Flowers: Blue-mauve 

Description: Tree/shrub upright crown 4-18m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: This tree could easily replace the jacaranda trees.

Ecology: Animals including monkeys, gemsbok, giraffe and grey duiker eat the pods and leaves.

Growing: Moderately drought and frost tolerant, non-invasive roots.

Conservation: Protected in South Africa, therefore wild specimens may not be removed, cut down or damaged.

Flowers: Pink

Description: Tree 20m tall - spreading canopy

Native to: Eastern Africa

Ecology: The flowers are an attraction for bees, moths and butterflies, as well as the odd beetle. Fruit are eaten by monkeys while the seeds are loved by birds. Several butterfly species, including the Orange Dog (Papilio demodocus), breed on the leaves. Fallen Autumn leaves make great mulch and recycles nutrient.

Growing: Establish trees are drought tolerant & -7°c frost hardy. Non-aggressive root

Flower: Yellow

Description: Shrub/tree 10m tall

Native to: East/Central Africa

Use: Cassia abbreviata is a deep-rooting tree and is important in soil conservation and as a shade tree.

Ecology: Various birds from our indigenous parrot species to the Go-away Bird eat the fruit pulp and seeds. Animals such as Nyala, Giraffe and Kudu browse the leaves. Elephants are also said to eat the leaves and the young branches of the tree.

Growing: Drought tolerant when established, Frost tender. After harvesting the seed, place it in warm water and leave it to soak overnight before sowing it the next day. It is important to protect young plants from frost and do not overwater the tree in winter, as it will not flower as prolifically in springtime.

Conservation: Demand for roots and bark, coupled with the destructive manner in which it is harvested, mean that the wild populations are being depleted at a high rate.

Flower: Yellow

Description: Multi-stemmed shrub or small evergreen tree 2-4m tall. Other species include: C. capensis, C. floribunda, C. glabrata, C. intrusa, C. reflexa, C. sericea and C. woodii .

Native to: Central and Southern Africa

Ecology: Attracts butterflies and sunbirds. Dassies eat the flower buds and young flowers.

Growing: Calpurnia is easily raised from seed, sow in spring or early summer.  Protect young plants from frost.

Flowers: Pink

Description: Fast growing shrub/tree with a rounded crown 8m tall

Native to: South East Africa

Growing: Frost and drought hardy

Flowers: pink and yellow lantern

Description: Shrub/small tree 1 - 12m tall

Native to:  Tropical Africa/Asia

Use: A nitrogen-fixing legume and therefore has a positive effect on the nitrogen content of the soil. It has the ability to colonize disturbed veld quickly and curbs erosion.

Ecology: The pods are very nutritious to animals and are eaten by stock and game, including monkeys, rhinoceros and bushpigs.

Hedge: It is often planted to serve as live fencing and as a fodder.

Flowers: White

Description: Tree/shrub rounded crown 9m tall

Native to: Eastern/Southern Africa

Use: Flowers can be cooked and eaten as a side dish to which pumpkin leaves (Cucurbita spp.) are sometimes added.

Ecology: This is a good wildlife garden tree as it attracts bees and butterflies. It is a larval food plant for the Ragged Skipper (Caprona pillaana) butterfly.

Growing: Drought, frost, termite & mature trees are fire resistant. Often found growing out of termite mounds. The wild pear can be propagated from seed in spring. They should be given protection from heat and sun until they are hardened off.

Flowers: Pink

Description: Large shrub 2-8m tall

Native to: Eastern/Southern Africa

Use: In East Africa the pith is boiled and eaten as a side dish. The pith is cooked, with potashes and pounded groundnuts.

Ecology: Aside from its use in horticulture, this plant is apparently enjoyed by black rhinos who reportedly eat both bark and leaves.

Growing: Grows best in a moist but well-drained, fertile soil and a position in full sun or partial shade. The species shows some resistance to fire.

Flowers: White to yellow

Description: Small multi-stemmed tree 3-8m tall

Native to: Tropical and Southern Africa

Ecology: Fruit are eaten by monkeys, baboons, elephants and large antelope. Leaves are browsed by game, e.g. giraffe, kudu and impala. The flowers open during the night and are probably moth-pollinated.

Growing: Drought-resistant, Frost sensitive, Non-invasive roots. Easily grown from cuttings or seed.

Conservation: ✳️ Critically Endangered

Flowers: Pink

Description: A shrub/tree, 2-4 m tall

Native to: South East Africa

Ecology: Host plant to the Common Blue butterfly, Short Toothed Blue butterfly & Two Pip Policeman butterfly.

Growing: Moderately frost tolerant, needs protection when young, non-aggressive roots

Flower: Purple

Description: Tree 5-21m tall

Native to: Eastern and southern Africa

Use: Nitrogen fixing pioneer species, Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. 

Flower: Purple

Description: Tree 15m tall with a wide-spreading, dense and rounded crown

Native to: Tropical Southern Africa

Use: Nitrogen fixing pioneer species, Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. Used in reforestation projects.

Ecology: The tree is frequently attacked by the spittle bugs, which causes water from stem and branches to drop to the ground or area covered by this plant, allowing it to use the moisture in drought conditions.

Growing:  Frost-sensitive and drought-resistant

Conservation: A protected tree in South Africa.

Flower: Purple

Description: Shrub/tree 6-13m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Growing: Non-invasive root system hence, can be planted as a windbreak close to the boundary wall.

Ecology: This beautiful tree attracts butterflies and birds to the garden. It can also be planted as a street tree or specimen tree in the garden. 

Toxicity: Seeds are poisonous 

Flowers: White

Description: Slow-growing, evergreen shrub 3 - 4m tall.

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: The pulp of the fruit is edible, but is seldom used for that purpose. The pulp has a rather sour, acidulous taste. The flavour is somewhat like pomegranates or green apple. An edible oil can be obtained from the seeds.

Growing: Drought and -5c tolerant. Fresh seeds collected from the tree, can be pushed into river sand flush with the surface and kept moist.

Hedge: Can be grown as a hedge

Conservation: Protected in South Africa

Flowers: Red

Description: Wide-spreading tree 5-16m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: Roasted seeds are edible. Traditionally, the pods are picked green and then roasted. The seeds can be steamed inside the pods before being removed and eaten. They are low in fat and protein but have a high carbohydrate content. excellent shade-providing tree for gardens and parks, but it is not advisable to plant over paved areas, car parks, etc, because of the dripping nectar in the spring.

Ecology: Nectar is often so abundant that it drips from the flowers, which are visited by sunbirds, but also by insects such as bees, and monkeys. Nectar-feeding birds, particularly sunbirds, bees, and insects feed on the nectar. Insect-eating birds feed on the insects attracted by the flowers. Starlings, monkeys, and baboons eat the flowers, monkeys eat the seeds, birds eat the aril on the seeds and the leaves are browsed by game and black rhinos also eat the bark.

Toxicity: Wood dust may cause allergic reactions to the eyes

Growing: Mildly tolerant of frost min -5’c. Often found growing from termite mounds.

Flowers: Yellow

Description: Tree 6-12m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: The sweet, oily seeds are relished by baboons and monkeys, and after roasting, are also enjoyed by humans. 

Conservation: Red listed

Flowers: Violet pink

Description: Spreading tree 4 - 16m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: A nitrogen fixer, an excellent pioneer species. It is fast growing, provides shelter that other trees need to become established and then dies off as these other useful trees mature.

Ecology: The flowers are a rich source of nectar. It attracts sunbirds, carpenter bees and honey bees. Birds such as doves and white-eyes nest in the tree.

Growing: Frost sensitive, short lived (+-20 years)

Flowers: Violet pink

Description: Spreading tree 4 - 16m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Use: A nitrogen fixer, an excellent pioneer species. It is fast growing, provides shelter that other trees need to become established and then dies off as these other useful trees mature.

Ecology: The flowers are a rich source of nectar. It attracts sunbirds, carpenter bees and honey bees. Birds such as doves and white-eyes nest in the tree.

Growing: Frost sensitive, short lived (+-20 years)

Flowers: White

Description: multi-stemmed shrub/tree 1-7m tall

Native to: Southern Africa

Ecology: The Crested, Pied and Blackcollared barbets, Redfaced and Speckled mousebirds, Redwinged and Glossy starlings, louries and bulbuls may be attracted by a fruiting tree. It is the host plant for the butterflies Acraea oncaea and A. petraea.

Growing: Frost sensitive. Propagated from seed. Once the plant has become established in the bag, it can then be planted out. An excellent way to give this plant a good start in life is to plant it in a hole that has been used for your biodegradable kitchen waste.

Flower: Yellow

Description: Tree 8-30m tall, spreading crown

Native to: Eastern & Southern Africa

Use: Nitrogen fixing. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby

Ecology: In the wild the plant is grazed and used for shade during the hot summer by different animals including giraffe, kudu and elephant. Many birds often prefer nesting in this tree as it provides protection. 

Growing: Can tolerate some frost, has an aggressive root system.Often grows from termite mounds. It provides dappled shade on hot summer days, making it an ideal tree for planting on a lawn where some sun can penetrate.  It makes a stunning tree along roads where there is enough space. It is an ideal tree for a big garden. 

Toxicity: In times of drought, many Acacia species concentrate high levels of toxin in their foliage, making them dangerous for herbivores to eat.

Flowers: Whitish or creamy flowers

Description: Medium-sized tree growing to a height of about 25 m

Native to: East Africa - Kenya, Tanzania, southern Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, eastern S. Africa.

Conservation: Harvesting for firewood, along with overgrazing of saplings by game within protected areas is causing a continuing decline, but population reduction is not estimated to exceed 30%.

Growing: Frost sensitive, needs lots of care in early stages.

Flower: Whitish or cream

Description: Multi-stemmed shrub or tree with a spreading, often flattened crown; it can grow from 2 - 10 metres tall

Native to: Tropical Africa

Use: Nitrogen fixing.

Growing: Frost tender with an Aggressive root system.

Toxicity: In times of drought, many Acacia species concentrate high levels of toxin in their foliage, making them dangerous for herbivores to eat.