Botanical Name: Searsia lancea (=Rhus)
Common Name: Karee Tree

 

Use: Outdoors
Indigenous/Exotic : Indigenous
Evergreen/Deciduous : Evergreen
Plant Type : Tree
Flower Colour :
Foliage Colour : Green
Best Season : All seasons
Light : Sun
Hardiness : Semi hardy
Attributes :
Height (m) : 8
Spread (m) : 6
    
Notes : The gracefully arching branches of the karee give a soft, light feeling. Indigenous to a large area of inland South Africa, it is a particularly useful evergreen tree as it withstands both frost and dry conditions and is wind resistant. With its weeping growth habit and dense, glossy leaves, it makes an excellent small, single, specimen tree, or it can be used as a background or screen. The narrow leaflets with their conspicuous network of veins act as a foil to heavier foliaged or large-leaved trees and shrubs. Its branches can be allowed to weep down to ground level or pruned to a more standard shape. There are a number of other indigenous species which make good garden plants, such as the mountain karee (Rhus leptodictya) and white karee or weeping karee (Rhus pendulina).

 

Hardy to frost and tolerant of dry conditions, the karee can be grown almost throughout South Africa, although it is not well suited to hot, humid areas.

 

Although the karee is an adaptable tree, it does best when planted in an open, sunny position in fairly fertile, well-drained soil. Water it regularly until it is well established.