Re: Trees from South Africa?

Really liked your comments here, David- from the ornamentalist perspective I have to echo your sentiments about Cussonia and Dombeya- Erythrina spp. to fill a book, and would add Sterculias and Moringas into the pallet. 
Nan, is it too much a stretch to include Madagascar species in your range since there are so many things from there that thrive in southern CA? Delonix, for instance.. just a personal favorite 'not grown enough of around here' trees :)
Mark in San Diego
 
---- david feix <davidfeix@yahoo.com> wrote: 
> There are more than you might think.  I'd suggest that you look at the San 
Marcos Growers catalog and refer to their section on South African plants at the 
back of the catalog.  If you include succulents within the general category of 
trees, you could also include a couple of the larger growing Aloes.  I have 
Cussonia paniculata and C. spicata, Cunonia capensis, Dais cotinifolia, 
Podocarpus latifolius, Strelitzia nicolae, Dombeya burgessiae, Calodendrum 
capensis amongst the South African trees that I grow, and there are in fact many 
more that can be grown in southern California, including a lot more of the more 
tender Dombeya species, and various Erythrina species.  You need to think a 
little harder about what trees you see are actually from South African/southern 
Africa, but in general, many of the more prolific/widespread trees from this 
region are not ornamentally attractive, and have generated little interest 
within horticulture outside South Africa.  The showier species have made it into 
the trade, but quite a few are less popular than they could/should be.




________________________________
From: Nan Sterman <TalkingPoints@plantsoup.com>
To: Medit-Plants listserv <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 11:33:17 PM
Subject: Trees from South Africa?

This is a question for our California members - everyone else please forgive me 
though this may be interesting in general.

I'm preparing a talk for this Friday at the Los Angeles Arboretum on garden 
plants from South Africa.  I find an abundance of flowering shrubs, succulents 
and bulbs.  There are some perennials, but I find very few South African trees 
in the trade.  

Can anyone suggest some South African trees in the trade?  

thanks

Nan


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