Searsia pendulina

Searsia pendulina

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Common Names

White Karree (english)Witkarree (afrikaans)

Taxonomy

Family ANACARDIACEAE
Genus Searsia
Species pendulina
SA Plant Number 396
Basionym Searsia pendulina

Description

Searsia (=Rhus pendulina) is a very hardy, very fast growing, drought resistant, semi-deciduous shade tree with a willow-like habit. The leaves are a dull green and bark is light grey-brown and smooth on young branches, becoming rough and scaly as the branches mature.

The sprays of inconspicuous flowers (male and female flowers on separate plants, therefore only female plants bear fruit) that attract insects are borne from September to January These are followed by bunches of fruit that attract birds.

Do not plant near walls, pools, pipes or paving as it has an aggressive shallow root system.

This is not a particularly long lived tree but is useful as a quick growing screening tree. Interplant with a longer living tree to ensure a permanent screen.

It throws pretty, delicately dappled shade.

Size up to 10m

Seeds

Lifestyle Seeds may have stock of Searsia pendulina seeds.

Wildlife

Butterfly larvae host plant: Larvae of the Pearl Charaxes Butterfly (Charaxes varanes) feeds the leaves of the White Karee.

Wildlife garden plant: The flowers attract insects and the fruit that follows attract birds to the garden.

Uses

Timber: The long straight branches are popular as fence posts thinner younger branches are used for making fish traps.

Distribution

Free State, Northern  Cape

Natural Habitat Along rivers and streams  

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