Calotropis, Sodom Apple (Calotropis procera)

Sodom apple (Calotropis procera), also called calotropis, kapok tree, king's crown, or rubber bush, is a large, succulent shrub native to North Africa, the Middle East, and India. A member of the Apocynaceae family, it's known for its toxic milky latex and distinctive inflated fruit.

Description

Spreading shrub or small tree 6–15 feet tall. Stems are thick, gray, corky. Leaves are large, ovate, 4–8 inches, gray-green, leathery, sessile. Flowers are 1–1.5 inches, waxy, white to pink with purple tips, in umbels. Fruit is a large, inflated, globose follicle 3–5 inches, green ripening to yellow, filled with silky-haired seeds (kapok). Latex is copious, toxic.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 10–12 (tropical/subtropical).
• Light: Full sun.
• Soil: Very well-drained, sandy, alkaline. Thrives in desert conditions.
• Water: Extremely drought-tolerant. Minimal water once established.
• Temperature: Heat-loving; frost-tender.

Care & Maintenance

Minimal care. No fertilizer. Prune for shape (wear protective gear). Propagate from seed or cuttings.

Uses

Xeriscapes, desert gardens, windbreaks, fiber (kapok), traditional medicine (with extreme caution). Latex used as arrow poison, birdlime.

Critical Toxicity Warning

All parts are highly toxic (cardiac glycosides, calotropin). Latex causes severe skin/eye irritation, blindness. Ingestion can be fatal. Keep away from children, pets, livestock. Not for home gardens.

Potential Issues

Invasive in some arid regions (Australia, Pacific). Few pests due to toxicity.

A plant of extreme adaptations—fascinating ecologically, dangerous domestically.