Kigelia africana is a fairly hardy, very fast growing, briefly deciduous, medium sized tree. It has a straight stem and a rounded crown. The large compound leaves are clustered at the ends of the branches with lovely coppery coloured new growth. It bears huge, flamboyant dark maroon, velvety, bell-shaped flowers in pendulous sprays from August to September.
The copious nectar attracts hordes of insects, birds and Charaxes butterflies. These are followed by distinctive, huge sausage shaped fruits that can weigh up to 7kg.
These trees are specifically evolved to be pollinated by bats but are sometimes pollinated by birds, so the chances of having this unusual sausage-like fruit in your garden are quite good.
The nectar will attract birds and insects to the garden.
If the stems are wrapped for the first 2 or 3 years the trees harden off and do well in cold areas.
See a great video from Discovery UK The Sausage Tree | Africa's Trees Of Life
Size 6 to 9m