Best Trees to Plant Near House in South Africa

South Africa is dwelling house to a magnificent variety of ethnic trees and shrubs, and with a move by domicile owners towards the use of indigenous plants, it has go ever more important to choose species that will work in your dwelling house. Whilst many indigenous species are now beingness planted in gardens effectually Gauteng, not all of them are suitable for modest gardens where walls, paving and house foundations need to be taken into account. Indeed, in my mean solar day to day consultations with clients I frequently come across gardens where incorrect species or incorrect planting techniques have been used, ofttimes leaving the home owner with costly expenses to roughshod problem copse or repair the damage to belongings (read about copse breaking walls here). Even seemingly innocuous exotics such equally palms and yuccas tin can go problems over fourth dimension, either putting pressure on walls as their stems burl, or dropping heavy fronds and seed pods which can suspension roof tiles! Fortunately there are some cute indigenous alternatives that are platonic for small gardens, then to help y'all forth nosotros've created a list of the elevation 10 indigenous trees for small gardens on the highveld, with a pick below this listing of species that would as well exist worthwhile. Please note that the list is entirely subjective, and nosotros'd welcome your feedback on the selection. Here are the criteria used to compile the listing:

• The tree should exist used more often as a tree, rather than as a shrub. i.eastward. nosotros've excluded species that regularly feature as trees in tree books, but which we adopt to employ as shrubs for our landscaping clients, e.grand. Mackaya Bella, Freylinia tropica
• The tree should not exist too deadening growing. Slow growing species are ideal for low maintenance gardens (read our article on a truly low maintenance garden hither), just we by and large discover that our clients adopt trees that will reach a respectable height in a reasonable time. Note all the same that the terms 'fast' and 'deadening' in the context of copse are relative terms! Indigenous highveld trees commonly abound at a rate of between one-half a metre to a metre in a twelvemonth – patience is always required when growing trees.
• The tree should be moderately frost tolerant (although most trees should be protected from frost when they are young)
• The tree should accept a non-aggressive root organisation. This is usually a critical gene when planting in a pocket-size garden, although nosotros even so recommend that all copse be planted at least i-2 metres away from walls, foundations and paving.
• Nosotros specifically excluded trees that are usually planted for their structural appeal, such every bit Cussonia sp. and Aloe Barberae, the Tree Aloe (although both these species are also unsuitable for small gardens due to aggressive roots systems and bulging stems respectively.)

Delight go along in mind that for very small gardens, eastward.m. 10 square metres or less, you lot may want to consider alternatives to the list beneath, or to abound your trees in pots. Use the list every bit a guide and base your decisions on the spread and height that each species volition eventually provide, and what your ultimate goal for your garden is.

Herewith are our elevation 10 indigenous trees for pocket-size gardens on the South African highveld:

Heteropyxis natalensis (Lavender Tree)

With its pale bark, beautiful shape, and semi-deciduous foliage, the Lavander Tree, Heteropyxis natalensis, is 1 of our favourite small garden trees. It has a very ornamental shape, and is an ideal replacement for the exotic Silver Birch or ubiquitous Leopard Tree (Caesalpinnea ferrea). Lavander Copse are slower growing than other species on this list, but with patience they offer the home owner a beautiful specimen for their gardens. In the wild they are frequently found on rocky hillsides, and in Gauteng some beautiful specimens exist in the Tweedespruit salvation on the outskirts of Cullinan.

Kiggelaria africana (Wild Peach)

This magnificent semi-deciduous tree can grow to over 12 metres in ideal weather, but unremarkably reaches between eight – 10 metres. It has beautiful light grey-light-green foliage, and is ideal if y'all practice not want your garden to appear too dark. The Kiggelaria has male and female person parts on dissever trees, so if you want a tree that provides fruit for birds you must choose a female tree from your plant nursery (Not an easy job for your nurseryman if the specimens are pocket-sized! Try to look for the small grey-green fruit cases during the fruiting flavor, February-July) Female/fruiting trees attract a host of birds that feed on the orangish-cherry-red seeds within the fruit casing, thus turning your garden into a natural wildlife haven.

Both male person and female plants attract the Acraea horta butterfly which lays its eggs on the underside of the leaves. When the eggs hatch an eruption of black caterpillars announced, which in plough attract insect eating birds, especially cuckoos (look out for Diederik Cuckoos). Some home owners become despondent when the caterpillars attack their plants, and some fifty-fifty resort to using pesticides to keep them at bay! Just do not despair if you see caterpillars on this particular plant – this is a natural life-cycle for the tree and it will soon recover with a fresh gear up of leaves. The Kiggelaria is relatively fast growing, provides fantabulous screening, and has a sturdy trunk. All in all an excellent choice for the small garden.

Buddleja saligna (Imitation Olive)

The Buddleja saligna, False Olive, has become one of the nearly popular indigenous trees in Gauteng, and with good reason. At 1 – 1.v metres growth per twelvemonth information technology is one of the fastest growers on this list. The do good to the home owner is that this species can reach a top of 3 – four metres in just a few years, thus providing excellent screening in the shortest possible fourth dimension. Notwithstanding, being fast does take its disadvantages. Sometimes the Buddleja tin can await a chip 'scruffy' after a few years, and because the branches are non equally strong as other species, they often tend to droop afterwards heavy rains, peculiarly if they are carrying masses of white flowers. Despite these potential drawbacks this is nonetheless a wonderful species to cull. Dwelling house owners should prune Buddlejas according to the shape they want them to grow – in other words, cut abroad lower branches to encourage a tree shape. You can fifty-fifty shape it into a hedge if you have the plants at a young historic period, and an first-class example of this blazon of pruning can be constitute in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens:

If you allow it to grow into its natural course nonetheless y'all will be rewarded with masses of white flowers which attract a multitude of insects, and it's not uncommon to run into this plant covered in beetles, ants, butterflies and bees during the flowering season. Finally, practice not misfile this species with its cousin the Wild Olive (Olea europeae subsp. africana). The latter is a much larger species and by and large unsuitable for small gardens – run across our section at the end of this article on why nosotros omitted the Wild Olive.

Dais Cotinifolia (Pompon Tree)

The Pompon tree, Dais Cotinifolia, is one of the most beautiful indigenous trees and has go a very popular species in Johannesburg. It is an first-class substitute for the exotic Pride-of-Republic of india, and although it does not bloom as long as that species, it's explosion of pink flowers in summer provides a stunning display for whatsoever garden. The Pompon tree is a relatively fast grower and is frost tolerant. It is regularly used along pavements and sidewalks in Gauteng, and under certain weather condition can grow to a height of viii+ metres. (although it will ordinarily grow to between 6-8 metres). All in all this is an outstanding choice for your modest garden.

Apodytes dimidiata (White pear)

The White pear, Apodytes dimidiata, is an excellent pick for the modest garden. It grows at a medium step, and its dark evergreen leafage makes it an outstanding screening tree. Similar the Buddleja it can even be used as an constructive hedge if pruned for this purpose, although I prefer to plant information technology to grow in its natural state. Apodytes will usually achieve half-dozen-8 metres, only may take nigh 8+ years to do and then. It is an excellent replacement for the alien privet which unfortunately has proliferated throughout Gauteng. Look for the small black seeds with orange-cherry casing if y'all're hiking in a kloof in Gauteng – a tell-tale sign that this species is growing shut by.

Pittosporum viridiflorum (Cheesewood)

This indigenous Pittosporum has become a popular garden subject, and has a large distribution on the Highveld. It is a medium-paced grower, is evergreen and makes an first-class screening tree. It sports beautiful yellowish, edible berries at the finish of the flowering season (April/May) which are well loved by birds. This species has a not-aggressive root system so it is safe to plant aslope paving or retaining walls. It likewise makes an excellent alternative to the exotic Pittosporum tenuifolium that is ofttimes used as a screening plant, and then consider this tree if you're in a circuitous or manor that requires the utilise of indigenous species.

Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild pear)

The Wild Pear, Dombeya rotundifolia, is an indigenous species that can abound to a height of eight+ metres. This is a fully deciduous species, losing all its leaves in winter, so if it's an evergreen tree you're afterwards so you'll demand to look elsewhere. Despite this it makes a stunning specimen for your garden in summer, exploding into masses of white flowers and making it i of the almost attractive species on the listing. If you find yourself hiking in one of the many nature reserves in Gauteng during the flowering flavour (July – October) keep a look out for this species as its flowers are striking and alert you to its presence. It has a non-ambitious root system so is suitable to plant closer to walls and paving.

Indigofera jacunda (River Indigo)

This cute minor tree or shrub is an ideal species if you have a very pocket-size garden space. Information technology is semi-deciduous and sheds some of its leaves in winter, leaving behind pocket-sized brown tube-shaped pods. Information technology is very easy to abound from seed and you lot will often find small seedlings growing beneath adult plants in your garden. The flowers are a pink and white combination which concenter a host of insects – and so much and then that we rate this as one of the nigh prolific insect alluring species. It is too a very fast grower, but this tin can sometimes be a drawback as the branches may exist weak and intermission in a heavy thunderstorm. Despite these bug, if you make up one's mind to found it in your garden yous will presently observe it condign i of your favourite plants. Prune it appropriately in order to encourage a tree shape. A large specimen can be institute growing at the entrance to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens.

Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica (Parsley Tree)

The Parsley tree is a mutual species of the South African highveld, and can regularly be institute on walks and trails in Gauteng, especially in wooded or rocky kloofs. It has dark brown bark that peels off of the trunk and branches, making it distinctive and relatively easy to identify in the field. It grows to a height of 8-ten metres and larger specimens will create a beautiful crown. This tree does take a tendency to spray its branches in all directions when young, simply with patience it will turn into a magnificent specimen for your garden.

Bolusanthus speciosus (Tree Wisteria)

The Tree Wisteria, Bolusanthus speciosus, is a stunning small to medium sized tree that grows at a medium pace. Information technology is an ideal replacement for the exotic Jacaranda, and although it does non grow as big every bit that species home owners should look at planting this species if they're aiming for the aforementioned blue-mauve colour in Spring. It has a non-aggressive root organization and is a welcome addition to whatever garden. Beautiful specimens exist at the Pretoria Botanical Gardens.

Other options for small-medium sized gardens

In add-on to the above list, here are a few more species for you to consider. Remember to base your determination on the full grown height and width of the species and how these dimensions will fit inside your garden.

Pteroxylon obliquum (Sneezewood)

This beautiful evergreen to semi-deciduous tree is platonic for medium sized gardens. It generally grows straight and narrow and thus is perfect for narrow spaces in gardens and complexes, and is a popular choice for corporate part parks. Information technology grows at a medium pace, with dark grey bark containing longitudinal fissures. These features along with its opposite and compound leaves make it relatively easy to identify and distinguish from other species. For those with patience information technology is a rewarding species and makes a beautifully shaped garden subject.

Polygala myrtifolia (September Bush)

The ubiquitous Polygala myrtifolia is some other very popular minor garden tree, and if you have the infinite it is a wonderful species to take in your garden. It's masses of regal flowers last for quite some fourth dimension making information technology invaluable if you're looking for indigenous color in your domicile. The Polygala generally grows to grade a large rounded shrub, which makes it a hard species to fit into small or narrow spaces. The plant tin can also get quite 'leggy', and considering it is a fast grower the branches may exist weaker than other species – it's not uncommon to see broken branches after a heavy highveld thunderstorm. Despite this information technology makes a wonderful garden subject, provides ample colour, and attracts a host of insects and birds.

Ilex mitis (Cape Holly)

The Greatcoat Holly, Ilex mitis, is a magnificent, compact tree with an ornamental shape. Its dense dark light-green foliage combined with a pale and sturdy torso make it diagnostic. In platonic weather information technology can reach a elevation of ten+ metres. The Greatcoat holly is a medium paced grower, and makes an excellent garden subject. It develops edible red berries and thus is very pop with birds during the fruiting season.

Halleria lucida (Tree fuscia)

One of the most unique species on this list, specifically because of its distinctive growth of flowers on the stem. The small tube-like red or xanthous flowers (depending on which variety y'all have called) attract nectar eating birds and insects, and these are followed by large green to black fruits which in turn attract fruit eating birds. On the highveld the Halleria generally grows as a very dense evergreen shrub, and is ideal to utilise equally a screening hedge or just as an insect and bird-alluring garden subject field. Await for it when hiking in the wooded kloofs and gorges around Gauteng.

Dodonea augustifolia (Sand Olive)

The Sand Olive is some other beautiful pocket-sized tree or shrub, and has become a popular plant in Gauteng gardens. It is evergreen, and develops clumps of diagnostic stake beige-greenish seed pods which brand it relatively easy to identify in the field. Considering of its dense foliage it makes an excellent screening establish, which in turn provides ample cover for insects and birds. It is a welcome addition to whatever indigenous garden.

Olinia emarginata (Mount Hard Pear)

This is a stunning ornamental species that carries edible red-berries which attract birds. A well-known specimen tin can be found in the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens where it has been propped upwards after having been struck by lightning a few years ago. Unfortunately the Olinia is very difficult to grow, and is difficult to observe in local nurseries. Information technology's also a slow grower, so for these reasons nosotros have excluded it from our main list. I should add notwithstanding that if you're non in a bustle, and are looking for a tree that is unique and will bring something special to your garden, then this is an excellent selection.

Euclea crispa (Blue Guarri)

The Blue Guarri has a beautiful shape, and is abundant on the Highveld. Information technology is a slow grower, so await to plant information technology with a long term goal in mind.

Mundulea sericea (Cork Bush)

A beautiful ornamental shrub or small tree that reaches a height of about 3 metres. An excellent choice if you have a very pocket-sized garden.

Vepris lanceolata (White Ironwood)

The White Ironwood, Vepris Lanceolata, is some other excellent tree for the indigenous garden. It can be hard to discover in nurseries, but if you practise manage to find one it is a worthwhile species to plant. It is evergreen, attracts birds with its fruit, and has a non-ambitious root arrangement. It can exist sensitive to frost, and so keep this in listen and protect trees when they are young.

Ramnus pirinoides (Dogwood)

The Dogwood, Ramnus pirinoides, is a mutual species of the kloofs and gorges of Gauteng's nature reserves. It is often establish beneath the canopy of larger species, and is an fantabulous choice if you're wanting to create a mini-forest of sorts in your garden. The small-scale cherry-red-to-black berries are popular with birds making this a groovy addition to the bird garden. The glossy dark dark-green leaves are also distinctive, making information technology relatively easy to identify in the field. The Dogwood will usually try to grow its sturdy branches in a horizontal 'scraggly' fashion, and hence we use information technology more for our clients every bit a large filler shrub rather than as a tree.

Diospyros whyteana (Bladdernut)

The Bladdernut, Diospyros whyteana, is another fantabulous choice for the small garden, specially if you're trying to create a foresty feel. Use information technology in conjunction with the Dogwood (above) in society to create a forest-blazon surround. This species has uniquely shaped seed-pods which get in relatively easy to identify in the field if they are present.

Grewia occidentalis (Crossberry)

A lovely minor tree or shrub that is regularly establish in the wooded kloofs and valleys around Gauteng. It has distinctively shaped bluish-purple star-shaped flowers.

Croton gratissimus var. gratissimus (Lavender Fever Drupe)

A big, beautiful tree which resembles the smaller Lavander Tree is some respects. It is difficult to observe in nurseries, and generally grows larger than would normally exist suitable for a minor garden.

Trees we specifically excluded from this list

Ekebergia capensis (Cape Ash)

The Cape Ash is a wonderful species that grows relatively fast and creates a dense crown. It has become a popular selection for sidewalks and shopping centres, and is ideal for spaces where you need to create a canopy in a relatively short infinite of time. Information technology also has a not-ambitious root system, so is safer to apply closer to walls or paving. We specifically excluded it from this list because information technology tends to abound very large and wide, over 12 metres high, and thus is generally unsuitable for small-scale gardens where infinite is at a premium.

Harpephyllum caffrum (Wild Plum)

The Wild Plum is some other very pop tree in Gauteng, being regularly used on sidewalks and in shopping centres. Information technology tends to course a very broad, circular and dense crown, and for this reason is mostly unsuitable for small spaces.

Combretum erythrophyllum (River Bushwillow)

The River Bushwillow is another tree that has become very popular in gardens and on sidewalks in Gauteng. This is a beautiful tree that grows to over x meters in the wild, mostly along streams and rivers – hence its proper name. Unfortunately it is generally unsuitable for minor spaces due to the massive size and bulk it tin attain, though this hasn't stopped people from planting it in their small gardens! Keep a wait out for its pale gnarled trunk on Johannesburg's sidewalks, and and so decide whether you take the space for it. If you lot tin plant it at least three meters abroad from walls and foundations so you can use it. As a side annotation, it might be worth mentioning that its branches tend to intermission more than frequently in heavy storms than other trees.

Podocarpus sp.

The Yellowwoods have become pop trees in Gauteng, and are especially mutual forth pavements and sidewalks. In Johannesburg some beautiful specimens can exist establish on Katherine Drive just every bit yous plough off from Marlboro bulldoze towards Sandton. The Podocarpus is ethnic, evergreen, and is very sturdy. Information technology is a slower grower than most other species, but if you have the patience information technology volition exist a worthwhile addition to your garden. We have excluded them from the to a higher place listing considering well-nigh of them eventually grow into very large trees, sometimes reaching a tiptop of over 12 metres. The possible exception is the Podocarpus elongatus, Breede River Yellowwood, which generally grows to near 6 metres, only can besides grow into a large tree under ideal conditions.

Olea europaea subsp. africana (Wild Olive)

The Wild Olive has become one of the nearly widely used copse in Gauteng'south parks and gardens. It is a very common species throughout Southern African, and is very hardy and frost tolerant. Although it is regularly planted in minor gardens, we would suggest owners of small-scale gardens non to do so, and to supercede information technology whilst it is still small. This species will become a very large tree in time, and years from now yous (or the next home possessor) may find yourself having to remove information technology due to its size. As of this writing the cost of removal of a large tree can be equally loftier as R3000-R4000 – and that excludes the fixing of the wall that the tree may have damaged. When it comes to the Wild Olive, at that place are many examples of big specimens in Gauteng, merely my personal favourite can be establish in Fourways on the corner of Douglas and Glenluce Drive. That specimen is in the company of a Searsia, and has taken many years to reach that size, just our goal as landscapers is to propose our clients appropriately, and so this species should actually only be planted in medium-large gardens.

Vachellia/Senegalia (formerly Acacia) sp.

Vachellia/Senegalia sp. (formerly Acacia) are wonderful species to accept in your garden, especially if you savour the bushveld and are wanting to recreate that item habitat in your dwelling house. (Their names have changed recently – controversially – from Acacia). Near of these species have aggressive root systems, and some can grow into very large specimens. The beautiful Vachellia xanthophloea (Fever Tree) has become ubiquitous in Gauteng, and is regularly used in gardens, shopping centres, along sidewalks and in corporate office parks. Despite its frequent use and beautiful colouration, we would advise owners of minor gardens to avoid the temptation to plant it and rather consider smaller species with less aggressive root systems. Accept a closer look at the surface roots of a Fever Tree the side by side time you see one, and keep in heed that that is what information technology will endeavor to do in your home!

Celtis africana (White Stinkwood)

It well-nigh goes without saying that this large indigenous tree should not be planted in a minor garden. Unfortunately the seeds of this species are regularly deposited by birds in and around homes, and unless the dwelling owner is proactive in removing young plants they will soon become a problem. In fact this species, along with the exotic privet, are arguably the two most common trees we have to remove from our client's gardens. If your habitation is large enough then past all ways found a Celtis – at least three-5 metres abroad from paving or walls – but for smaller gardens, rather consider i of the options we've suggested above.

Feel free to annotate on the above copse, and if you think nosotros've missed one do let usa know what it is and why you feel it merits a mention.

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Source: https://www.groundedlandscaping.co.za/top-10-trees-to-plant-in-a-small-garden/

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