List of Plants of Mozambique

Mozambique’s long coastline, miombo woodlands and riverine plains support a rich mix of plants adapted to sandy shores, seasonally wet soils and dry plateaus. Local climate gradients and varied soils mean you’ll find both widespread savanna species and more restricted coastal or forest plants.

There are 49 Plants of Mozambique, ranging from African cherry to Winter thorn. Each entry is organized with Scientific name, Habitat & distribution, Typical height (m) so you can compare identity, range and size — you’ll find below.

How can I use this list to identify plants in the field?

Start by narrowing possibilities with habitat and typical height, then match the Scientific name to photos or local guides. If you have a specimen, note leaf shape, bark and fruiting features and compare them to the entries; taking GPS and a clear photo speeds up identification.

Are any of these species protected or at risk in Mozambique?

Some species on the list are regionally threatened, especially those tied to coastal forests or rare wetlands. Check the IUCN Red List and Mozambique’s conservation listings for status, and avoid collecting protected plants without permits.

Plants of Mozambique

Images and Descriptions

Baobab

Huge bottle-shaped trunk, silvery bark and seasonal leaves; produces tart, vitamin-rich fruit. Iconic in savannas, culturally important, often centuries old and vital for wildlife. Native.

Mopane

Dense, butterfly-shaped leaflets and rugged bark define mopane trees forming extensive woodlands. Valuable for timber, charcoal and mopane worms (a local food). Native and dominant in lowland plains.

Miombo (Brachystegia)

Large canopy tree with feathery leaves; dominant in miombo woodlands. Important for timber, soil fertility (leaf litter) and wildlife habitat. Native and widespread.

Miombo (Julbernardia)

Straight-trunked tree with smooth bark and pinnate leaves; forms vast miombo belts. Provides timber, honey sources, and supports diverse savanna fauna. Native.

Bloodwood

Reddish heartwood yields quality timber called “bloodwood.” Distinctive pinnate leaves and bright yellow flowers; used for furniture and traditional medicine. Native and ecologically significant.

Pod mahogany

Massive buttressed tree with hard, dense timber prized for furniture. Compound leaves and fragrant flowers; populations have been reduced by logging. Native.

Marula

Medium tree with flaky bark and fleshy yellow fruit used for food and liquor. Important for wildlife and local economies. Native and drought-tolerant.

Leadwood

Very dense, slow-growing tree with rough bark and hard timber. Iconic in dry woodlands, valued for charcoal and longevity. Native and conservation-important.

Fever tree

Striking yellow-green trunk and feathery foliage, often lining wetlands. Visually distinctive and associated with seasonal waterlogged soils. Native.

Raphia palm

Huge pinnate fronds arising from a short trunk; leaves used for weaving and local crafts. Restricted coastal distribution, iconic in swampy habitats. Native.

Wild date palm

Clustering palm with feathery leaves and orange fruit eaten by birds. Common along waterways and in forests; used locally for weaving and shade. Native.

Red mangrove

Stilt-rooted mangrove forming dense shoreline forests. Protects coasts from erosion, nursery for fish and shellfish. Salt-tolerant and widespread. Native.

Grey mangrove

Pale, salt-excreting leaves and pencil-like pneumatophores. Tolerant of high salinity, forms extensive stands protecting coasts and supporting fisheries. Native.

Spurred mangrove

Small to medium mangrove with buttressed roots. Common in sheltered estuaries, important for shoreline stability and local fisheries. Native.

Orange mangrove

Buttressed roots and glossy leaves; forms dense stands in protected estuaries. Key for coastal protection and biodiversity. Native.

Mangrove apple

Large mangrove with distinctive open crown and showy flowers visited by pollinators. Important pioneer species in estuarine colonization. Native.

Tropical almond

Broad, spreading tree with tiered branches and edible nuts. Commonly planted for shade along beaches and promenades; naturalized on many coasts. Introduced but widespread.

Australian pine

Needle-like branchlets and cone-like fruit; used in coastal stabilization but invasive in places, displacing native strand vegetation. Introduced and naturalized.

Mesquite

Tough thorny shrub-tree that forms dense stands, outcompeting natives. Produces pods eaten by livestock but is highly invasive and alters soils. Introduced invasive.

Lantana

Dense, aromatic shrub with clusters of colorful flowers. Forms impenetrable thickets, toxic to livestock and problems for native plant regeneration. Introduced and invasive.

Prickly pear

Sprawling cactus with flat pads and edible yet invasive fruits. Forms dense colonies on disturbed soils, difficult to eradicate. Introduced and invasive.

River red gum

Tall eucalyptus used in plantations and riverbank stabilization. Fast-growing and widely planted; can alter water regimes. Introduced and naturalized.

Spiny monkey-orange

Spiny tree with large round orange fruits eaten by people and wildlife. Attractive flowers and ornate fruit make it notable; native.

Jackalberry

Tall fig-like tree with glossy leaves and sweet fruit. Important shade tree and food source for animals and people; prized timber. Native.

Winter thorn

Unique leafing pattern (leafless in rainy season), fixes nitrogen and improves soils. Valued by agroforestry and pastoralists. Native and beneficial.

Silver cluster-leaf

Small tree with silvery undersides to leaves and clusters of seed capsules. Hardy on poor soils, used for fuelwood and erosion control. Native.

Red bushwillow

Coastal-looking leaves and profuse autumn flowers and fruits. Common savanna shrub-tree providing browse and traditional uses. Native.

Sea hibiscus

Large shrub or small tree with heart-shaped leaves and yellow hibiscus flowers. Salt-tolerant, often seen along beaches and mangrove edges. Native or long-naturalized.

Buffalo thorn

Spiny shrub-tree with glossy leaves and edible yellow fruits. Important for livestock browse, traditional medicine and wildlife. Native.

Knobthorn

Robust thorny tree with broad crown and small pinnate leaves. Produces pale pods eaten by animals and used locally. Native and widespread.

Umbrella thorn

Flat-topped canopy typical of arid savannas, thorny and drought-resilient. Provides shade and forage; iconic savanna profile. Native.

Papyrus

Tall sedge with tufted umbrella-like flower heads. Forms dense reedbeds important for wetlands, historically used for papermaking. Native.

White waterlily

Floating round leaves and white star-like flowers on water surfaces. Common in shallow pools and wetlands, providing habitat and aesthetic interest. Native.

Mountain aloe

Robust rosette succulent with tall red flower spikes attractive to sunbirds. Used medicinally and for fencing. Native succulent of rocky country.

Sycamore fig

Massive spreading fig with sugary figs eaten by people and animals. Often central in villages and riverside groves; important keystone species. Native.

Wild fig

Large fig with buttressed roots and year-round fruiting that supports birds and mammals. Common shade and ritual tree. Native.

Mango

Beloved fruit tree cultivated throughout Mozambique; large evergreen foliage and juicy fruits. Often naturalized near settlements and farms. Introduced but widespread.

Doum palm

Branching palm with fan-like leaves and edible fibrous fruits. Used for weaving and local crafts; distinctive multi-stemmed habit. Native.

Sausage tree

Striking tree with huge sausage-shaped fruits and showy bell flowers. Fruits used medicinally and culturally; attracts bats and birds. Native.

Camel’s foot

Small to medium tree with flattened pods and compound leaves. Often used as shade and fodder tree; tolerated in arid landscapes. Native.

Forest acacia

Tall thorny tree with umbrella crown and pale bark. Common in coastal forests and used for timber and shade. Native.

Coral tree

Showy red pea-like flowers that attract birds; stout spines on trunk. Often planted as ornamental and shade tree; native or naturalized.

Pepper-bark tree

Aromatic bark used medicinally; glossy leaves and small flowers. Over-harvested and conservation concern in some areas. Native and valued.

African cherry

Tall tree with flaky bark; bark harvested for medicinal products. Occurs in montane forest patches and is conservation-sensitive. Native.

Waterberry

Smooth-barked tree with clusters of sweet purple berries eaten by people and wildlife. Important riparian species for shade and food. Native.

Kikuyu grass

Aggressive, mat-forming grass used for pastures and erosion control. Spreads rapidly outcompeting natives, commonly found near settlements. Introduced and naturalized.

Cat’s tail grass

Tall perennial grass with silvery seed heads, forms dense clumps. Invasive in disturbed sites and reduces biodiversity. Introduced/naturalized.

Wild dagga

Aromatic shrub with tiered whorls of bright orange flowers favored by pollinators. Used traditionally and in gardens; tolerant of poor soils. Native.

Sausage tree (alternate)

See above: large riverine tree with iconic sausage fruits, important culturally and ecologically. Native.

Plants in Other Countries