Trees

Featured here are just a few examples of our extensive range of plants available, contact us or call to enquire into our larger range and additional information.

Monkey thorn or Vachellia galpinii

The Monkey Thorn (Vachellia galpinii) is another species of acacia tree found in southern Africa. It is a close relative of Vachellia karroo (Sweet Thorn) but with distinct features, particularly in its habitat preference and appearance.

Botanical Description of Monkey Thorn (Vachellia galpinii)

Common cs:Name: Monkey Thorn

Scientific Name: Vachellia galpinii

Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)

Characteristics

Height 5–10 meters (up to 12 meters in ideal conditions)

Growth Habit Spreading, multi-stemmed tree with a rounded or umbrella-shaped crown

Bark Pale grey to dark brown, rough texture

Thorns Paired, strong, straight thorns (up to 5 cm long); often with a sharp, angled tip

Leaves Bipinnate (feather-like) leaves; small leaflets (often absent in dry conditions)

Flowers Small, yellow, ball-shaped flowers arranged in dense clusters; highly fragrant

Flowering Season Spring to early summer (October to January)

Fruits Flat, curved pods (up to 10 cm long) containing dark brown seeds

Roots Deep taproot system, drought-resistant

Ecological and Functional Attributes

Feature Description

Drought Tolerance Very high; thrives in arid environments

Frost Tolerance Moderate; can tolerate light frost

Soil Preference Well-drained, sandy or loamy soils; can tolerate poorer soils

Nitrogen Fixation Yes, enriches the soil

Pollinators Bees, insects, and some bird species

Browsed by Livestock, giraffes, and other herbivores; thorny nature deters browsing

Fire Resistance Moderate; can resprout from the base after fire

Erosion Control Helps stabilize soil, especially in dry areas

Uses

Fodder: Leaves and pods are consumed by herbivores, especially in dry regions.

Firewood: Wood is dense and burns well.

Land Rehabilitation: Used for erosion control and to improve soil fertility.

Ornamental Tree: Attractive for landscaping due to its spreading canopy and bright yellow flowers.

Traditional Medicine: Bark and leaves may be used in local medicinal practices.

Thorny Barrier: Good for creating livestock enclosures or protective barriers.

Key Differences Between Monkey Thorn and Sweet Thorn (Vachellia karroo):

Thorns: The thorns of the Monkey Thorn are generally shorter and stronger, often with a sharp, angled tip, while the Sweet Thorn's thorns are more straight and longer.

Acacia karroo or Vachellia karroo

Acacia karroo (now more correctly known as Vachellia karroo) is a versatile and fast-growing tree native to southern Africa. It is widely recognized for its ecological importance, use in agriculture, and distinctive appearance.

Botanical Description of Acacia karroo (Vachellia karroo)

General Characteristics:

• Common Name: Sweet Thorn

• Scientific Name: Vachellia karroo (formerly Acacia karroo)

• Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)

• Native Range: Southern Africa — including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and parts of East Africa

Characteristics

Height 5–12 meters, occasionally up to 15 meters

Growth Habit Multi-stemmed or single-trunked; round or spreading crown

Bark Reddish-brown when young, darkens and becomes rough with age

Thorns Paired, straight, white thorns up to 6 cm long

Leaves Bipinnately compound; small leaflets; bright green

Flowers Bright yellow, fluffy, ball-shaped inflorescences; sweet-scented

Flowering Season Mainly spring to early summer (Sep–Nov)

Fruits Flat, brown seed pods (10–15 cm long) that split open when dry

Roots Deep taproot system; nitrogen-fixing nodules present

Ecological and Functional Attributes

Feature Description

Drought Tolerance High

Frost Tolerance Moderate

Soil Preference Adaptable; thrives in clay, loam, or sandy soils

Nitrogen Fixation Yes; improves soil fertility

Pollinators Bees, insects, and birds

Browsed by Livestock and wild animals (leaves and pods are palatable)

Fire Resistance Moderate; can resprout after fire

Bladder nut or Diospyros whtteana

Diospyros whyteana, commonly known as Bladder-nut, White jackal-coffee, or Swartbas, is a small evergreen tree or shrub native to southern Africa. It belongs to the Ebenaceae family, the same family as ebony and persimmons. Below is a detailed description and its key characteristics:

General Description:

Scientific name: Diospyros whyteana

Common names: Bladder-nut, White jackal-coffee, Swartbas (Afrikaans)

Family: Ebenaceae

Origin: Indigenous to southern Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Eswatini, Malawi)

Characteristics:

Growth form: Small tree or large shrub

Height: Typically 3–6 meters, occasionally up to 10 meters

Growth rate: Slow to moderate

Evergreen: Yes, with a neat and dense crown

Flowers:

Season: Spring to early summer

Type: Small, white to cream-colored

Fragrance: Sweetly scented

Pollinators: Attracts insects like bees

Fruit: Fleshy berry enclosed in a bladder-like calyx (giving the name "bladder-nut")

Ecological & Landscape Uses:

Habitat: Forest margins, riverine thickets, rocky hillsides

Wildlife: Attracts birds (for fruit) and insects (for flowers)

Ornamental plant in gardens

Suitable for hedging or screening

Grows well in containers

Cultural use: Traditional medicine in some regions

Vachellia Acacia xanthophloea

The fever tree is an attractive, semi-deciduous tree approximately 15 to 25 metres tall and has an open rounded to spreading or flattish crown which is sparsely foliated.

Attracts: Birds and bees, monkeys and baboons

Physical characteristics:

The characteristic, almost luminous, lime green to greenish-yellow bark is smooth, slightly flaking, and coated in a yellow powdery substance described by some as sulphurous;
The wood is hard, heavy and a suitable general purpose timber;
Its contrasting bark, feathery foliage and architectural attributes make it an eye-catcher and thus suitable as a focal point in any garden;
The bark of the tree is used medicinally for treating fevers and eye complaints;
Bright yellow, golden, ball-like flowers which are sweetly scented are borne in clusters;
The long white thorns are arranged in pairs and although they are very significant on young trees they often become barely noticeable on mature specimens.

Growth requirements:

Fast growth, 1.5m per year under ideal circumstances;
Relatively easy to propagate;
Soil type – sandy, clay;
Flowering season – spring, early summer;
Needs full sun.

Elaeodendron croceum

Elaeodendron croceum, also commonly known as Forest saffron is an attractive evergreen tree.

Physical characteristics:

Is a medium to tall tree with a neat, upright shape;
The bark is greyish, with a conspicuous layer of a powdery yellow pigment in the freshly exposed bark;
Branches are greyish brown with coarse black lenticels;
Leaves are opposite, hard and leathery;
The inflorescences are tiny; consisting of 3 to 15 flowers. Flowers are in four parts, about 3 mm in diameter;
Sepals and petals are green and white respectively and with an ovate shape. The stamens are erect to spreading.

Growth requirements:

Full sun
Not a fast grower
Grown from seed and/or cuttings, it is easy to germinate
Low maintenance

Syzygium cordatum

Syzygium cordatum also commonly known as a Water berry tree or Waterbessie in Afrikaans.

Attracts: Birds bees butterflies nesting

Physical characteristics:

Medium sized leafy shade tree with a spreading crown;
Scented, white powderpuff-like flowers appear in summer, followed by edible (if acidic) deep-purple berries in autumn;
As the name suggests, it has an affinity to water, in the wild it is often found alongside rivers;
The fruit makes a great preserve for jam;
Is a fast grower and will tolerate heavy winds and drought conditions even though it naturally prefers to grow along river banks;
Ideal for wind and privacy screening screening along boundaries;
A perfectly rounded.

Growth requirements:

Fast growing;
Fairly hardy;
Full sun;
Low maintenance;
Moderate watering;
Wind and drought tolerant

Syzygium guineense water pear

Syzygium guineense, also commonly known as a Water pear tree refers to its preference for growing along river banks, and to its wood, which supposedly looks like that of a pear.

Attracts: The flowers yield a honey-sweet smell, thus attracting many insects.

Physical characteristics:

Is a lovely medium-sized to large evergreen tree;
Has a smooth greyish-white single stem on young trees and beautiful purplish-red young leaves;
The bark is smooth and greyish-white to grey-brown in young trees, turning rough, flaky, creamy, light grey, dark brown or black in older trees;
Has creamy white flowers about 15mm in diameter, with a sweet fragrance;
They flower from August to December and fruit from December to April.

Growth requirements:

Full sun / semi shade;
Moist and well-drained soil;
Can grow 10 to 20m in height.

Syzygium paniculatum

The Syzygium Paniculatum, also known as the Eugenia or Magenta Lilly Pilly or Magenta cherry.

Attracts: Birds and bees.

Physical characteristics:

Is a beautiful, fast growing, upright tree with glossy foliage;
Is evergreen, has dense foliage;
Is most often used as a hedge;
With some artistic pruning it can be shaped into practically any form;
It bears creamy powder puff white flowers in summer followed by rose-purple fruits;
Excellent for screening;
It has a shallow root system that doesn’t usually damage structures.

Growth requirements:

Full sun to light shade;
Semi Frost Hardy;
Fast growing;
Grows 12m in height by 5m wide;
Well drained fertile soil.

Gardenia thunbergia

Gardenia thunbergia, also commonly known as Forest gardenia, Wild gardenia, White gardenia or in Afrikaans Witkatjiepiering.

Attracts: Moths are attracted to the flowers. Elephants, large antelope and buffalo are fond of eating the fruit.

Physical characteristics:

Is a beautiful flowering evergreen shrub or small tree;
Has showy, heavily perfumed flowers, glossy dark green foliage and decorative fruits;
Has a smooth, whitish, usually straight main stem up to 250 to 300 mm in diameter and short rigid branchlets;
The flowers are large, showy, creamy white and heavily perfumed, particularly at night;
The fruits are hard and woody, and heavily fibrous inside and can remain on the bush for years, if not eaten by any antelopes;
Each fruit is egg shaped, greyish green, 50-75 x 35 mm.

Growth requirements:

Grows 2 to 5 metres in height;
Easy to grow, although slow growing;
Drought tolerant;
Best in sun or semi shade;
Slightly acid, light, well drained soil.

Trichilia emetica

Trichilia emetica, also commonly known as Natal Mahogany.

Attracts: Its sweet scented flowers will attract bees and birds to your garden as a great nesting tree

Physical characteristics:

Is an evergreen tree with handsome dark green glossy leaves and a wide-spreading crown;
Is an evergreen medium to large tree with separate male and female plants;
It has a dense spreading crown;
Flowers are creamy green and sweetly scented. Flowers in August to November;
The powdered bark of a Trichilia emetica is a popular remedy for stomach and intestinal ailments;
The bark is also used to produce a pinkish dye.

Growth requirements:

Can grow up to 15m by 15m wide;
Full sun and or semi shade;
Drought and frost tolerant;
Fast growing.

Nuxia Floribunda

Nuxia floribunda also most commonly known as the Forest elder.

Attracts: The sweetly scented, cream-white flowers are small and they attract insects which attract the insect eating birds. They are rich in nectar which makes them ideal for honey farmers.

Physical characteristics:

Is a hardy, evergreen, fast-growing, neat and attractive tree that is quite smaller in drier conditions, but if its roots find water it can get quite big;
Is a decorative specimen tree, with sweetly scented creamy white cluster flowers are borne from May to September;
The leaves of the Nuxia are shiny, light green and hang gracefully, trembling in the slightest breeze;
Has a lovely, dense rounded crown, which contributes greatly to the visual appeal of the tree.

Growth requirements:

Hardy;
Fast growing;
Sensitive to frost and drought;
Full sun / partial shade;
Can grow 3 to 10 metres tall.

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Trees

Monkey thorn or Vachellia galpinii

Acacia karroo or Vachellia karroo

Bladder nut or Diospyros whtteana

Vachellia Acacia xanthophloea

Elaeodendron croceum

Syzygium cordatum

Syzygium guineense water pear

Syzygium paniculatum

Gardenia thunbergia

Trichilia emetica

Nuxia Floribunda

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