One of the pretty flowering indigenous trees of South Africa and tree of the year for 2022, Dais cotinifolia is popular for its pink lollipop flowers produced from November to December. This fast grower has a neat, upright growth habit with a rounded, leafy crown.  It reaches its usual height of 4 to 6 m within four to five years. This tree is deciduous in the very cold parts of our country, but can also be semi-deciduous [only loses its leaves for a very short period at the end of winter] in milder climates.

The Pompon tree has smooth, simple leaves that are bright green with a slight blue-ish hue. The leaves are often found at the end of branches. The bark of the tree is an attractive greyish-brown colour. Interestingly, the bark is exceptionally fibrous and tough and is still used to weave strong rope in rural areas.

Dais cotinifolia has a non-invasive root system which makes it ideal for smaller gardens or large container planting. It also serves as a good sidewalk subject and can easily be used as a substitute for the exotic Lagerstroemia indica (Pride of India), providing a similar display of flowers. In addition, the Pompon tree can be planted as a specimen or background tree in a larger garden. It is also a good substitute for Schinus molle which has been declared invasive in some parts of the country.