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Fruit Trees
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45 guidesDragon Fruit
Dragon Fruit (Pitaya) Summary Dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus, Hylocereus polyrhizus, and related species) is a tropical climbing cactus increasingly cultivated in Namibia for its exotic appearance, high nutritional value, and drought tolerance. Despite its cactus origin, dragon fruit thrives best in semi-arid and coastal regions where it receives partial shade, moderate humidity, and protection from […]
Sea buckthorn: assess the site before buying a berry crop
Sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, is a thorny fruiting shrub discussed in the group material as a possible crop.
Orchard layout: balance sunlight, wind, water and access
Orchard layout is a long-term decision. Row direction matters, but it must be considered alongside slope, adult tree size, irrigation and the space needed to harvest, prune and move safely.
Bird plum: a locally valued fruit tree for a suitable site
Bird plum is a southern African fruit tree worth considering where local examples show that it can thrive. Its older name, Berchemia discolor, remains common in nursery and reference material; Kew now accepts Phyllogeiton discolor. Keep both names in your planting records.
Sourplums: identify your Ximenia and learn from local plants
Sourplums can contribute fruit, habitat and a thorny edge to a suitable landscape. Begin with the species: “Ximenia” and “sourplum” can refer to different plants. Large sourplum is now listed by SANBI as Ximenia afra, formerly Ximenia caffra; Ximenia americana is another species.
Jackalberry: plan for a large tree and a suitable microclimate
Jackalberry, Diospyros mespiliformis, is a substantial indigenous African tree with shade and fruit value. It belongs in a long-term landscape plan. A sheltered, adequately moist site is a different proposition from planting it in a small, exposed water-limited garden.
African mangosteen: try a warm, protected fruit-tree site
African mangosteen, Garcinia livingstonei, is an African fruit tree distinct from the tropical supermarket mangosteen. Its orange fruit and attractive form make it worth exploring in suitable warmer parts of Namibia, with a cautious approach to frost and establishment water.
Wild medlar: document and grow a locally useful fruit tree
Wild medlar, Vangueria infausta, is an indigenous African shrub or small tree with edible ripe fruit. It can be part of a diverse food landscape where the site suits it. Its value is easier to assess from local specimens than from a promise of rapid orchard production.
Corky-bark monkey-orange: identification comes before harvest
Corky-bark monkey-orange, Strychnos cocculoides, is a fruit-bearing tree of parts of tropical and southern Africa, including northern Namibia. Its hard-shelled fruit attracts interest, but “monkey-orange” is not a sufficient identification for food use.
Mongongo or manketti: a long-term tree for suitable sandy landscapes
Mongongo, also called manketti, is Schinziophyton rautanenii. Its fruit and kernels have longstanding food value in parts of southern Africa. Growing it is a long-term landscape decision, especially where deep sandy soils and a warm summer-rainfall climate resemble its natural setting.
Baobab: choose a warm site and think in generations
An African baobab, Adansonia digitata, can become a remarkable long-lived tree. It is a landscape commitment with eventual food and habitat value, not a quick solution for a small vegetable garden. Start with climate, space and responsibility for the tree’s future.
Fruit-tree rootstocks: ask what is beneath the graft
A grafted fruit tree combines a fruiting variety with a rootstock. The rootstock may be grown from seed or propagated clonally. Knowing both parts helps explain size, compatibility and site suitability; a graft alone does not reveal the root system’s origin.