Popular for its spectacular, large clusters of pure white, pincushion-like flowers with long protruding stamens. Pavetta lanceolata is a hardy, small, evergreen shrub or small tree with attractive dark foliage. It reaches a mature height of 5 to 7m. This tree is commonly found in the eastern parts of the country, including places like Natal, Transkei, Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga as well as the warmer parts of the Gauteng highveld. It favours forests and areas near forests, whether they’re by the coast or further inland. Sometimes you can spot it in dry woodlands, on rocky slopes, thickets along rivers, clumps of bushveld, and grassy areas.

The leaves on this perennial tree are arranged in pairs that alternate at right angles to the ones above or below them, appearing to rotate 90 degrees along the stem when viewed from above. The bark of Pavetta lanceolata is light greyish-brown, smooth on younger specimens, maturing to a finely grooved and longitudinally cracked texture. This tree produces big bunches of white flowers at the ends of its branches from October to January. These flowers look like pincushions and smell really nice. The blooms attract butterflies and other insects to the garden. After the flowers, small black berries are produced, these are loved by birds.

Pavetta lanceolata can be planted alone or in groups. Because of the dense foliage, this tree can be used to block wind or create privacy. When planted in clusters, the trees look stunning with their lovely flowers. This tree is very responsive to pruning and has roots that are non-aggressive. Its neat growth habit makes it perfect for planting in large containers. It can also be safely placed near pools, walkways, walls, and other permanent structures.