Herbs
Black Jack
Black Jack (Scientific name: Bidens pilosa) It's a common plant in our Namibian farms and is often looked at as a weed,…
Grow food · 21 Guides
Local plants
Vegetables, herbs, grains and mushrooms in a dry climate
Start with: Black Jack then follow the Guides in order
Herbs
Marama – Huilboerboon
The Huilboerboon: A Treasure of Namibia’s Arid Landscape Marama The Huilboerboon, scientifically known as Tylosema esculentum, is a resilient and unique plant…
Feed
Kalahari Melon (Tsjammas) – A Namibian Treasure for Food, Oil and Income
Kalahari Melon, Tsamma Introduction The Kalahari Melon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides)—known locally in Namibia as Tsjammas, Tsamma, or wild watermelon—is more than…
Local plants
Kiwano: learning from Namibia’s horned melon growers
Kiwano or horned melon, Cucumis metuliferus, is an African climbing crop with a spiny fruit and jelly-like interior.
Feed
Poisonous veld plants and hay: identify the plant before feeding
When a suspected poisonous plant is mixed with grazing or hay, drying is not a reliable safety test. Stop using the suspect feed, identify the plant and speak to a veteri…
Local plants
Wild tamarisk: recognise Tamarix usneoides before planting
Tamarix usneoides is a southern African tamarisk associated with dry and saline environments. It deserves a place in local tree learning, but the name “tamarisk” also cov…
Local plants
Shepherd’s tree: value the Boscia albitrunca already in the landscape
Boscia albitrunca, often called shepherd’s tree or witgat, is a characteristic tree of dry southern African landscapes. Existing trees can provide shade, habitat and brow…
Fruit Trees
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 a…
Fruit Trees
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 s…
Fruit Trees
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, adequate…
Fruit Trees
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…
Local plants
Mopane: work with a tree adapted to hot landscapes
Mopane, Colophospermum mopane, is a defining tree of many hot southern African landscapes, including parts of Namibia. Its value includes habitat, shade and its place in…
Fruit Trees
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.…
Fruit Trees
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 attr…
Fruit Trees
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 la…
Local plants
Camelthorn: protect existing trees and establish the next generation
Camelthorn, Vachellia erioloba, is a characteristic tree of dry southern African landscapes. Older references call it Acacia erioloba. Its shade, habitat and long life ma…
Fruit Trees
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 fo…
Local plants
Sea spinach on the Namibian coast: identify the plant first
“Sea spinach” is a common name, not a reliable botanical identification. Coastal plants can offer food and habitat value, but a plant growing near salt water is not autom…
Feed
Cactus fodder: identify the plant before feeding it
Known fodder cactus can be useful in a dryland feeding plan, but “a cactus” is not a feed identification. Start with the species, cultivar and animal. An animal eating a…
Local plants
Seed balls: test establishment before scattering widely
Seed balls are one way of placing seed, not a promise that plants will establish. The important result is survival after the difficult season. Begin with appropriate loca…
Local plants
Identifying useful plants: turn a local observation into shared knowledge
A useful plant record connects a name with the actual plant, its growing place and the experience people have with it. Good photographs and careful questions help the com…
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