Waterberry / Waterbessie
Waterberry / WaterbessieThis beautiful tree is home to many birds and insects. The leaves are elliptic to circular, bluish green on top and a paler green below.
Botanical Name:
Syzigium cordatum
Weepingboerbean / Huilboerboon
Weepingboerbean / HuilboerboonA handsome tree with a wide-spreading, rounded crown, and bright red, nectar-filled flowers in spring and early summer that attract many birds and insects. It is easy to grow and makes a good shade tree or specimen tree.
Botanical Name:
Schotia brachypetala
Did you know?
Not only is Schotia brachypetala an exceptional ornamental tree, it also has a number of other uses: A decoction of the bark is taken to treat heartburn and hangovers.
Weepingwattle / Huilboom
Weepingwattle / HuilboomThe weepingwattle has acacia-like foliage and showy yellow flowers. It’s an excellent tree for bee-keepers. It has a spreading untidy canopy and makes a good shade tree for both livestock and humans.
Botanical Name:
Peltohorum africanum
Did you know?
Young leaves and pods are eaten by livestock and the flowers provide a high yield of nectar and pollen for bee-keeping.
White karee / Wit karee
White karee / Wit kareeA perfect tree for the suburban garden! The Searsia pendulina is quick and easy to grow with a graceful habit and a neat crown, it won’t get too big and it’s not untidy.
Botanical Name:
Searsia pendulina
Did you know?
The berries of the white karee are mixed with Acacia karoo gum to make a sticky sweet that tastes a bit like dates.
White seringa / Wit sering
White seringa / Wit seringThis is a straight-stemmed tree with a fine, round , leafy crown. It is a good choice for those gardeners who prefer something different. It grows in the bushveld and lowveld of Gauteng in deep, sandy soil or on rocky hills. White seringa can tolerate drought, but it is sensitive to frost, making it a better choice for warmer gardens. It has beautiful autumn foliage.
Botanical Name:
Kirkii accuminata
Did you know?
In Gauteng, white seringa is planted around enclosures for livestock (kraals).
White stinkwood / Wit stinkhout
White stinkwood / Wit stinkhoutAn ideal garden tree – the white stinkwood usually has a single trunk and broadly upright to rounded crown. When planted on the northern or western side of the house, the shade provided cools the house in summer yet allows the sun through to heat up the house in winter.
Botanical Name:
Celtis africana
Did you know?
When freshy cut, the wood has an unpleasant smell, hence the common names “stinkwood”.
Wild mango / Wilde mango
Wild mango / Wilde mangoThis is a tall tree with a flat-topped, widespreading crown. The yellowish-orange flowers resemble an old fashioned powder puff. Elephants love the fruit!
Botanical Name:
Cordylia africana
Did you know?
Did you know that Africa has its own mango? Although the fruit is not as big and tasty as the exotic one and it belongs to a different family, it is extremely rich in vitamin C.
Wild olive / Wilde olyf
Wild olive / Wilde olyfThe wild olive is neatly shaped with grey-green to dark-green leaves above and greyish below. This tree is an asset on farms and game farms, especially in very dry areas because it is extremely hardy and is an excellent fodder tree.
Botanical Name:
Olea sub. Africana
Did you know?
The flowers attract a host of insects. The abundant supply of nectar makes it a good honey tree.
Wild pear / Drolpeer
Wild pear / DrolpeerThe wild pear is a lovely garden specimen, and the spectacular show of scented flowers is a herald of spring. It has a single stem and a somewhat rounded crown. It is both frost and drought resistant.
Botanical Name:
Dombeya rotundifolia
Did you know?
Strong rope can be made from the fibrous inner bark.
Wild plum / Wilde pruim
Wild plum / Wilde pruimA fast-growing tree with many uses – not only do wild plums provide shade, they also bear fruit that are loved by many birds and animals. Nowadays they are popularly planted as a street tree in a number of South African towns and cities.
Botanical Name:
Harpephyllum caffrum
Did you know?
The main useof wild plum bark is as a facial sauna and skin wash to treat eczema and acne.
