Trees of the Year
Play your part in greening South Africa by planting or donating a tree during
Arbor Week – celebrated in the first week of September annually. Trees create movement, help filter polluted air and provide shade in summer.
The common Tree of the Year for 2018 is the yellowwood (Podocarpus spp.). They are protected in South Africa and are slow-growing, long-lived evergreens famous for their timber.
• Real yellowwood (P. latifolius), our national tree, has an upright growth habit and blue-green leaves. It makes an attractive shade tree for large gardens and is an alternative choice for a Christmas tree.
• Breede River yellowwood (P. elongatus) has elongated bluegreen leaves and can form a multistemmed spreading shrub or an attractive garden tree. Originating in the winter rainfall region, the fruits on female trees attract a variety of birds.
• Henkel’s yellowwood (P. henkelii) is found in moist inland forests and has long, drooping green to bluish-green leaves. It is a decorative tree suitable for gardens and parks.
• Outeniqua yellowwood (P. falcatus) is a tall evergreen tree with young bluish-green leaves and dark green mature leaves. Ripe fruits attract bats and fruit-eating birds.
The rare Tree of the Year for 2018 is shepherd’s tree (Boscia albitrunca), a small to medium-size tree with a light-coloured trunk and clusters of leathery leaves. It is found in the drier regions of Southern Africa, making it a useful drought-tolerant shade tree. It is often called the Tree of Life as it is a food source for mammals, birds and butterflies. >>