Trees for medium gardens
#5 Wild pear
Other common name Bushveld bride Botanical name Dombeya rotundifolia The fast-growing wild pear doesn’t have an aggressive root system, making it a popular tree for the garden. This lovely tree gets its common name, wild pear, from its resemblance to a true pear (Pyrus communis) when in full bloom. Wild pear trees put on a showy display of scented white flowers in early spring that attract birds, butterflies and bees. The tree requires loamy soil, is both frost- and drought-resistant, and fares best in Mpumalanga and KZN. Deciduous Indigenous Grows 3–6m tall but can reach up to 10m Masses of creamy-white (sometimes pink) blossoms followed by small brown fruit Prefers full sun
#6 Wild pepper tree
Other common names Tarwood, tigerwood Botanical name Loxostylis alata The drought-resistant wild pepper can grow rather big in favourable conditions but can also form a large, dense shrub, making it useful for screening and boundary plantings. This fast-growing tree will tolerate mild frost and fares best in the Eastern Cape, KZN and the Western Cape. It prefers sandy to loam soil with moderate watering. Avoid disturbing the root ball when planting out young trees. Evergreen Indigenous Grows 5–8m tall Unusual, highly fragrant pink flowers with prominent sepals in summer; flowers are male or female on different trees Prefers full sun
#7 Lavender tree
Other common name Natal lavender tree Botanical name Heteropyxis natalensis The lavender tree has a neat crown and creamy trunk with blemished peeling bark, making it a beautiful focal point. When you crush the leaves and branches, it smells just like lavender! The tree grows naturally in the coastal and inland regions of KZN, but is also found in Mpumalanga and Gauteng. In a small garden, it can also be decorative and the fragrant flowers attract a variety of birds, bees, wasps and butterflies. A relatively slow-grower, the lavender tree needs compost-rich soil, regular watering and a good layer of mulch. Deciduous Indigenous Grows up to 10m tall Small and fragrant cream to yellow flowers followed by small dark brown fruit Prefers full sun
#8 Australian frangipani
Other common name Scented blossom tree Botanical name Hymenosporum flavum Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the frangipani (Plumeria) although its blooms are as sweetly-scented as the frangipani. Due to its slender growth habit, it’s a great tree for both medium and small gardens. The tree prefers well-drained, nutritious soil and moderate watering, and fares best in the frost-free subtropical regions of the country that receive good summer rainfall. Evergreen Exotic Grows up to 10m tall Sweetly fragrant, creamy-yellow flowers Prefers full sun