Names | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Family |
Apocynaceae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Botanical Name |
Tabernanthe iboga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Synonym(s) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
English Name(s) |
Iboga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chinese Name(s) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Description | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Size & Growth Habit |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cultivars & Hybrids |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cultivation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Seed |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Cutting |
We have had relatively poor success with cuttings. Taking softwood cuttings has completely failed on all attempts by us. Semi hardwood cuttings taken in similar fashion as Tabernaemontana species with plain water or hydro type setups did not work well either. Taking cuttings with rooting hormone in a sand based substrate and humidity tent has been the best method. Layering is very successfull, but takes a long time. We notice about 2 months before roots form on layers, but has a 100% track record so far. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soil |
We prefer light, slightly acidic soils. This has provided the best growth for us. They don't like hard soils that stay really wet, like at our farm. So we mix in 50% coco to the natural soil and they do alright. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Water |
Being a very tropical plant, they dont tolerate dry conditions well. Keep slightly moist, and avoid water logged soil. We water when the top half of the pot is dry, in ground plants get watered when it "feels dry". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feeding |
A fairly hungry plant. When growing well a monthly feed with liquid fertilizers is good. We use manure/compost without any complaints. In potted plants, watch salt build ups and also don't under feed them. Leaves show signs of defficiencies very well, and bounce back without issue if corrected. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Light |
Established plants can do partial shade to almost full sun. This will depend on your local climate, blazing SW USA sun I doubt thy can handle, but tropical humid areas full sun is ideal. Small seedlings and new cuttings should be put in partial shade and adjsuted slowly once roots are strong and it shows a decent growth rate. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pruning |
Naturally forms a rather pleasant shaped "bush". Iboga can reach a few meters in time, but probably doesn't need any pruning unless you need it a certain shape. We don't prune at all, but when we have they take kindly to it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Climate |
Tropical. Hot, humid and moist climates are ideal. From the jungles of West Africa. It grows well in other tropical climates as well, such as here in southern Taiwan, Australia, South America, Africa etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
Iboga plants do not like cold temperatures! The biggest issue with these plants seems to be keeping them warm. We have ours outdoors and it gets down to a minimum brief nightly drop of 8C. They survive this, but these temps last a matter of hours here. They do fine in prolonged temps down to 10C. Most peopel agree nothing less than 10C, over 20C is better...30C is ideal. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Human Uses |
Used by a few African groups of people for ceremonies and their cultural beliefs. In western medicine it is helpful in the treatment of addictions. Iboga is considered hallucinogenic (roots) and there is some reason for caution if ingestion is the intention. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemicals/Activities |
Please note: Some chemicals may not be listed and some may or may not be toxic. Do not consume plants based on this table, it only gives a general idea of *some* of the chemicals this plant contains.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Links |
Kada's Garden, Ethno Culture, Photo Gallery, Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pictures | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
