The Arderne Tower Tree

The spectacular Norfolk Island pine (Auraucaria heterophylla) of the Arderne Gardens, in the cool, leafy suburb of Claremont in Cape Town, is the tallest of South Africa’s Champion trees.

As Christmas is with us once again, we thought it appropriate to feature this majestic, distinctive conifer, which represents a gargantuan Christmas tree as our iconic tree of the month.

Native to Norfolk Island in the Pacific ocean, situated between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia these magnificent trees are members of the ancient Auraucariaceae family.

On first seeing the amazing trees on Norfolk Island, Captain James Cook reported that these tall, straight trees would be most suitable for masts for the sailing ships of the day. After some time however, it was found that the Norfolk Island pines were not flexible or resilient enough for the rigours that sailing ships masts had to withstand with the result that the industry was abandoned.

Nowadays the Norfolk Island pine is well represented throughout the world and is the most common species of Auraucaria in Cape Town where it is popular as a garden and street tree.

The aristocratic Arderne Tower Tree was planted in the mid 1800’s by the founder of the Arderne Gardens, John Arderne and his son, making it over 160 years old. This superb specimen is exceptionally tall, even for it’s kind, reaching 44,8 metres or 8 stories high. The diameter of the trunk is 2,11metres.

This Christmas, why not consider a live Christmas tree such as the splendid Norfolk Island pine which can be enjoyed by your family and friends for many years to come while contributing to the greening of our fragile environment.

 

 

 

Meeting up with Kayden - Global Wheeling

A couple of months ago we wrote a story about Global Wheeling, a truly incredible concept that plants one tree for every kilometre that Kayden Kleinhans, Environmental Activist and Founder of the organisation, cycles.

We spoke to Kayden recently when he visited TreeCo to touch base with how we was doing and how the project was coming along. “I have cycled through 20 countries covering Europe and Africa. The second leg of the journey begins in 2012 when we continue this journey through South Central and North America – to end off that second leg in Nevada” says Kayden.

Nominated as a top six finalist in the Eco-Logic awards, in the Eco-Warrior category – there is no doubt that the efforts of Kayden and Global Wheeling are being noticed.

With over 31 000 kilometres travelled, Global Wheeling are constantly looking for sponsors to enable them to plant a tree for every kilometre travelled and achieve their objective of not only raising awareness regarding climate change, but importantly to plant those much needed trees.

TreeCo is proud to support Global Wheeling in the provision of trees. We wish him all the best in his next leg of this journey.

Please visit the Global Wheeling website to find out more: www.globalwheeling.org. The video below (also available on the Global Wheeling website) provides some great insight into this exceptional project.A couple of months ago we wrote a story about Global Wheeling, a truly incredible concept that plants one tree for every kilometre that Kayden Kleinhans, Environmental Activist and Founder of the organisation, cycles.

We spoke to Kayden recently when he visited TreeCo to touch base with how we was doing and how the project was coming along. “I have cycled through 20 countries covering Europe and Africa. The second leg of the journey begins in 2012 when we continue this journey through South Central and North America – to end off that second leg in Nevada” says Kayden.

Nominated as a top six finalist in the Eco-Logic awards, in the Eco-Warrior category – there is no doubt that the efforts of Kayden and Global Wheeling are being noticed.

With over 31 000 kilometres travelled, Global Wheeling are constantly looking for sponsors to enable them to plant a tree for every kilometre travelled and achieve their objective of not only raising awareness regarding climate change, but importantly to plant those much needed trees.

TreeCo is proud to support Global Wheeling in the provision of trees. We wish him all the best in his next leg of this journey.

Please visit the Global Wheeling website to find out more: www.globalwheeling.org. The video below (also available on the Global Wheeling website) provides some great insight into this exceptional project.

Get our latest Availability List for December - and see what tree we have on special!

This month we feature Erythrina caffra as our ‘spectacular monthly tree”. We have 10 magnificent specimens of this stunning garden tree available. Erythrina caffra is widely known for the spectacular large clusters of orange / red flowers that appear at the ends of thick fleshy stalks towards the end of winter and well into spring, before the appearance of the light green leaves. This medium to large deciduous tree has a round spreading canopy and will grow well in almost any type of soil with good drainage. The magnificent and easy to grow Coast coral tree is hugely popular with gardeners throughout the country as it gives year round interest; shade in summer, an interesting sculptural look in winter and when the flowers appear it’s beauty is unsurpassed. This superb tree is an absolute must for every South African garden!

 

 

Botanical Name	Erythrina caffra
Common Name	Coast coral tree
Bag Size	1000kg
Quantity Available	10
Average Tree Height & Trunk Thickness	5-6m  15cm

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Availability List for December 2011

TreeCo provides our readers with a downloadable, updated Availability List every month.

Please note that should you not find the tree that you are looking for on this list, TreeCo will readily source what you require, on your behalf. Rudi and Leske Neethling personally ensure that all trees supplied by TreeCo, conform to our high quality standards.

 

Please CLICK HERE to download our latest Availability List.

 

Peltophorum africanum (African wattle)

Peltophorum africanum is one of our most wonderful flowering indigenous trees. With it’s dense, spreading, rounded crown and showy golden yellow flowers the African wattle is a must for dry or windy situations. The spectacular flowers of this hardy tree provide a high yield of pollen and nectar which is perfect for bee keeping. One of the common names for this charming tree, ‘Weeping wattle’, refers to the moisture that drips from the branches before the first rains. This is caused by nymphs or small frog hoppers called spittle bugs that suck sap from the trees which they excrete as almost pure water. Butterflies, bees and birds are all attracted to this lovely tree which provides them with food and shelter in an urban setting.

 

TREE DETAILS
Botanical Name	Peltophorum africanum
Common Name	African wattle
Genus	Fabaceae
RSA National Tree No’	215
LANDSCAPING USES
The strikingingly beautiful Peltophorum africanum is unsurpassed as a street tree when planted as an avenue, creating a breathtaking display when flowering in summer. These beautiful trees are perfectly suited to hot parking areas and courtyards in the urban landscape where they provide welcome shade on hot summer days. The hardy African wattle is an excellent choice for dry or windy gardens as it will provide year round interest with minimum maintenance. In winter when the tree loses it’s leaves, the low branching habit and interesting tracery of branches is almost sculptural and when the leaves appear in spring, this lovely tree soon creates dense shade followed by the spectacular bright yellow flowers. These wonderful trees are true all-rounders and can be used to great effect in almost any setting.
TREE SPECIFICATIONS
Height	5 – 7 m
Spread	4 - 7 m
Deciduous/Evergreen	Deciduous / semi deciduous
Growth Habit	The lovely peltophorum africanum is commonly found at medium to low altitudes in wooded grassland as well as along marginal valleys
Bark	On older trees the grey – brown bark is grooved while on younger branches the bark is smooth and grey
Foliage	The twice compound, dull green leaves have a feathery appearance and consist of 4 – 9 pairs of pinnae with between 8 – 22 pairs of leaflets per pinna.
Flowers	The bright yellow flowers with crinkled petals appear at the ends of the branches in showy upright sprays from November to February
Fruit	The 100mm long, dark brown to black seed pods are borne in clusters after flowering. The pods taper at both ends and have a wing like margin
Seed	The seeds are dark brown to black and are dispersed by birds, game and domestic stock
GROWING REQUIREMENTS
Growing regions	In South Africa, the lovely African wattle occurs naturally in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Kwa Zulu Natal and North West
Growing conditions	Peltophorum africanum will grow in most  well drained soil types including sandy soil and enjoys a sunny position
Best season	Summer
Hardiness	This beautiful tree is both drought and frost resistant but should be given some protection from severe frost when young.
Propagation	African wattle can be very successfully propagated from seeds. The seedlings transplant easily
Growth rate	Fast, up to 1m per year
INTERESTING FEATURES
The roots and bark of Peltophorum africanum  have long been used in traditional African medicine. Amongst the many ailments that are treated with parts of this marvellous tree are eye infections, venereal disease, tooth ache, digestive problems, abdominal pain, sores, rashes, blisters and coughs….the list is endless. The wood is hard and is suitable for turning and carving. It is used to make furniture, grinding blocks, wooden buckets, tool handles and wagon parts.

 

 

               P. africanum Flowers               P. africanum Bark               P. africanum Seed

Functional, Stylish Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture

Many of us are aware these days that function and style can quite easily be synonymous with a product that does not harm the environment.

Introducing a new and truly innovative, yet incredibly stylish creation from Leske Neethling and Monique Bermeister.

Using 100% recycled materials to construct each piece, Leske and Mo have combined the imaginative use of throw-away storage crates as the structure with disused vinyl billboards, fashionably reprinted by a local textile designer as the upholstery. The result is a product that is easy to maintain, generous in size and incredibly comfortable, while exceptionally resilient to our harsh summer climate. Upholstery will not fade from being in the sun, nor will it deteriorate and disintegrate. Each piece is custom manufactured for you, which enables you to choose the upholstery fabric design you wish.

If you are looking for the perfect combination of conscious consumerism, style, function, comfort, durability and uniqueness, then look no further than Leske and Mo's stunning Eco-Friendly Outdoor Furniture!

To find out more, please contact Leske Neethling on 072 385 0270

 

 

 

The Sagole Baobab

The magnificent Sagole Baobab (Adansonia digitata) one of South Africa’s Champion trees, and the largest Baobab in the country, is located in the far north of Limpopo Province between  Tshipise and Pafuri in Vendaland.

Although the other two famous Baobabs, namely the Glencoe Baobab and the Sunland Baobab have larger trunk diameters, the Sagole Baobab is the largest overall.

The Glencoe Baobab has a trunk diameter of 15,9m but the trunk unfortunately split in 2009 while the Sunland Baobab has a trunk diameter of 10,64m.

The Sagole Baobab, believed to be about 2000 years old has a trunk diameter of 10,47m, a 22m high crown and a spread of 38,2 metres. The trunk of this noble behemoth, splits into several trunks fairly close to the ground but in spite of this still maintains the appearance of a single tree.

“Muri Kunguluwa” meaning ‘the tree that roars’ is the name that the Venda people have given to this superb specimen, and refers to the sound made by the wind as it blows through the branches.

The Sagole Baobab serves as home to a colony of mottled spinetails (Chaetura ussheri) who rarely create colonies.

This outstanding natural monument is a popular destination for travellers to Limpopo Province and in view of this, plans to build an asphalt road to the tree to provide easier access is in the pipeline.

A boardwalk to facilitate viewing of the tree at close quarters has also been planned. This prevents trampling and compacting of the soil around the tree due to heavy foot traffic, thus allowing water to infiltrate the soil freely which is essential for the continued health of this most valuable relic from the past.

 

 

 

Stunning Assortment of 1000kg Big Trees on Show

As many of you already know, TreeCo is extending and revamping the nursery. This month we focussed on extending our range and quantity of 1000kg trees and we are very happy to share with you the fact that we have a fantastic assortment of exceptional quality specimens that will add that special touch to your next landscaping project. Come and see for yourself and do feel free to ring Rudi or Leske with any queries that you may have.

Rudi on 082 829 5543 / Leske on 072 385 0270

 

TreeCo Big Tree Gallery - November 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has YOUR landscape been TREECO'ed?

 

TreeCo has developed an extemely loyal group of clients who have come to rely on us for the quality and unique character of our trees. Whether you plant one of our 50lt or 1000lt trees, you can be assured that we have taken every measure to ensure that the specimen you invest in, has the best possible chance of survival within your landscape. Our quality translates directly to your image as a professional landscaper, which is a responsibility we take very seriously.

 

Beyond the quality of our trees lies the all important environmental aspect relating to how our trees are produced and cared for. We do not use harmful pesticides or chemical fertilisers and our trees are encouraged to grow at a natural rate and to a natural shape, so not only are our trees are genuinely stronger and healthier, you know that you are supporting an organisation that is continually taking active steps to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

When we ask 'Has YOUR landscape been TREECO'ed'?, what we really mean to ask is 'Have you used the best quality trees, produced by an environmentally responsible company to green your world'?

 

 

 

Have you downloaded our portfolio of services?

 

The TreeCo Portfolio of Services provides you with all the information you need about our company in a colourful, graphically appealing format that has been designed to be a pleasure for you to browse through. If you have not already done so, be sure to download and save our Portfolio of Services by clicking on the link below.

 

Please CLICK HERE to download our Portfolio of Services.

In order to view this document correctly, you will need to have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer. Please click on the link below which will allow you to download this free program quickly and easily.

DOWNLOAD ADOBE ACROBAT READER

Get our latest Availability List - and see what tree we have on special!

 

 

 

 

Spectacular Monthly Tree

 

Although we have many tree species at our nursery that are looking spectacular at any given time, we feature just one tree in particular every month that we know will offer you the best value for money and that will add that special touch to your landscape project.

 

Populus simonii is widespread in the greater Cape Town area where the appearance of the delicate catkins heralds the arrival of spring. This beautiful deciduous tree is extremely hardy and although it is not indigenous, is able to withstand even the most difficult growing conditions. This non suckering species is ideally suited to any landscaping project where a tree with lovely luxuriant growth yet requiring little maintenance is sought. Our Chinese poplars are looking absolutely stunning at the moment so hurry and order yours now.

 

Botanical Name	Populus simonii
Common Name	Chinese poplar
Bag Size	50kg
Quantity Available	100
Average Tree Height & Trunk Thickness	3-4m  3-4cm

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Greyia sutherlandii (Natal bottlebrush)

The highly ornamental yet compact Greyia sutherlandii is one of our loveliest deciduous indigenous trees.

 

In spring, before the new, bright green, almost circular leaves appear, The Natal bottlebrush covers itself with showy, scarlet, bottlebrush like racemes which produce vast amounts of nectar, thus attracting a host of bees, insects and birds to the garden. In late autumn, the leaves change to various shades of bright red before falling to the ground. This beautiful tree with it’s neat growth habit and rounded crown grows well throughout South Africa and is popular for both parks and gardens. Although Greyia sutherlandii will tolerate some frost, in the very cold parts of the country, a sheltered spot is recommended.

 

TREE DETAILS
Botanical Name	Greyia sutherlandii
Common Name	Natal bottlebrush
Genus	Greyiaceae
RSA National Tree No’	446
LANDSCAPING USES
The neat, compact growth of Greyia sutherlandii make this delightful small tree a perfect choice for small gardens or courtyards where space is at a premium. In spring, when the stunning scarlet flowers appear, this lovely tree creates a superb focal point. Planted at the back of a large border or in a group of three to five in a larger area, the Natal bottlebrush will provide year round interest while a stunning effect can be achieved by planting this tree along a boundary or driveway. As this versatile tree adapts well to being grown in large pots, it can be used to enhance any patio or paved area as well as shopping centres or any other public area.
TREE SPECIFICATIONS
Height	3 – 7 m
Spread	3 m
Deciduous/Evergreen	Deciduous
Growth Habit	The Natal bottlebrush grows in montane grassland as well as on rocky ridges up to 1800m and is generally associated with forest patches.
Bark	The dark brown bark is relatively rough and the stem as well as the  branches break fairly easily.
Foliage	The lightly lobed leaves of the greyia sutherlandii which are carried on long straight stalks are simple, alternate and are slightly rough. They approximately 70mm long, ovate to circular and coarsely toothed with the leaf veins radiating from the base.
Flowers	The beautiful red flowers appear as tightly packed, large bottlebrush like racemes at the tips of the branches in late winter and spring. Each individual flower has oblong petals and long protruding stamens.
Fruit	The fruit is a 20mm long, pale brown, cone shaped capsule. When ripe the capsule splits into 4 or 5 parts.
Seed	The dark seeds of the Natal bottlebrush are released when the fruit splits
GROWING REQUIREMENTS
Growing regions	Greyia sutherlandii is widespread and can be found growing from the Drakensberg in Kwa Zulu Natal through the Eastern Cape, eastern Freestate, Swaziland and eastern Gauteng.
Growing conditions	The lovely Natal bottlebrush enjoys a sunny position with adequate watering during very hot or dry spells.
Best season	Spring
Hardiness	Bitterly cold weather may damage unseasonal flowers and leaves so some protection from frost is recommended.
Propagation	The quickest and most successful method of propagation is from cuttings planted in spring.
Growth rate	Given plenty of compost and adequate water the Natal bottlebrush will grow well, up to 1m per year.
INTERESTING FEATURES
The light, soft wood of Greyia sutherlandii is pale pink and is used for household utensils as well as for carvings by many African tribes. The wood is also used for fencing by some farmers.

 

 

 

            G. sutherlandii Flowers      G. sutherlandii Leaves         G. sutherlandii Seed

The Dalene Mathee Big Tree (Knysna)

In 2008 the magnificent 800 year old Outeniqua yellowwood (podocarpus falcatus) formerly known as the ‘Big Tree’ in the Wilderness National Park near Knysna, was renamed  the ‘Dalene Mathee Big Tree’ in memory of one of South Africa’s most famous authors.

All of Dalene’s books namely ‘Circles in the Forest’, ‘Fiela’s Child’, ‘The Mulberry Forest’ and ‘Dream Forest’ are set in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries where the woodcutters of the Knysna forest at that time, are the central characters.

After Dalene’s death in 2005 it was her family’s wish to erect a memorial to their mother at ‘Krisjan se nek’ in the forest. This was one of Dalene’s favourite spots, and when she needed inspiration while writing her books, she would often spend long hours there.

Dalene’s daughter, Hillary Mathee said that her mother’s last wish was to have her ashes scattered in the Knysna forest that she loved so much.

When the family approached Sanparks with regard to the memorial, they embraced the idea, as conserving the country’s heritage is their main function.

Subsequently, Dalene’s memorial now stands alongside the magnificent Podocarpus falcatus and a boardwalk has been built to allow visitors easy access to the memorial and the tree. The old woodcutters hiking trail that starts at ‘Krisjan se nek’ has been renamed ‘Circles in the Forest Trail’ after her most famous book.

Jill Gordon the park manager, says that Sanparks regard it a great honour to house Dalene’s memorial and to be part of the conservation of one of our country’s great legends

 

 

 

TreeCo Big Tree Gallery - October 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Has YOUR landscape been TREECO'ed?

 

TreeCo has developed an extemely loyal group of clients who have come to rely on us for the quality and unique character of our trees. Whether you plant one of our 50lt or 1000lt trees, you can be assured that we have taken every measure to ensure that the specimen you invest in, has the best possible chance of survival within your landscape. Our quality translates directly to your image as a professional landscaper, which is a responsibility we take very seriously.

 

Beyond the quality of our trees lies the all important environmental aspect relating to how our trees are produced and cared for. We do not use harmful pesticides or chemical fertilisers and our trees are encouraged to grow at a natural rate and to a natural shape, so not only are our trees are genuinely stronger and healthier, you know that you are supporting an organisation that is continually taking active steps to reduce our carbon footprint.

 

When we ask 'Has YOUR landscape been TREECO'ed'?, what we really mean to ask is 'Have you used the best quality trees, produced by an environmentally responsible company to green your world'?

 

 

 

Have you downloaded our portfolio of services?

 

The TreeCo Portfolio of Services provides you with all the information you need about our company in a colourful, graphically appealing format that has been designed to be a pleasure for you to browse through. If you have not already done so, be sure to download and save our Portfolio of Services by clicking on the link below.

Get our latest Availability List - and see what tree we have on special!

 

 

 

Spectacular Monthly Tree

 

Although we have many tree species at our nursery that are looking spectacular at any given time, we feature just one tree in particular every month that we know will offer you the best value for money and that will add that special touch to your landscape project.

 

This month our Virgilia oroboides are looking absolutely stunning as they are fully in flower. We invite you to visit our nursery to see them for yourselves…they are quite irresistible! As these showy and rewarding trees are so popular, we have given you more in depth information on this lovely species in our tree review for October, but hurry and get in your orders now, to avoid disappointment.

 

Botanical Name	Virgilia oroboides
Common Name	Keurboom
Bag Size	50kg
Quantity Available	100
Average Tree Height & Trunk Thickness	3-4m  3-5cm

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Availability List for October 2011

TreeCo provides our readers with a downloadable, updated Availability List every month.

Please note that should you not find the tree that you are looking for on this list, TreeCo will readily source what you require, on your behalf. Rudi and Leske Neethling personally ensure that all trees supplied by TreeCo, conform to our high quality standards.

 

Please CLICK HERE to download our latest Availability List.

 

This document is available as a PDF document and will require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader loaded on your computer, please click on the link below which will allow you to download this free program quickly and easily.

 

DOWNLOAD ADOBE ACROBAT READER

 

Virgilia oroboides (Keurboom)

This most delightful, fast growing evergreen tree with a somewhat rounded crown and low branching habit is perfect as a pioneer species for woodland development where slower growing species will benefit from the shade and wind protection that the Keurboom provides. This is also a useful mulch producing tree adding extensively to poor or marginal soils in only a few seasons. The fragrant, pretty pink pea flowers rich in nectar, make them irresistible to sunbirds, bees and a host of other insects.

 

BASIC TREE DETAILS
Botanical Name	Virgilia oroboides
Common Name	Keurboom
Genus	Fabaceae
RSA National Tree No’	221
LANDSCAPING USES
The popular and extremely decorative Virgilia oroboides will look spectacular wherever it is planted. Although it is relatively short lived, from 12 – 20 years, it grows very rapidly and can easily be replaced when necessary. This absolutely lovely tree is equally suitable for both small and large landscapes and looks absolutely beautiful as a street tree or as a decorative feature in office parks and other built up areas where a fast growing shade tree is required. As it is low branching, the Keurboom is ideal for establishing privacy as well as being a useful wind break.
TREE SPECIFICATIONS
Height	6 m
Spread	4 m
Deciduous/Evergreen	Evergreen
Growth Habit	The Keurboom is commonly found growing below 1200m along forest margins, often beside rivers or streams, as well as in thickets and on hillsides.
Bark	The bark is silver-grey and smooth on young trees becoming dull grey and rough on older trees.
Foliage	The leaves of Virgilia oroboides are greyish-green and have a dense covering of velvety hairs. They are pinnately compound with from 6 to 12 pairs of leaflets and a single terminal leaflet.
Flowers	The pale pink, sweetly scented, pea shaped flowers appear in spring and are carried in dense terminal spikes that are up to 100mm long.
Fruit	The fruit consists of 50mm-80mm long flat brown pods that turn black as they mature. These split open and release the seeds. There are between 2 and 6 seeds per pod.
Seed	The seeds of the Keurboom resemble small dark brown beans.
GROWING REQUIREMENTS
Growing regions	Virgilia oroboides is generally found along the narrow South-Eastern coastal strip between the Cape peninsula and George.
Growing conditions	The lovely Keurboom will grow equally well in full sun or semi-shade and will adapt to most well drained soils. Water regularly when young but once established these trees are able to survive fairly long droughts.
Best season	Spring
Hardiness	Virgilia oroboides will tolerate some frost provided that it is not subjected to frost for extended periods.
Propagation	These trees are easily propagated from seed that has been soaked and planted in a general seedling mixture and kept moist
Growth rate	The Keurboom grows extremely fast and given optimum growing conditions, newly planted young trees can grow up to 2 metres in a single year.
INTERESTING FEATURES
The wood of the lovely Keurboom has long been popular for decorative wood turned items as well as for yokes, wagon bed planks, spars and for durable furniture. Traditionally, the clear gum that is exuded by the bark was used as starch.

 

 

               V. oroboides Seed Pod and Leaf                          V. oroboides Seed                                           V. oroboides Flowers