How to Protect Your Baobab Tree from Frost Damage

The baobab tree also known as the “Tree of Life”, is an iconic tree native to certain tropical regions of Africa, Arabia, and Australia. These majestic trees can grow enormous trunks up to 30 feet in diameter and live for thousands of years.

Unfortunately, the baobab is not tolerant of cold temperatures. Exposure to frost can badly damage or even kill a baobab tree. If you live in an area with cold winters, you’ll need to take special precautions to help your baobab survive. This article explains everything you need to know to protect your baobab from frost.

Understanding Baobab Cold Tolerance

Baobabs thrive in hot, dry conditions. They evolved in tropical savannas and deserts where winter temperatures rarely dip below 50°F (10°C). Extended exposure to anything colder can injure or kill a baobab.

Temperatures below 50°F (10°C) make baobabs go dormant. Their leaves turn yellow and drop off. Growth stops completely. While dormant, baobabs can withstand brief frosts down to about 30°F (-1°C).

Anything colder starts causing damage. At 25°F (-4°C) or below, the sap inside the trunk and branches begins to freeze. This destroys the living tissues and can split the trunk open.

A deep freeze below 20°F (-7°C) for 12 hours or more is usually fatal The extreme cold kills the dormant buds needed for new growth in spring It also ruptures cell walls beyond repair.

Caring for Potted Baobabs in Winter

Growing baobabs as container plants allows you to protect them by moving the pots indoors for winter. Here are some tips for overwintering potted baobabs:

• Before bringing plants inside, inspect thoroughly for pests like mealybugs and scale insects. Wash leaves or apply insecticidal soap if needed.

• Place baobabs in the sunniest, warmest location possible, right next to a south-facing window. Maintain temperatures above 50°F (10°C).

• Let the soil dry out more between waterings, but don’t allow pots to completely dry out. The roots still need moisture to survive.

• Stop using fertilizer until spring. Baobabs don’t need nutrients while dormant.

• Prune branches back by 1/3 to 1/2 to reduce water loss and encourage new growth in spring.

• Monitor for pests like spider mites that can infest plants kept indoors. Treat any infestations immediately.

• In late winter, move the baobab back outside once all chance of frost has passed.

Protecting In-Ground Baobab Trees

Baobabs planted directly in the ground need special winter protection if you live where temperatures go below freezing. Here are some methods to try:

Insulate the Trunk

Wrapping the trunk with insulation prevents frost penetrating deep into the living tissues underneath the bark. The safest and most effective way is to enclose the entire trunk in a wooden framework, then pack the cavity with insulating straw. You can also wrap the trunk in bubble wrap, burlap, or other insulating materials. Just make sure to remove it in spring after all frost danger has passed.

Add Mulch Around the Trunk

Spreading a deep layer of mulch like bark chips, compost, or wood chips around the base of the trunk acts as insulation against ground frosts. The minimum depth should be about 12 inches. If possible, mound mulch halfway up the trunk for even more protection.

Cover the Crown with Fabric

Use horticultural fleece, burlap, old sheets, or other breathable fabric to tent and surround the crown. This traps radiant heat rising from the ground and creates a warmer microclimate inside. Just avoid using plastic, which can trap too much moisture. Secure the covers firmly so winter winds don’t blow them away.

String Holiday Lights

Wrapping strands of LED holiday lights around the branches and trunk raises the ambient temperature. The light bulbs give off a small amount of heat. Focus strings on the crown and any younger branches, which are more vulnerable to cold damage. Make sure lights are rated for outdoor use.

Water Deeply Before Freezing Weather

Soaking the soil around the baobab encourages deeper root growth. The larger root zone acts as a thermal mass to protect the roots from hard freezes. Stop watering once winter dormancy sets in. Soggy soil during freezing weather encourages root rot.

Cover Smaller Trees Entirely

For younger baobabs under 6 feet tall, completely covering the crown with a fabric “tent” is easy and provides great frost protection. Drape fabric over the entire tree, sealing it to the ground on all sides. Leave the bottom 1-2 feet open for airflow. Remove the cover once daytime temperatures are reliably above freezing in spring.

What to Do if Your Baobab is Damaged by Frost

If a baobab is exposed to sub-freezing temperatures and sustains frost damage, don’t give up hope. Baobabs often recover well, especially if the crown and upper branches remain unharmed. Here are some post-frost care tips:

• Leave frost-damaged foliage in place. Don’t prune or remove damaged leaves until spring growth resumes. The intact leaves still provide some frost protection to the branches and crown.

• Once winter is over, carefully assess the full extent of damage. Prune back any dead branches to sound wood.

• Baobabs naturally “compartmentalize” to wall off damaged tissues. Avoid drilling holes or otherwise puncturing the bark, which interferes with this process.

• Apply a liquid copper fungicide to any frost cracks or damaged areas of bark to prevent disease infection.

• Water deeply once every 2-3 weeks if soil moisture is low. Avoid overwatering damaged plants.

• New leaves may emerge late. Don’t give up if yours seems slow to recover. Monitor for signs of life in the crown.

• Be patient through recovery. It can take 1-2 years for a baobab to fully regrow a frost-damaged crown.

Choosing Cold-Hardy Baobab Varieties

Some baobab species and varieties have better frost tolerance than others. Ask for cold-hardy types when purchasing baobab trees or seeds. The most frost-tolerant include:

• Adansonia digitata – The most widespread baobab species in Africa. Tolerates brief frosts down to 25°F (-4°C).

• Adansonia kilima – Native to higher cooler regions of Kenya and Tanzania. Survives light frosts.

• Adansonia gregorii – The Australian baobab. Damaged but recovers from brief frosts down to 24°F (-4°C).

• Adansonia rubrostipa – A rare hardy baobab from Zimbabwe. Withstands light frost.

Even cold-tolerant baobabs need winter protection where hard freezes occur regularly. But they survive better and rebound faster than more tropical varieties.

The iconic baobab tree thrives in hot, dry climates but cannot tolerate extended freezing weather. However, gardeners in frost-prone areas can overwinter container grown baobabs indoors. Protecting in-ground trees takes more work but a combination of insulation, heat, and careful watering can help baobabs survive cold seasons. Choose more naturally frost-resistant baobab species and cultivars if available. With proper safeguards, even in cold winter climates, anyone can enjoy growing these amazing longitudinally trees.