Indigenous Trees

South Africa is home to a magnificent variety of indigenous trees and shrubs, and with a move by home owners towards the use of indigenous plants, it has become ever more important to choose species that will work in your home. Whilst many indigenous species are now being planted in gardens around Gauteng, not all

The Dombeya rotundifolia is also known as the Wild Pear tree. Although it is of no relation to the pear family, this fast-growing deciduous tree attracts bees and butterflies and is beautiful addition to any garden with its splendid scented flowers!

The Acacia karroo (or Sweet Thorn) is one of South Africa's most useful and beautiful trees! An integral part of our country's history, it has been used for raft-making, sewing needles, fencing & the thorns were even use by early naturalists to pin insects! This deciduous tree makes a beautiful garden specimen with its bright yellow flowers. Adaptable in various soils and with a fast growth rate, the Sweet Thorn also works well as windbreak or as a shade tree!

Combretum kraussii is a medium to large-sized tree that is fast-growing and reasonably cold resistant. It is mostly evergreen, and turns red-purple in winter. Produces creamy-white flowers. Many different uses.

The Celtis africana (White Stinkwood) is a beautiful deciduous tree, a lovely addition to any landscape as it is both fast and easy to grow and provides shade during those hot summery days coming up! It is also drought-resistant, frost-resistant and proves to be a popular choice for a street and avenue tree. The White Stinkwood also works well planted in a sizeable container in a courtyard or patio.

The Nuxia floribunda or Forest Elder tree is an attractive, small to medium sized tree that makes for a lovely garden feature with its beautiful smelling white flowers. As its root system is not at all aggressive, it also works well near pavements, buildings or roadsides.

The Syzygium cordatum or Waterberry is a water-loving evergreen and it can be found from KwaZulu Natal up towards Mozambique! It produces a red berry that can be enjoyed by animals and humans alike. This medium-sized tree can withstand wind and salt and serves as a beautiful feature to your landscape!

Meet the Erythrina caffra! Also known as the Coastal Coral Tree, this beautiful specimen is a popular choice because of its unique, orange flowers that bloom during colder winter months up to spring... Often used in parks and avenues, this well-loved tree is very adaptable and more mature specimans are fairly drought resistance.

The Ilex mitis or Cape Holly can be found throughout South Africa with its attractive bark and red berries. This fast-growing evergreen tree also has beautiful small sweetly-scented white flowers.

Introducing the Combretum erythrophyllum or River bushwillow... This fast-growing, large deciduous tree is popular as a shade tree and is one of the more responsive and adaptable of the bushwillow species!

Meet the Buddleja saligna! This drawing was done by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin in 1797! Also known as the False Olive tree, it is widespread in Southern Africa, from the Western Cape to Zimbabwe. An incredibly fast-growing tree, it works also very well a screen plant or trimmed clipped hedge.

The Sideroxylon inerme or Milkwood is a small to medium sized evergreen and it is a protected tree in South Africa. Commonly found in dune forests and coastal woodlands, the Milkwood has a dense foliage, black berries and small, dainty white flowers. It also serves as an excellent firebreak.

Meet the Acacia sieberiana or Flat Top Paper Bark! This magnificent indigenous tree is fast growing and reaches a medium to large size with sufficient space to grow! With a widely-spreading flat crown and its unique papery bark, this tree is both an attractive and interesting addition to almost any landscape.

The Fever Tree, with its characteristic lime green bark, is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree. Its attractive features & fast growth rate make it a popular choice for landscapers wanting quick results. PS. Did you know the Fever Tree got its name from early colonists, who believed the tree was the source of fever because when staying near these trees, they often got sick. But this tree grows in swampy areas where mosquitos carrying malaria breed. That's what was causing the fever not the…

This small to medium sized deciduous tree is fast-growing and low maintenance, with beautiful red/orange flowers. It works beautifully not only as a decorative tree but also as a street tree and tolerates drought fairly well, but is sensitive to the cold.