Marula tree grow and care – tree of the genus Sclerocarya also known as Amarula plant or as Sclerocarya birrea, Marula tree perennial evergreen to semi-deciduous plant, used for the edible fruits and seeds, also used as ornamental plant can be shade tree or grow as bonsai and can be drought tollerant, grow in desert, mediterranean or subtropical climate and growing in hardiness zone 10-12.
Leaves green to light green, ovate shape grow in pinnate structure.
Flower mostly grow in groups the color is green-yellow, the size 1-2 mm the flowers can separate to female and male flowers on separate trees.
Marula plant fruits
Fruits color yellow-green and juicy, possible to collect the fruits from the ground,
Seed color white-yellowish and edible as nut.
Marula plant for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
Condition requirements for Marula tree growing and care:
How to grow a Marula tree:
Need male and female trees, well-drained soil, better when the tree young to add mulch and to add nitrogen it will help the tree to grow faster
How long does it take for Marula tree to grow:
Takes at least 5 years to grow to size that will bear fruits, and to bear big amount of
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed – information bellow / Vegetative Reproduction
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction?
Yes, grafting male and female, better to graft the male on the side of the tree and the female on the top
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Need male and female tree
Planting season:
Winter, spring, summer
How to plant Amarula plant:
Dig a hole as deep as the current root ball plus extra 40%, put in the hole organic matter, hummus and dried leaves and mix it with some soil, put the tree and loos little bit the root ball above the hole, plant the tree and cover it and don’t push the soil too much strong but not too much lightly because it won’t be stable, after this put mulch to keep moist on soil, put water, for the next two weeks put every day (better in the morning) , better to take that the tree will be stable, and if not support it with bamboo or a stick that it won’t fall.
Pests and diseases:
Aphids
Pruning season:
Autumn / Winter
How to prune:
Branches that grow down, more prune for design
Size of the plant:
10-30m, 30-100 feet
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water to small amount of water – grow well with small amount but grow better with more water, when the tree big possible to reduce the water because the roots might arrive groundwater
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun, possible half shade when the tree younger but will grow slowlier untill arrive to full sun and also not sure that it will bear fruits
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
No, only as bonsai tree
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Spring / Summer
General information about the flower
Green flower mostly grow in groups, the size 1-2 mm the flowers can separate to female and male flowers on separate trees
Thinning the bloom:
Mostly cause there is not male in the way
Pollination is done by:
Bees, rarely self-pollinators
Edible Fruits
Fruit harvest season:
Summer / Autumn / Winter
Fruits pests or diseases:
Mediterranean fruit fly, fruit fly, elephants
What can be done with big quantities of Marula fruits?
Eat raw, alcohol, juice, oil
Work requirements on the fruit:
Traps from mediterranean fruit fly
How long does it take to bear fruit?
5-6 years, from seeds might take longer and might need to graft in order to get fruits
Ripening of fruit:
Better to collect the fruit from the ground
How to grow marula tree from seed
Sowing requirement:
Moist soil, well-drained soil,
Saving seeds until sowing:
Dry and dark location in room temperature
How to plant Marula seeds:
Dig an hole bigger than the seeds and better to put light soil and cover it lightly
Sowing season:
Spring to summer, in desert possible autumn and end of the winter
Planting spacing:
Better in different pots to put the seeds, if it’s just for 1 tree in the garden better to graft male and female plant on the same tree and if it’s for few trees better to graft them also before transplant them (it’s rare to success 100% of grafting)
Depth of Sowing:
3-5cm (1-2inches)
Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist soil, sunny location, warm weather
Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water
Germination time:
3-9 weeks
Condition of seedling:
Keep the soil moist and add fertilizer with high content of nitrogen
Scientific name:
Sclerocarya birrea
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Edible Parts |
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Culinary uses |
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Plant Uses |
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Plants sun exposure |
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Watering plants |
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