The Gabrielskloof Winery has been TreeCo’ed!

TreeCo had the absolute pleasure of being instrumental in the successful installation of just over 100 trees around the new Cellar and Wine Tasting area at Gabrielskloof Winery. Situated on a ‘koppie’ just 500m from the N2 highway between Caledon and Botriver, Gabrielskloof will soon be welcoming visitors to experience their outstanding wines and enjoy the panoramic views of the Overberg from their farm.

Due to its elevated location, the Gabrielskloof site is particularly exposed and windy and this presented a unique challenge in selecting trees that would flourish within this landscape.

We invited Barry Anderson, the General Manager of Gabrielskloof who was to oversee the project, to visit us at our nursery, which enabled us to assist with the selection of suitable trees for their specialised requirements. Together we hand-picked the best available specimens of the following trees for suitability and maximum impact. Searsia chirindensis (Redcurrant Tree), an attractive indigenous tree with lovely reddish autumn foliage; Populus simonii (Poplar), a striking tall, narrow tree; Celtis sinensis (White Stinkwood), a stunning, easy to grow ornamental tree; Harpephyllum caffrum (Wild Plum), a lovely medium to large tree with an attractive spreading crown; and the Quercus nigra (Water Oak) with its magnificent dark green foliage.

We delivered the trees to Gabrielskloof, assisted to place each tree in the most suitable position and provided the Gabrielskloof planting team with guidance as to how each tree should be planted.

The end result is truly spectacular and we will be visiting Barry at Gabrielskloof in the coming months and years to track the growth of their beautiful trees.

Barry had this to say about TreeCo;

“Rudi’s constant enthusiasm, extensive knowledge, professional service and personal input have made dealing with TreeCo an absolute pleasure. His advice regarding placement and actual planting procedure has been invaluable to us. We are most impressed with the superb quality of the trees and the fact that all the trees are doing really well, in spite of being planted on an extremely windy site, bears testimony to this. It is also reassuring to know that should we encounter any problems or should we require any further advice, Rudi is always available and will personally come out on site to assist us. With their exceptional value for money, superb quality and service excellence, TreeCo will definitely be my first choice should I require more trees in future”.

Gabrielskloof Winery before it was "TreeCo'ed"

Gabrielskloof Winery after it was "TreeCo'ed"

Spectacular Monthly Tree - June 2009

The versatile Kiggelaria africana is a favorite amongst landscapers. The tree forms an effective screen or windbreak, or as a specimen, forms an excellent wide spreading shade tree. In a garden where attracting wild birds is a priority, the Wild Peach is a must. The fruit, which resembles a small peach, splits open revealing small black seeds liberally covered with a sticky orange substance which birds love. The tree is also host to the caterpillar of the Acraea horta butterfly which attracts a host of insectivorous birds. The Kiggelaria africana grows to a height of 11 metres with a 13 metre spread and has a non aggressive root system. To achieve a good canopy, the lower branches need to be pruned when the tree is young. The Wild Peach is moderately frost hardy and enjoys a position in full sun with moderate amounts of water and plenty of compost.

At TreeCo we have a large stock-holding of the Kiggelaria africana available and urge you to place your orders with us early to avoid disappointment!

Botanical Name: Kiggelaria africana
Common Name: Wild Peach
Size Available: 50kg
Quantity in Stock: 100
Average Tree Height: 2.5m
Average Trunk Thickness: 3-4cm

Botanical Name: Kiggelaria africana
Common Name: Wild Peach
Size Available: 100kg
Quantity in Stock: 100
Average Tree Height: 3.0 - 3.5m
Average Trunk Thickness: 4-5cm

Should you require any further information, such as pricing details or should you wish to place an order, please contact Rudi on 082 829 5543 or Leske on 072 385 0270. Alternatively you are welcome to email us with your enquiry at info@treeco.co.za

Nuxia floribunda – Forest Elder

The beautiful Nuxia floribunda is becoming increasingly popular as a decorative, evergreen specimen tree. The Forest Elder bears handsome, fragrant, creamy-white flower clusters in autumn and winter, giving the whole tree a hazy, almost lacy beauty. This medium sized tree occurs naturally in most of the evergreen forests that are found from the Cape to Mpumalanga. As a forest subject, the Nuxia floribunda needs to be kept well watered all year round and being frost sensitive is best planted in a North or West facing situation in colder areas.

BASIC TREE DETAILS

Botanical Name: Nuxia floribunda
Common Name: Forest Elder
Genus: Loganiaceae
RSA National Tree No’: 634

LANDSCAPING USES

The splendid Nuxia floribunda is one of our most beautiful indigenous trees and deserves to be more extensively used as a spectacular landscaping subject. With the Forest Elder’s dramatic flower flush offset by glossy green leaves, in autumn and winter, it combines well with other indigenous species in a woodland landscape. The tree is host to three species of butterflies and various insects and is consequently attractive to a variety of birds. The Nuxia floribunda looks stunning planted as an avenue along a road or driveway or in a linear formation along a border. The tree has a long slender stem with greyish brown, flaky bark which is extremely aesthetically pleasing. The Forest Elder works very well as a background in a border or as a screening plant.

TREE SPECIFICATIONS

Height: 3-10m
Spread: 4m
Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen
Growth Habit: Nuxia floribunda occurs in evergreen forest or forest margins from the Cape to Mpumalanga
Bark: The bark is pale grey to greyish brown and is slightly rough and fissured becoming flaky.
Foliage: The foliage of the Forest Elder grows in whorls of 3. The leaves are drooping, oblong-elliptic, measuring 5-15 x 1-5,5, are hairless, a light glossy green with a prominent midrib which is purplish in young leaves.
Flowers: The flowers which appear from May to September are creamy white, about 3mm long and are borne in much- branched sprays. The sprays are 25 – 30 cm long and appear near the ends of the branchlets, forming a large, conspicuous, fragrant and attractive mass.
Fruit: The fruit, which appears from June to October is a creamy brown ovoid capsule about 4mm long, protruding about halfway beyond the persistent calyx and splitting into four lobes when ripe.
Seed: The seeds are fine and inconspicuous and are released when the capsule splits.

GROWING REQUIREMENTS

Growing regions: The Forest Elder occurs naturally in evergreen and coastal forest or on forest margins of the south-eastern Cape, through the eastern Cape, Transkei and KZN, in Swaziland and Mpumalanga.
Growing conditions: The Nuxia floribunda should be planted in a large hole with good, enriched soil. The tree likes plenty of sun, a frost free winter and regular, deep watering.
Best season: Autumn - Winter
Hardiness: The Forest Elder is frost sensitive so, in colder areas, a position in a North or West facing protected situation is advised.
Propagation: Propagation from seed is difficult while propagation from cuttings is very successful.
Growth rate: Medium – approximately 1m per year

INTERESTING FEATURES

The pale yellow wood of the Nuxia floribunda is hard and heavy and was once used in wagon construction and is still used for fencing and general carpentry. The leaves are browsed by game. The bark is used medicinally and the Zulu people have traditionally used parts of the tree as a strengthening medicine after the death of a tribal member.