National Arbor Week in South Africa is celebrated annually during the first week of September. It is a time when people of all ages are encouraged to celebrate the beauty and importance of trees, particularly our beautiful indigenous tree species.
With this in mind, two trees are usually highlighted each year as Tree of the Year – one common and one rare species. This list has now been adapted to draw attention to three indigenous trees, i.e.:
Common Tree of the year, which is a species or genus that is generally easier to grow and occurs more widely.
Tree for Promotion which is a tree species or genus that is perhaps less widely adapted yet is not uncommon and generally commercially available.
Tree for Appreciation which is a tree species or genus that is generally more restricted in its distribution or requires very specific growing conditions.
So, without further ado, let’s focus on the indigenous marvels that have been singled out for 2025.
Common Trees:Sideroxylon inerme and Mimusops caffra
Bench in the dense shade of a White Milkwood tree
1.Sideroxylon inerme
Common names: White milkwood, Witmelkhout, umQwashu, aMasethole-amhlope
Description: A small to medium evergreen tree with a large, dense rounded crown of dark green, leathery leaves that contain a milky latex. The bark is brown-grey to black.
Distribution: The white milkwood is commonly found in dune forests and coastal woodlands, but it also occurs in Gauteng and Zimbabwe.
Position: Sun to Semi-shade
Size: Small to medium (10 – 15m)
Hardiness: Can tolerate light frost
Watering needs: Needs regular deep watering until established. After that it can withstand mild dry periods.
Flowers: Small, dainty white flowers, with an unpleasant smell, are borne from November to April.
Fruit: The small fruits, borne from February to September, are purplish black and fleshy and contain a milky latex.
Use: A special feature of this tree is that it makes an excellent firebreak – something to consider if you are the owner of a beach house.
Environmental: The flowers are eaten by speckled mousebirds, while other birds, bats, monkeys and bush pigs eat the fruit.
Interesting to know: Three specimens of white milkwoods have been proclaimed National Monuments, i.e:
The ‘Post Office Tree’ in Mossel Bay
The ‘Treaty Tree’ in Woodstock, Cape Town
The ‘Fingo Milkwood Tree’ near Peddie in the Eastern Cape
Fruit and flowers of the Coast Red Milkwood
2. Mimusops caffra
Common names: Coast Red Milkwood, Moepel, umthunzi, umhlope
Description: A small to medium sized, evergreen tree with a compact, dome shaped crown atop a short, often twisted, trunk and low-spreading branches.
Distribution: Commonly found in dune forests along the coast from the Eastern Cape up to Mozambique
Position: Full sun
Size: Small to medium (10 – 15m)
Hardiness: Will withstand mild frost
Watering needs: Prefers a steady supply of water
Flowers: Small white to cream, star-shaped flowers appear from September to March.
Fruit: Flowers are followed by bright orange-red fleshy, edible fruit that are pleasantly sweet.
Use: The coast red milkwood is an excellent choice for coastal gardens with windy conditions, particularly on the east coast.
Environmental: The fruits are the staple food of monkeys along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. Cape parrots, blackbellied glossy starlings, yellowstreaked bulbuls and bushpig also feast on the fruit.
Promotional Tree:Spirostachys africana
Common names: Tamboti, Tambotie, umThombothi, Modiba, Ndzopfori, Morukuru, Muonze
Type: A medium sized, semi-deciduous tree, renowned for its beautiful wood. The tree is commonly known for its toxic milky latex that exudes from all parts of it. It is very attractive in larger gardens, especially with the red colouring of the leaves in spring and autumn.
Position: Full sun
Size: Medium (up to 18m high)
Hardiness: Protect young trees from frost until established. Thereafter it is fairly frost-resistant.
Watering needs: Moderate.
Growth rate: Slow
Flowers: Flowering spikes appear in August and September. The bloodred female flowers are attached to the bottom of the spike, which consists mostly of male flowers, which have a golden appearance because of the abundance of pollen.
Fruit: The fruit, which is borne from October to February, opens with a loud, exploding sound when ripe.
Use: The wood is widely used in furniture, household items, walking sticks and fencing. Avoid using it as firewood because the smoke is toxic and the braaied meat can cause diarrhea.
Environmental: All parts of the tree are a popular food source for a range of wild animals, birds and insects.
Interesting to know: The tamboti is also called the ‘jumping bean tree’ – larvae of a small grey moth infest the seeds and causes it to ‘jump’ into the air.
Tree for Appreciation: Widdringtonia cedarbergensis
Common names: Clanwilliam Cedar, Cape Cedar
Type: A medium sized, evergreen tree that is part of the Cypress family.
Position: Full sun
Size: Small to medium (up to 7m high)
Hardiness: Frost resistant
Watering needs: Drought resistant
Flowers: Male and female cones are borne on the same plant.
Interesting to know: The Cederberg region was named after the Clanwilliam cedar, which used to be a prominent feature of the Cederberg, but today they are critically endangered due to uncontrolled harvesting for their fragrant and attractive timber and too many veld fires.
So, let’s get planting this Arbor Week! If the Tree of the Year is not suitable for your garden or area, please plant one that is during this special week. The very knowledgable plant advisors at Lifestyle Home Garden are always happy to assist in helping you choose the right plant for you.
Even the smallest of gardens can be home to a tree. It will attract birds and other small wildlife to your garden. Trees act as a buffer from noisy roads, filter out dust and have a cooling effect on the garden and house as it deflects and absorbs radiant energy from the sun.
Trees are good for the soul. They are aesthetically pleasing and make us feel calm, serene and tranquil. We feel rooted, at home and a part of nature in the presence of a beautiful tree!
Credit to pza.sanbi.org for some of the information and images
