To recover river bed land swept by the 1-in-100yrs April 2018 rains i settled on below trees/grasses that do well on sandy, water logged places and are indigenous.

1. Naivasha acacia (Scientific name: acacia xanthophloea, #fevertree, Kamba (Kimweya); Kikuyu (Murera); Maasai (Olerai) from Tree-biotech nursery at Karura.

2. Sycamore fig [Scientific name: Ficus sycomorus; Embu,Kamba,Kikuyu (Mukuyu)] seedlings found just underneath existing Mukuyu trees.

3. Bamboo Arundinaria alpina; Kamba (Muangi); Kikuyu,Embu,Meru (Murangi);Taita (Mrangi) which is the de-facto hardy bamboo grown in seasonal riverbeds in Makueni.


Wanted to try Melia Volkensii(Mukau) but the seedlings cost an arm and a leg and hard to come by and germinating the seedlings is difficult.

Good job @kawi. Been reading on mukau too and it's true the seedlings are expensive. I was told it's due to difficult propagation

Been trying to introduce Meru oak(vitex keniensis) but every time I plant, the seedlings are stolen.

Looks like these seedling thieves are everywhere. I have a neighbor, who's property I can clearly see, with plants of similar nature and age as mine. He's even building his houses (amemaliza ya kwanza yuko ya pili), using the stones I dig up, in order to plant the seedlings.

Melia is freely given out huku Kilifi, but beginning of last quarter. One must have registered. Muzungus are incorruptible, preference is given to impoverished community. They do sell. What prices do you get there?

I prefer food forests. ie Fruit trees, vegetable nut trees. I'm trying to get Pecan nut tree from South Africa and Manuka from Australia. Manuka honey is taunted to be better than our Acacia honey.

Its so hard to get information about ornamental trees. Do weeping willow trees grow in Kenya?

https://previews.123rf.c...-weeping-willow-tree.jpg

How much is the Mukau tree seedlings?

try coconut. currently doing some. long term but would be interesting once they mature.

Just plant the "naivasha willow" coz its already been tried and tested for .ke. Naivasha looks great thanks to that tree species name Schinus molle.

I have been researching on ornamental trees (landscape trees) of the cypress family and here are my findings. Sharing is the spirit of Wazua

1. Platycadus - Other names Thuja Orientalis , Morgan dwarf tree, Oriental arborvitae, Chinese arborvitae, Kenyan street name - "Bible pages"


Grows short 4-6ft. Evergreen that is drought resistant, grows well on a rock garden. In extreme cold temps, its turns brown but goes back to green when the temperatures are favorable

2. Thuja Occidentalis - Other names Thuja green giant, Northern White cider, eastern arborvitae, Kenyan street names - "Thuja Pencil"



Foliage

Grows tall and wide in a pyramidal shape
Mature height 40 - 50 ft tall
Pest and disease resistant
Good tree for privacy

3. Thuja Standishii - Other names Japanese arborvitae,

Medium size - 20-30 ft tall
Cannot thrive in dry conditions
Leaves are bright green

Foliage

I have not spotted this one in Kenya yet.

4. Leyland Cypress - Other names leylandii


Grows fast
Coniferous evergreen
Tallest ever documented is 130ft and still growing, grows to 50-60 ft on avg
Extremely drought tolerant
Grows very well in Mt Kenya region

5. Blue Cypress - I have not been able to properly identify this tree scientifically. Bought some on thika road. I am waiting for it to develop further so that i can be able to properly place it. So far I have noted that it grows very fast, drought tolerant


6. Italian Cypress - Other names Mediterranean cypress

Slender cypress tree


7. Lemon Cypress Other names Goldcrest



Does not grow well in shades and needs lots of water. Maximum growth height is said to be 16ft tall in natural habitat. So its mainly a dwarf tree.

Looking for

8. Gold mop cypress
Another dwarf tree that is golden yellowish. Has weepy characteristics. If you have spotted it anywhere please notify.


Tree planting season is coming up. Happy planting.

Or Callitris intratropica. I hope it is Cupressus Arizonica.

Who has gone tree shopping at Tigoni's chief's camp?

How was your experience? I was told he has himalayan cypress and I want to know more about the tree, any 411?