Vachellia Acacia xanthophloea
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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.
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Elaeodendron croceum
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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
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Syzygium cordatum
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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
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Syzygium guineense water pear
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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.
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Syzygium paniculatum
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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.
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Gardenia thunbergia
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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.
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Trichilia emetica
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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.
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Nuxia Floribunda
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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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