Cunonia capensis from South Africa

[David F]

The Cunonia capensis trees in these two gardens are seemingly starting bloom a good month later than in other years. I really like designing gardens with this tree, and the late summer blooms are a magnet for honey bees. I first saw these in Kirstenbosch while hiking up a kloof to the top of Table Mountain, and was in awe of scrambling through their heavy roots anchoring them into the near vertical topography; they were massively gnarled and covered in moss, reminding me of how our California Bay Trees(Umbellularia californica) look in similar situations.

These are both 7 year old trees I’ve been growing on from 4” pots purchased from my friend Annie Hayes, former owner of Annie’s Annuals Nursery here in Richmond, California. It deserves wider use here in California, but has never really caught on.