Faidherbia albida, also known as the “apple-ring acacia” due to the circular shape of its seed pods, is a leguminous, nitrogen-fixing tree indigenous to Africa. There it is a significant species in agroforestry systems, frequently grown amidst maize fields and doubling or tripling yields by improving soil fertility and stabilizing soil with its extensive root system. The tree does not shade crops grown under its canopy, because it has the unusual quality of going dormant during the wet season—shedding leaves then and growing them in the dry season. This also makes it a valuable source of food for wild and domestic animals during droughts when little fodder is available. Other uses for the tree are numerous: the wood is used for canoes and carving; strips of bark are used like dental floss and also as packing material; powdered pods are used to stun fish; and it is used in traditional medicine for respiratory conditions. Growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, F. albida has grey bark, blue-green compound leaves, and spikes of fragrant, cream-colored flowers.

Suitable for outdoor planting in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11

Minimum tested germination rate is 80%

Collected in 2023 in Kenya