Known as the Goat willow or Pussy willow, Salix caprea is native to Europe, Western and central Asia. This tree’s species name ‘caprea’ means goat and was derived from the fact that the leaves were used as goat fodder. This small to medium-sized deciduous tree can reach a mature height of about 10m. Salix caprea is characterised with alternate, broadly [...]
According to research, Citrus aurantifolia derives from crosses between Citrus papeda as the female parent and Citrus medica as the male parent, whereas Citrus limon is close relative of citron or sour orange. The lime is native to the Indo-Malayan region where it grows wild in the valleys of the Himalayas. Limes are classified into [...]
Dodonaea viscosa is a shrub/small tree native to tropical and subtropical Africa, Australia and India. This evergreen shrub is usually multi-stemmed and normally reaches a mature height between 2-8m tall. In South Africa, it grows well in a wide range of habitats from arid, semi-arid to high rainfall regions and is frost-hardy. Leaves of this tree are hairless, variable [...]
Famous for its thick corky bark, Mundulea sericea is an attractive small tree originating from KwaZulu Natal. This tree normally reaches a mature height of 7.5-12m high and is usually single-stemmed with a bushy branched crown. This tree is common in Southern African countries which include Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland. Leaves of the Cork bush are unevenly compound, with 4-11 pale green leaflets [...]
With Christmas by the corner, now is the time to invest in festive foliage! Ilex aquifolium, commonly called the Common Holly is a densely branched evergreen tree with a pyramidal shape. Although native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, this slow growing tree or shrub is now grown all over the world due to [...]
A very hardy small to medium sized evergreen tree, Pittosporum viridiflorum makes a good specimen plant in the garden when planted both in full sun or semi-shade conditions. This tree grows over a wide range of altitudes and its growth habit varies from one location to another. It prefers well-drained soils and is reasonably drought [...]
Grewia occidentalis is an evergreen to semi-deciduous tree that can reach a mature height of 10m in its natural habitat where growing conditions are favourable. In gardens, it can reach a mature height of about 3m. This tree is common in a wide variety of habitats from arid Karoo, coastal dune bush to evergreen montane [...]
Myrsine africana is a dense multi-stemmed small shrub commonly found growing among rocks or beneath other trees. This slow growing evergreen shrub has an upright growth habit, it can reach a mature height of about 2m when growing conditions are favourable. The distribution of Myrsine africana stretches from the Himalayas, China and the Azores to [...]
Tecoma capensis is indigenous to South Africa and perfectly suited to our rugged climate. Fast growing with a scrambling form, Cape honeysuckle may grow up to 2 – 3 m tall and has a spread of approximately 2.5 m. In warmer areas the shrub is evergreen, but it can lose its leaves in colder locations. [...]
Bauhinia tomentosa is a multi-stemmed small tree/shrub characterised with lobed leaves resembling butterfly wings. This tree grows well both under full sun and shade conditions. It is a fast grower, with a growth rate of about 900mm per year. This species of Bauhinia grows from the coastal Eastern Cape and southern Natal to Limpopo and [...]
