Paperbark / Papierbas
Paperbark / Papierbas
Pure stands of these beautifully shaped trees with their perfectly flattened crowns are quite stunning. Where else but in Africa would you encounter such a sight?
Botanical Name:
Vachellia sieberiana woodii
Did you know?
It is a favoured nesting tree for Barbets. The Green Wood Hoopoe love probing under the yellow, papery, flaking bark for insects.
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Jackalberry / Jakkalsbessie
Jackalberry / JakkalsbessieA medium-sized tall, upright tree with a dense canopy. The bark is black to grey with a rough texture. They often grow on termite mounds.
Botanical Name:
Diospyros mespiliformis
Did you know?
The jackalberry has a fantastic mutualism and symbiotic network with many living organisms, from human beings to small insects. There is a complex ecological system revolving around this tree. It is one of the savanna giants that can live for more than 200 years.
Sweet thorn / Soetdoring
Sweet thorn / SoetdoringThe sweet thorn makes a beautiful garden specimen. The bright yellow flowers look very striking against the dark green foliage. The rough, dark brown bark is also most attractive. The flowers are sweetly scented and are renowned for attracting insects which are essential to any bird garden.
Botanical Name:
Vachellia karoo
Did you know?
This is one of South Africa’s most beautiful and useful trees. It is integrally part of our country’s history having been used for everything from raft-making to sewing needles and fencing for the houses of the royal Zulu women. The thorns were even used by early naturalists to pin the insects they collected! It is very widespread throughout southern Africa and there are different forms in some places, which can be confusing.
Hook-thorn / Haakdoring
Hook-thorn / HaakdoringThis beautiful tree is the most common naturally occurring senegalia in the Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden. It has an irregular, spreading crown. One of the most attractive features of the tree is the foliage which is bright green and feathery looking. The leaves are drooping which gives the canopy a lovely soft look.
Botanical Name:
Senegalia caffra
Did you know?
The common hook-thorn is used traditionally for many purposes such as fencing posts, tanning and the beautiful rootwood is highly valued by Xhosa women for tobacco pipes.
Lavender tree / Laventel boom
Lavender tree / Laventel boomHeteropyxis natalensis is an ideal tree for home gardens – a good focal point. It doesn’t get too big and the root system is non-invasive. The tree is usually multistemmed, the crown is rounded and foliage drooping.
Botanical Name:
Heteropyxis natalensis
Did you know?
A favourite of the black rhino and the leaves are used in potpourrie because of their signature scent.
