Common Name: Cape Chestnut

General Information

Cape chestnut is a semi-deciduous small tree with a rounded, dense canopy; it can, grow 5 - 20 metres tall[]. Forest grown trees tend to have straight stems, sometimes buttressed; but in hot dry valleys the plants are low, gnarled, with small leaves and flowers[].
The tree is harvested from the wild, particularly for its oil and timber. A stunningly beautiful shade-tree and windbreak, it has sweet-scented showy mauve flowers[, , ]. It has a non-aggressive root system and, at the coast where it is evergreen, it is suitable for street and parking lot planting[]. It makes an attractive specimen tree, especially on a lawn, with its light grey bark, large leaves, masses of pink flowers and knobbly fruit[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Eastern Africa - eastern DR Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, S. Africa.

Habitat

Evergreen riverine and higher-altitude forests[]. Wooded ravines, evergreen fringe forest, occasionally in scrub[]. It is not restricted to any specific habitat[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees, Butterflies
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cape chestnut is a plant of the tropics and sub tropics, succeeding at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 45°c[]. Plants are able to withstand considerable frost, tolerating temperatures as low as -5°c[]. Well-established trees, growing in favourable tree or bush groups, can survive up to 8°c of frost[]. They can also grow in areas with bitterly cold winters, but will not flower regularly there[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,000mm[].
Plants succeed in full sun or light shade[]. Thrives in deep, fertile and moist forest soils, grows on black cotton soils and is able to tolerate drier sites[]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[].
A slow growing tree[]. Trees start flowering when 6 - 8 years old, the flowers being attractive to bees and butterflies[]. Plants can take up to 14 years to flower[].
Cape chestnut is a slow growing tree in most conditions[]. It coppices while young, and pollarding is a suitable practice[]. In warm areas with high rainfall, the growth rate can be up to 850 mm/year[].
Trees grown from seed will flower after 6 - 7 years, and those grown from cuttings after 4 years[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The oil from the seed is emollient[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The leaf-fall is very heavy so trees provide mulch[, ].
The trees provide valuable shade and can be used as windbreaks[].
The tree provides good bee forage[].

Other Uses

The kernel yields a lemon-yellow, rather bitter, non-drying oil that can be used for making soap[, , ]. Called 'yangu oil', it is popular in Africa as a skin-care product, e.g. In Kenya it is used as a skin emollient[]. The oil also has a high potential for use as lubricant and as fuel in diesel engines[].

The bark, which is sold in local markets as ‘white umemezi’, is used in cosmetics to dye the skin a whitish colour[].

The white or light yellow wood is straight grained, fairly hard, tough, moderately heavy, bends well and is easily worked[, ]. There is little difference between the sapwood and heartwood[, ]. It is used for making tent bows, wagon making, yokes, planking, shovel handles and furniture[, ].
The wood is suitable for firewood and charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe, old seed germinates erratically[]. Trees are easily cultivated from seed. Fresh seed can be sown in deep seedling trays filled with river sand and normally germinate in 10-40 days, with a germination rate of 80-90%[]. Young plants transplant easily[].
Seeds can be stored for up to a year if kept insect-free[].
Cuttings made from half-grown shoots, but they must be treated with a root-stimulating hormone[].

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