PlantFiles: Baobab, Judas Fruit, Monkey Bread Tree
Adansonia digitata

'BAOBAB', 'LEMONADE' or 'MONKEYBREAD TREE'. The famous African tree with a huge swollen trunk up to 30 feet in diameter, and not more than 60 feet tall. The thickest trunk in the world. Large, white, hibiscus-like 6" flowers are pollinated by bats. The foot-long, gourd-like fruits are filled with refreshing, lemon-flavored pulp and edible seeds. Leaves are eaten like spinach. The trunk stores considerable water, and is used as a reservoir, sometimes being tapped for as much as 1000 gallons. Hollowed out, they are used as rooms. Worshipped as a fertility tree. Nick and soak to germinate in 1 - 7 weeks.

Great little tree and easy to care for. I have had mine for a few years now and its doing great. I am training it as a bonsai and have had a lot of success at growing it. I have found that it really needs to go dormant for 90 days+- in order to thrive. while the plant is dormant do not give it any water. In fact some people I have read about take the plant out of the pot, wrap it in news paper, and place it in the closet for this period. I however do not do that and still have the plant going through its dormant period just fine with giving it no water. After the 90 days I start to add water and it comes back in full force.
I am very happy with this tree and recommend it for any bonsai collection.

In one of my favorite books, The Little Prince (Le Petite Prince) by Antoine de Sainte Exupery, the fictional title character hates the Baobab tree. He says whenever one sees one sprouting it must be pulled up. This tree would destroy his planet. I really didn't know the Baobab was a real tree until I found it in DG. How interesting that the Little Prince finds this tree so pernicious!

I received a seed in a trade. It germinated fairly quickly. I thought that I lost it in our cold winter this year (low 40's for days) but the "dead stick" came back and is now growing again. Requires very little attention.

I grew two species,digitata and another unidentified ,for years in a greenhouse.Very prone to aphids.But one was close to thirty years old and spent most of its life in a San Francisco living room cherished as a vacation memory of a trip made to Africa in the early 70's. And it was ceiling tall. It's now part of a San Francisco college collection.

There is one specimen growing in Balboa Park, San Diego. It is about four feet tall and the trunk is about 12 inches across at the base.
The gardeners have created a series of microclimates to support the diverse plantings in this wonderful place. The density of the growth keeps the area warmer in the winter and the irrigation techniques keep the place more humid than the natural environment.
This tree is growing in a more open area with a southwestern exposure for warmth and gravelly soil for rapid drainage. the surrounding plantings are aloe, madagascar palm, acacia, various cactus and banksia. While it is alive and growing it is not thriving.
UPDATE:
The adansonia digitata in Balboa Park is no longer there. My assumption is that it died and was removed.
It was being grown xeriscape. The problem with that tactic for this plant is that when the natural water is available the plant is dormant and cannot use it. When the temperature is up high enough for this plant to grow thee is no water available. I think it is possible to grow this plant outdoors in San Diego if the plant is kept dry in the winter and watered during the summer and fall.

I have had a seedling for years. I remember buying that seed and watching it grow. Even young, it has a little fat caudex. I notice that I cannot manipulate it to think it is rainy season and grow, (It breaks dormancy when it wants to in the spring) but it will go dormant obediently if I withhold water. Perhaps it is photoperiod sensitive, even indoors.

My important suggestion to anyone starting it from seed: Use a deep pot or in-ground, as the taproot will coil in a small pot and the fat base will form sideways.

If ever I move to a frost-free place, I will plant it in-ground.

This is am impressive African tree with a massive, succulent base rapidly tapering to little branches above. It is deciduous during the dry season and makes incredible silhouettes on the landscape. However, it takes centuries to attain those sizes. For me, this tree was just bit too tropical in its needs, and it rotted in the winter rains.