Searsia leptodictya, also known as the Mountain karee, is a resilient small evergreen tree that can easily handle frost and drought. This tree reaches a mature height of 5m and a similar crown spread when growing under favorable environmental conditions. The mountain karee grows naturally in a variety of habitat types including woodland, forest margins and bushveld.

This beautiful tree has a drooping crown of light green foliage. On young stems, the bark is reddish brown, becoming darker and rougher as the tree matures. It bears male and female flowers on separate plants. The small yellowish flowers are carried in sprays from about December to April. Only female plants bear fruit. The tiny yellow-brown berries attract a number of birds to the garden.

The mountain karee is very versatile, it is great for privacy, wind protection, and shade. It won’t mess up your sidewalks with invasive roots. It looks cool with its bright green leaves and twisty brown trunk covered in rough bark. It provides just the right amount of shade for other plants to grow happily under it. This tree is also a good option for an avenue tree.