Botanical Name: Dombeya rotundifolia
Common Name: Wild Pear

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Indigenous
Evergreen/Deciduous : Deciduous
Plant Type : Tree
Flower Colour : White
Foliage Colour : Green
Best Season : Late Winter to Spring
Light : Sun
Hardiness : Hardy
Attributes : Fragrant, Attracts birds & butterflies
Height (m) : 4 - 6
Spread (m) : 3
    
Notes : Genus of 200 - 300 species. Makes an excellent single specimen tree particularly for a small garden. Also ideal as a avenue tree as it does not have an aggressive root system. Will tolerate a long, hard drought period and will thrive in all but the coldest parts of South Africa. Prefers a hot Summer with moderate rainfall and a dry Winter - will tolerate other conditions, but flowers less. Growth is rapid. Upright tree with rugged bark and good Autumn colours. The foliage turns from green to yellow and then to brown. The round leaves are hairy and have a sandpapery texture.

 

Snowy-white flowers, loved by bees, appear on the tips of the branches in early Spring when the tree is leafless. The dry flowers are long lasting and can be used in flower arrangements. Prune to shape after flowering. The tree bears hairy semi-round fruit resembling the ordinary pear, hence its common name. Propagate from seed sown in early Spring or from softwood cuttings in late Spring. Seedlings and young plants transplant well. Larval food plant for the Caprona pillana butterfly. The bark, roots and wood are used medicinally. Good bonsai species.