top of page

Ptaeroxylon obliquum

Previous
Next

Water Needs

low

Ptaeroxylon obliquum
Tree medium; Tree large
Sneezewood

10 x 6 m

Size

Light Conditions

sun; semi-shade

Frost

moderate

Flowers

pale yellow August to December; spring summer

Garden Situation

feature tree; wildlife bees butterflies butterfly host; sun; semi-shade; narrow spaces;

Habitat

woodland forest; coastal eastern cape; grassland; fynbos; bushveld

Region

western cape; thicket; subtropical east coast; highveld; bushveld savanna

Rain Season

summer

Find informative indigenous gardening articles in our web magazine - www.theindigenousgardener.co.za

Description

Pale yellow flowers adorn bare branches – and once again the scent is different, impossible to describe but thrilling nonetheless. Before the flowers emerge the leaves turn bright yellow before falling. This very dry spring has stressed the trees and brought about this great flowering display. Large trees are scarce now, having been heavily used for timber in the past – furniture, railway sleepers and fence poles. The wood is strong and resistant to termites – it was also used for disselboom (axles) for the wagons of old. Pieces of the wood can be used as an insect repellent. Useful to humans in days gone by and food plant for the Citrus Swallowtail butterfly, I love it purely for its fragrance An excellent choice where a large tree with a narrow profile is required. Bark is mid- to dark grey, leaves are dark and glossy, but autumn foliage turns yellow to reddish. Pale yellow flowers (August to December) have a sweet scent. The canopy is small and neat, lightens considerably in winter in the colder areas. It will take light shade to full sun, is very drought tolerant and copes with moderate frost.

Ptaeroxylon obliquum
Ptaeroxylon obliquum
bottom of page