Common Name:

General Information

Cussonia transvaalensis is a tree growing up to 5 metres tall. The bark is corky and deeply longitudinally fissured[].
Although not often cultivated, this is a highly desirable ornamental plant.
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern Africa - northern S. Africa.

Habitat

Rocky slopes in hot, dry, wooded savannah[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of drier areas, mainly in the subtropics, but just moving into the tropics. It can tolerate frosts so long as they are only light[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant.
All the species in this genus have potentially destructive root systems and should therefore be kept at a distance from any structural features and underground services such as sewer pipes, water mains and electrical cables[].
Plants in this genus do not generally transplant well once they are established, so the position needs to be chosen carefully[].

Edible Uses

The roots are succulent and edible[].

Medicinal

The mashed roots have been used in the treatment of malaria[].

Other Uses

The wood is soft and was historically used for the manufacture of brake-blocks for ox-wagons[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. After washing the thin layer of pulp off the seed, it should be sown immediately into seed trays in a fine seedling germination mixture and covered lightly. Seed may take from three to eight weeks to germinate. Seedlings are best left in the tray for the first year and transplanted into individual containers at the beginning of the second growing season[]. They can be ready to plant out into their permanent positions 2 years later[].

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