Khaya senegalensis, commonly known as African Mahogany or Dry-zone Mahogany, is a large evergreen to semi-evergreen tree native to tropical Africa and now widely grown across India as an avenue, shade and plantation timber tree. It develops a straight bole and a broad, rounded crown of glossy dark-green pinnate leaves, casting dense shade that makes it popular along roads, in parks and on large campuses.
The tree is valued for its hard, durable, reddish-brown heartwood, which is used as a substitute for true mahogany in furniture and joinery. It tolerates heat, drought and a range of soils once established, thriving in India's plains and dry tropical regions. Small white-cream flowers are followed by woody capsules that split open to release winged seeds.
Specifications
| Family |
Meliaceae |
| Native region |
Tropical West and Central Africa |
| Mature height |
15-30 m |
| Mature spread |
8-15 m canopy |
| Growth rate |
Fast |
| Foliage |
Evergreen to semi-evergreen, glossy dark-green pinnate leaves |
| Flower colour |
White to cream |
| Flower season |
Spring to early summer (Feb-May) |
| Climate zone |
Tropical and subtropical; suits Indian plains and dry zones |
Care guide
| Sunlight |
Full sun; needs unobstructed open space for its large canopy |
| Watering |
Water young trees regularly for the first 2-3 years; mature trees are drought-tolerant and need little irrigation |
| Soil / mix |
Adapts to most well-drained soils including sandy, loamy and rocky soils; tolerates poor and dry soils |
| Temperature |
Thrives in warm climates 20-40 C; sensitive to hard frost when young |
| Humidity |
Tolerates both humid and dry tropical conditions |
| Fertilizer |
Apply compost or balanced NPK during the monsoon growing season for the first few years; mature trees rarely need feeding |
| Pruning |
Prune to a single straight leader and remove low or crossing branches when young to develop a clean bole and high canopy |
| Repotting |
Not a pot plant long-term; transplant nursery saplings to the ground while young as it develops a deep taproot |
| Propagation |
Mainly by seed; fresh winged seeds germinate readily in warm conditions |
| Pests & problems |
Generally hardy; can be affected by shoot borers (Hypsipyla), defoliating caterpillars and occasional scale |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
Uses
<p>Khaya senegalensis is grown in India chiefly as a large-scale landscape and economic tree.</p><ul><li>Avenue, roadside and boundary planting for its dense, uniform shade.</li><li>Shade tree for parks, campuses, farms and large gardens.</li><li>Timber: hard, durable reddish-brown wood used for furniture, joinery and construction.</li><li>Plantation and agroforestry plantings in dry tropical regions.</li><li>Wind-break and soil-stabilising tree on degraded or dry land.</li></ul>
Growing tips
<p>Plant saplings at the onset of the monsoon (June-July) so the deep taproot establishes with natural rainfall.</p><p>Choose an open site well away from buildings, drains and overhead lines, allowing for the wide mature canopy and strong root system. Stake young trees and prune to a single leader for a clean, tall trunk. Water regularly through the first two to three summers; thereafter the tree is largely self-sufficient and handles India's hot, dry months well.</p>
