Vachellia erioloba 'Camel Thorn'

Acacia erioloba, now botanically recognized as Vachellia erioloba, is an iconic drought loving tree from southern Africa, especially tied to the Kalahari landscape. Known as Camel Thorn or Giraffe Thorn, it develops delicate divided foliage, bright yellow puffball blooms with age, and sculptural thorny branches that give it a powerful desert bonsai character. Its name is famously connected to giraffes, which browse the foliage using their specially adapted tongues and lips.

Light 🌞
Provide very bright light to full sun. Young plants can be eased into stronger sun gradually, especially if grown indoors or in a greenhouse.

Watering 💧
Water deeply, then allow the soil to dry thoroughly. This is a drought tolerant tree and should never sit in soggy soil.

Soil 🕳️
Use a gritty, fast draining mix. A cactus or succulent soil amended with pumice, lava rock, coarse sand, or perlite works well.

Fertilizing 🧪
Feed lightly during active growth with a diluted balanced fertilizer. Avoid heavy feeding, since this plant naturally grows in lean, dry soils.

Repotting 🪴
Repot only when needed, preferably during warm active growth. Choose a deep pot if growing as a young tree, since it can develop a strong root system.

Toxicity 🐾
Non Toxic.