Sweet Dattock Plant Care

Sweet Dattock (Detarium senegalense) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Detarium genus. Sweet Dattock is native to Senegal and the surrounding countries of West Africa. Sweet Dattock is also known as Tallow Wood, Dattock, Detarium heudelotianum.

Sweet Dattock displays a tall, spreading tree growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Sweet Dattock produces small, fragrant white flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Sweet Dattock every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Sweet Dattock thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Detarium senegalense tolerates temperatures of 65–85°F. Sweet Dattock prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining loamy soil mix with added sand and perlite. Good drainage is essential for Sweet Dattock to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Sweet Dattock every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil mix with added sand and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Sweet Dattock is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Sweet Dattock can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Sweet Dattock while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Sweet Dattock is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Sweet Dattock can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to detarium microcarpum plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Sweet Dattock is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf miners. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Sweet Dattock grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Sweet Dattock is native to Senegal and the surrounding countries of West Africa. In cooler regions, grow Sweet Dattock as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.