An Update from Pearl Valley...

We are fortunate to have to date enjoyed a very long standing working relationship with Deon Weyers of Land-Art Environmental Solutions and when we spoke to him recently to enquire about the progress at Pearl Valley estate just outside Paarl, he gave us a rave review.

TreeCo supplied Deon with a sizeable quantity of 100kg trees for a particular site at Pearl Valley just 1 ½ years ago. These included Searsia pendulina, Nuxia floribunda, Syzygium cordatum and a range of Podocarpus. The trees are looking stunning on account of not only to the quality of the trees supplied, but also, as Deon stressed, the deep watering on a regular basis which is so important to promote optimum growth. At Pearl Valley, Deon has installed bubble jet irrigation to ensure that the water effectively reaches the roots of each tree.

Deon thanked us for our reliability, quick turn around time and for our personal service, as well as the follow up calls we make in order to establish that he is continuously satisfied with everything.

We strive to maintain this personal contact with all our clients as we believe that your success is ultimately, our success.

Your Big Tree Wholesale Nursery is Growing

Rudi and Leske are really excited to be able to tell you that our nursery is now even bigger! We have spent a most rewarding time bringing in truck loads of compost and planting up a huge amount of new stock, enabling us to offer you an even more extensive selection of top quality trees. Despite the floods, everything is looking spectacular at the moment, so please pop in and let us show you around.

Spectacular Monthly Tree - November 2009

The Syzygium cordatum or Waterberry is, as the common name suggests, a water-loving evergreen tree found on forest margins, near streams or in swampy areas. The elliptic to round leaves are bluish green on top and lighter green underneath. The fragrant white to pinkish flowers are borne in branched terminals and have numerous fluffy stamens which produce abundant nectar, attracting birds and butterflies to the tree. This very handsome tree grows to a height of 8-15m and provided it is kept well mulched and watered is a most rewarding addition to any landscape. The hard, heavy, though fine grained wood is pale reddish to grey and is extremely durable, especially in water. The bark provides a terracotta dye. The purple fruit is edible, though somewhat acid and is used to make an alcoholic drink. The Waterberry is well known for a diversity of medicinal remedies which have traditionally been used in many parts of Africa.

At TreeCo our Syzygium cordatum specimens are looking spectacular and due to their size, offer you exceptional value for money.

Botanical Name: Syzygium cordatum

Common Name: Waterberry (umdoni)

Size Available: 200kg

Quantity in Stock: 40

Average Tree Height: 3,0m

Average Trunk Thickness: 8cm

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

Brachylaena discolor – Coast Silver Oak

The Brachylaena discolor is highly adaptable and particularly well suited to our harsh coastal conditions. The tree looks attractive throughout the year with its dense silvery foliage and, when in full bloom, the huge sprays of creamy-white thistle like flowers create the impression of snow in summer. These hardy, fast growing trees are invaluable as windbreaks and are excellent for stabilising sand dunes, where they will tolerate the extreme conditions and salt laden winds.

 

BASIC TREE DETAILS

Botanical Name: Brachylaena discolor

Common Name: Coast Silver Oak

Genus: Asteraceae

RSA National Tree No’: 724

LANDSCAPING USES

The Coast silver oak is useful for everyone with a seaside holiday home or garden, as it grows willingly and requires no special care. Being especially well suited to coastal conditions, these trees form excellent windbreaks and since they tolerate extensive pruning they can easily be trained into a dense, attractive hedge that will provide complete privacy within a year. The silvery foliage is an excellent foil for other garden plants and when in flower, the Brachylaena discolor is absolutely stunning, with the added advantage of attracting a host of butterflies to the garden. Whether it is planted as a specimen tree, pruned into a shrub or used as a hedging plant, the Coast silver oak is invaluable where a fast, attractive and care free solution is required.

TREE SPECIFICATIONS

 

Height: 7m

Spread: 4m

Deciduous/Evergreen: Evergreen

Growth Habit: Brachylaena discolor occurs naturally on dunes and in coastal forests up to 2km inland.

Bark: The bark is dark grey to brownish grey and is rough and vertically fissured.

Foliage: The leaves of the Coast Silver Oak are lanceolate to obovate - 5-12 x 1,5-5cm. They are thin, leathery and dark green above with short silvery grey hairs underneath, giving rise to the name discolor.

Flowers: In spring the profusion of creamy white flowers are borne in large terminal panicles, the individual flowers resembling large, plump shaving brushes.

Fruit: The fruit, which is very small in size, appears as small nutlets tipped with tufts of yellowish hairs.

Seed: Seeds are located within the fruit and are exceptionally small.

 

GROWING REQUIREMENTS

Growing regions: Brachylaena discolor occurs in coastal bush along the east coast, from Kwa-Zulu Natal through to the Eastern Cape.

Growing conditions: The Coast Silver Oak is a willing grower and requires no special care when planted in ordinary garden soil.

Best season: All year

Hardiness: This useful tree is drought tolerant and moderately frost hardy.

Propagation: Propagation is quickest by hardwood cuttings taken in early spring and planted in sandy soil which should be kept moist.

Growth rate: The tree is fast growing, well over a metre annually.

INTERESTING FEATURES

The leaves of the Coast silver oak were traditionally used by rural dwellers to treat diabetes and an infusion of the roots is still used as an enema to stem stomach haemorrhaging. Early settlers used the ashes from the tree as an alkali in soap making. The yellow coloured wood, which has a slightly brown tinge, is hard and is highly valued for building and for implement handles.