Never Seen Before in UK: Giant Baobab Tree Bursts into Bloom at Eden Project

A flowering first for Britain, with hopes of rare superfruit to follow

A baobab tree at the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome has flowered in what is believed to be a UK first. The African native, known as the ‘Tree of Life’, is currently displaying two large white flowers, with more buds expected to open in the coming weeks.

A 27-Year Journey to Bloom

This particular baobab, an Adansonia digitata, started life in the Chikwawa region of Malawi in 1995 and was later grown at the Van der Arend Tropical Plantcenter in the Netherlands. It was planted at Eden in 2000 as a young sapling and now stands at 8 metres tall.

The tree is one of five baobabs growing inside the Rainforest Biome and has adapted to the simulated dry and rainy seasons that mimic its native environment. These climate controls help trigger natural responses, including flowering.

Rare Flower Could Produce Powerful Superfruit

Baobab flowers are usually pollinated by nocturnal creatures such as bats, moths and lemurs. At Eden, expert horticulturalists will be hand pollinating them over the next few weeks in the hope of producing fruit.

The potential fruit is packed with nutrition. Said to taste like a mix of melon and pineapple, it contains more calcium than milk, three times more vitamin C and 100 times more antioxidant activity than oranges. It is also 50 per cent fibre.

Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project, said:

“It’s incredible to see our African baobab flowering, especially here in the UK. We’re fairly confident this has never happened before. We have five stunning baobabs in our Rainforest Biome, and this particular tree has been with us since the very beginning. To witness it bloom as we approach our 25th birthday next year is something truly special to behold.”

He added:

“These only flower for a short period of time, so I’d encourage anyone in the area to come and see this botanical wonder for yourselves as there’s literally never been a better time to visit the Eden Project and experience this extraordinary botanical moment for yourself.”

Conservation and Sustainability

Baobabs have long been valued in Africa for their many uses. Their flowers, fruit, seeds and leaves are all edible, and their trunks can store thousands of litres of water. Elephants have been known to break them open for hydration.

But while Adansonia digitata is widespread, six of the eight known species are found only in Madagascar and are under threat due to habitat loss caused by intensive agriculture.

To help protect the species, the Eden Project works with PhytoTrade Africa and TreeCrops Ltd to support a Fairtrade-certified supply chain of baobab products. These range from ice cream to tangy superfood powder, available in Eden’s shops and cafés.

To find out more about baobab and to plan your visit to the Eden Project, head to www.edenproject.com.