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Plants of Kenya

KE · -0.02°, 37.91°

We catalogue 50 plants documented in Kenya 19 native and 31 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 19 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

19

Species naturally occurring in Kenya — best adapted to local climate and soil.

African mulberry
African mulberry
Morus mesozygia
ediblemedicinal
Akamongot
Akamongot
Leptadenia hastata
edible
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthaceaeedible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Carrion Flower
Carrion Flower
Smilax herbacea
ediblemedicinal
Castor-Oil Plant
Castor-Oil Plant
Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceaeedible
Chestnut Hybrids
Chestnut Hybrids
Castanea
edible
Date plum
Date plum
Diospyros lotus
edible
Gala Dinich
Gala Dinich
Coleus edulis
edible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleome serrulata
edible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Wand Milkweed
Wand Milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora
edible
White mulberry
White mulberry
Morus alba
ediblemedicinal
II

Edible for food + foraging

50

Plants with edible parts documented in Kenya. Always identify positively before harvest.

African mulberry
African mulberry
Morus mesozygia
ediblemedicinal
Akamongot
Akamongot
Leptadenia hastata
edible
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthus albus
Amaranthaceaeedible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Carrion Flower
Carrion Flower
Smilax herbacea
ediblemedicinal
Castor-Oil Plant
Castor-Oil Plant
Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceaeedible
Chestnut Hybrids
Chestnut Hybrids
Castanea
edible
Date plum
Date plum
Diospyros lotus
edible
Gala Dinich
Gala Dinich
Coleus edulis
edible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Rocky Mountain Beeplant
Cleome serrulata
edible
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
Tussock Grass
Tussock Grass
Deschampsia caespitosa
edible
Wand Milkweed
Wand Milkweed
Asclepias viridiflora
edible
White mulberry
White mulberry
Morus alba
ediblemedicinal
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
edible
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Campanula edulis
Campanula edulis
Campanula edulis
Lamiaceaeedible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa
Cactaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Napier grass Elephant grass
Napier grass Elephant grass
Pennisetum purpureum
edible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Pineapple guava
Pineapple guava
Acca sellowiana
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Shittim Wood
Vachellia seyal
Fabaceaeedible
Slenderstem Peavine
Slenderstem Peavine
Lathyrus palustris
edible
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
Soft Rush
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Juncaceaeedible
Spiny Holdback
Spiny Holdback
Caesalpinia spinosa
Caesalpiniaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Weeping Love Grass
Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
edible
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

19

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

African mulberry
African mulberry
Morus mesozygia
ediblemedicinal
Bugle
Bugle
Ajuga reptans
ediblemedicinal
Carrion Flower
Carrion Flower
Smilax herbacea
ediblemedicinal
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Peucedanum multivittatum
Apiaceaeediblemedicinal
Pygmy smartweed
Pygmy smartweed
Polygonum minus
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Spearmint
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
ediblemedicinal
Toothed Bur-Clover
Toothed Bur-Clover
Medicago polymorpha
ediblemedicinal
White mulberry
White mulberry
Morus alba
ediblemedicinal
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

31

Non-native species established in Kenya. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
edible
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthus graecizans
Amaranthaceaeediblemedicinal
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Bird's Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
edible
Campanula edulis
Campanula edulis
Campanula edulis
Lamiaceaeedible
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common Vetch
Vicia sativa
Fabaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa
Cactaceaeedible
Eel Grass
Eel Grass
Vallisneria spiralis
Alismataceaeedible
Gum Arabic Tree
Vachellia nilotica
Fabaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Indian Madder
Indian Madder
Rubia cordifolia
ediblemedicinal
Lentil
Lentil
Lens culinaris
Fabaceaeedible
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Lycium arabicum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Napier grass Elephant grass
Napier grass Elephant grass
Pennisetum purpureum
edible
Pea
Pea
Pisum sativum
edible
Pineapple guava
Pineapple guava
Acca sellowiana
edible
Radish
Radish
Raphanus sativus
ediblemedicinal
River Club-Rush
River Club-Rush
Scirpus validus
edible
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salix aegyptiaca
Salicaceaeediblemedicinal
Shittim Wood
Vachellia seyal
Fabaceaeedible
Slenderstem Peavine
Slenderstem Peavine
Lathyrus palustris
edible
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
Smilax aspera
ediblemedicinal
Soft Rush
Soft Rush
Juncus effusus
Juncaceaeedible
Spiny Holdback
Spiny Holdback
Caesalpinia spinosa
Caesalpiniaceaeedible
Swamp Morning Glory
Swamp Morning Glory
Ipomoea aquatica
Convolvulaceaeedible
Weeping Love Grass
Weeping Love Grass
Eragrostis curvula
edible
White Melilot
White Melilot
Melilotus albus
ediblemedicinal
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Yellow Bristle Grass
Yellow Bristle Grass
Setaria pumila
Poaceaeedible
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Kenya?

50 speciess — 19 native and 31 introduced. Of these, 50 are edible and 19 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Kenya?

Common edible species include African mulberry, Akamongot, Amaranthus albus, Beach Hibiscus, Bugle. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Kenya?

19 medicinal plants catalogued for Kenya, including African mulberry, Bugle, Carrion Flower, Peucedanum multivittatum, Pygmy smartweed.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other africa

Angola
AO
Burkina Faso
BF
Burundi
BI
Benin
BJ
Botswana
BW
DR Congo
CD
Central African Rep.
CF
Republic of the Congo
CG
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