de plante

Tropical fruit tree

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Lumière vive indirecte

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

10 to 40 meters

Croissance

Rapide

Rusticité

USDA 10 à 12

Floraison

Late spring to early summer

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist but ensure it drains well to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Provide plenty of warmth and high humidity to mimic its native tropical habitat.

Arrosage

Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the active growing season.

Engrais

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support fruit production.

Taille

Prune annually to maintain shape and remove dead or crossing branches.

Rempotage

Repot young trees as they outgrow their containers, though mature trees are best planted in the ground.

Sol

Deep, fertile, well-draining soil

pH du sol

5.5 to 6.5

Température

15 à 35°C

Humidité

60 à 90%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Faible

Durée de vie

Perennial, can live for several decades.

Parfum

Léger

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

The plant is generally non-toxic, though raw consumption of certain parts is not recommended.

Enfants

The large seeds present a choking hazard for small children.

Allergènes de contact

No specific skin irritants are known.

Allergènes aéroportés

Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

The fruit pulp is edible but should be prepared properly to avoid digestive discomfort.

Comment l'identifier

• Large evergreen pinnate leaves
• Elliptic blue or purple fruit
• Creamy green pulp when ripe
• Resinous bark texture
• Small yellow flowers in clusters

Hauteur

10 à 40m

Envergure

5 à 15m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

yellowish white, 0,5 à 1cm

Fruits

purple, pink, Late summer to autumn

Problèmes courants

• Fruit rot — Fungal infections can occur in overly humid conditions.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed, cuttings

Quand planter

spring, early rainy season

Hivernage

Keep in a frost free environment with consistent warmth and high humidity.

En pot

Not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size.

Plant this tree as a canopy layer to protect smaller shade loving crops in a tropical food forest.

Bonnes associations

• Cacao — It provides necessary shade for young cocoa trees.
• Caféier — It serves as an effective overstory tree in agroforestry systems.

Espèces similaires

• Canarium schweinfurthii — It shares similar ecological requirements and fruit utility.

Science

Famille

Burseraceae

Genre

Pachylobus

Ordre

Sapindales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Tropical West and Central Africa

Préservation

This species is widely cultivated and not currently threatened in the wild.

It thrives in humid tropical rainforest environments with high rainfall.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source, fruit provides food for birds and mammals

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

culinary fruit, oil extraction, timber, medicinal bark

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Can I grow this in a pot?

It is generally too large for long term container growth.

How do I eat the fruit?

The fruit is typically boiled or roasted before the pulp is consumed.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Pachylobus refers to the thick lobes of the fruit, while edulis correctly identifies it as edible.

Bon à savoir

• The fruit is rich in essential fatty acids and amino acids.
• The tree is often planted as a shade tree in cocoa plantations.
• It is known by many names including Safou and Atanga.
• The wood is quite hard and used for tool handles.