By Carla Burgess

• Introduction
• Developing Markets: Greene Natural Fibers
• Advantages and Uses
• Limitations and Goals
• Kenaf Facts
• Download the full article as a

Kenaf Facts

Kenaf is not related to hemp or marijuana, but there is a striking similarity in the leaf shape of some varieties.

• Kenaf may yield 6 to 10 tons of dry fiber per acre per year. This is three to five times greater than the yield for Southern pine trees, which require seven to 40 years before they’re ready for harvest.
• The outer fiber or bast makes up 40 percent of the stalk’s dry weight; the inner fiber or core makes up the other 60 percent.
• In the right climate, kenaf grows 14 feet tall in four to five months.
• Kenaf flowers at the end of the growing season, producing showy hibiscus-like blossoms.
• Kenaf has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years, with its roots in Egypt.
• Kenaf reportedly has more than 129 different names world wide, like “deccan hemp” in Bombay and “java jute” in Indonesia.

Raleigh-based writer Carla Burgess has contributed many articles to Carolina Country, including stories about Hyde County onions, Yadkin County popcorn, and dental care for rural communities.