African Star Chestnut, Mopopaja Tree

Frost Tolerance: Avoid any frost

Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun

Origin: Southern and eastern Africa, the subsp Socotrana comes from the island of Socotra in Yemen

Growth Habits: Deciduous caudiciform tree, 40 feet tall (12 m) by 10 feet wide (3 m) or more

The Sterculia africana has multicolored grey/beige peeling rough bark. The leaves are supposedly edible.

Blooming Habits:
The African Star Chestnut has greenish yellow flowers with red tinge and reddish veins. They generally come in the spring before the leaves. They are followed by yellowish fruit, with some irritating hair containing blackish seeds.