Australian Baobab 5 Seeds Adansonia gregorii

Adansonia gregorii, commonly known as the Australian baobab or boab tree, is a distinctive and iconic tree native to the Kimberley region of Western Australia and parts of the Northern Territory. As the only baobab species found outside of Africa and Madagascar, Adansonia gregorii is part of the ancient Adansonia genus, which is known for its unique adaptations to arid environments. The boab is immediately recognizable by its swollen, bottle-shaped trunk, which can reach up to 20 meters in height and serve as a reservoir for water during the dry season—a vital adaptation for survival in the region's hot, drought-prone climate. The tree is deciduous, shedding its leaves during the dry months and producing striking white flowers in the wet season that are pollinated primarily by moths. The woody fruit, often called boab nuts, contains edible pulp and seeds traditionally used by Aboriginal Australians for food and medicine. Beyond its ecological significance, Adansonia gregorii holds deep cultural importance for Indigenous peoples, who have long used its hollow trunks as shelters, storage spaces, or ceremonial sites. Some boabs are estimated to be over 1,500 years old, standing as living witnesses to centuries of environmental and human history. With its striking appearance, resilience, and rich cultural ties, the Australian boab is both a botanical marvel and a powerful symbol of the landscapes in which it thrives.

Growing Instructions for the Australian Baobab

The seeds have a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to enter the seeds so that they can sprout. Scarify the large, roundish seeds and plant in warm, sandy soil. Scarify by rubbing on sandpaper in one spot until the seed coat is rubbed through and the white pericarp just shows.  Incomplete scarification will yield no results–the seed coat must be pierced! 1. To scarify the seeds, nick or sand the seed coat with sandpaper. The seeds can be sanded with sandpaper, a nail file or an emery board. 2. Soak the seed in warm water for 24-48 hours. 3. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Use a sterile seed starter mix, if available. It prevents soil fungi from damaging the seeds and the seedlings. If not available, then make a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet. 4. Put the seeds on the soil. 5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. 6. Water the seeds. 7. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun.  8. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.