Cabbage tree

A strikingly beautiful and very decorative garden tree which is widely cultivated for its striking evergreen foliage. Plant the cabbage tree as a single specimen, or planting a group of 3 or 5, due to their strong architectural form they are very useful as focal points in the landscape. Do not plant very close to houses, paving or other structures. RSA National Tree No: 564. Uses: Ornamental and medicinal

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Cabbage tree

Cussonia spicata

Planning

Difficulty

Easy

Fruiting time

Spring, Summer, Autumn

Harvesting

Seeds should be harvested as they appear, and sown fresh.

Propagation

Seed

To propagate from seed, wash the pulp off the seed and plant in prepared seed trays immediately. The seedlings can be transplanted into bags in the second growth year.

Cuttings

Use softwood cuttings for propogation. Root first in a growing container before planting sapling in the garden.

Special features

Attracts birds

The ripe fruit feed Bul-buls, Loeries, Starlings, Mousebirds, Barbets and other birds.

Pot plant

Young specimens works well when planted in large pots on a sunny patio or any other paved area.

Geography

Origin

Southern Africa to African tropics.

Environment

Light

Full Sun

Soil moisture

Moist

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil PH preference

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Frost hardiness

Half-Hardy

Uses

Medicinal

The leaves are traditionally used as a treatment for indigestion.

Personality

Family

Araliaceae

Flower colour

Green

Scent

None

Problems

Cussonias are sometimes prone to attack by psylla, a small insects that causes pimple like growths on the leaves, causing the leaves to be distorted and become unsightly. This can be controlled with the use of a systemic insecticide.