Bush Willow Tree - Combretum Apiculatum
The Bushwillow is a deciduous tree native to Southern Africa. Typically growing 2 – 10 meters tall, it has a spreading, rounded canopy with slender, lance-shaped leaves that turn vibrant red or yellow in autumn, providing seasonal interest. The tree produces small, creamy-white or pinkish flowers in clusters, followed by spiky, woody fruit. This tree thrives in well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. It is drought-tolerant once established and is often used in landscaping for its attractive foliage, low-maintenance care, and ability to withstand dry conditions.
Soil type: Sandy, Loam
Flowering season: Spring, Early Summer
PH: Neutral
Flower color: White, Cream
Aspect: Full Sun, Morning Sun (Semi Shade), Afternoon Sun (Semi Shade)
Gardening skill: Easy
Special Features:
- Attracts birds
- Attracts butterflies
- Drought resistant
- Good pot plant
- Medical plant
- Feeds honeybees
Tree Seed Planting Instructions:
- Remove the seeds from origami envelope and remove the coating of the seeds.
- Place the seeds in warm water.
- Let the seeds soak for a few hours.
- Prepare a pot of weed-free soil.
- Plant the seeds under a thin layer of the mixture.
- Be sure to keep moist and warm during germination but do not over water. Germination can take 2 to 4 weeks.
- Transplant the pot with seedlings into another pot once the true leaves appear. The entire pot can be planted into a larger container with a well-composted, sandy seedling mixture.
General Transplanting Instructions:
- Once the seedlings reach 30cm transplant the tree into the garden.
- Prepare the site for planting by:
- Dig a hole no deeper or wider than the soil in which the seedling has grow, but about 3 times wider than the container.
- Ensure the sides and bottom of the hole have loose soil in order for the roots to grow easily.
- Add bone meal to the soil in the hole before transplanting the tree.
- Fill the hole with water, it should drain fairly quickly.
- Transplanting the sapling:
- Identify the root ball: The root ball is comprised of all the roots contained in a pot.
- Remove the container carefully from the sapling root ball by laying it on its side and tapping it all around so as to loosen the soil and roots of the sapling.
- Gently uncurl and straighten the roots so that they are going outward from the trunk.
- Do not plant any part of the trunk under the soil. Aim to cover the sapling with about 15mm of the root ball exposed above the soil.
- Back fill with the soil to one third and tamp down. Gently scratch the root ball to loosen fine roots to encourage them to grow into the new soil. Then back fill the rest of the hole and tamp down.
- Immediately after planting, mulch with wood-chips, leaf mold or compost in a large area around the tree. This layer of mulch should not be more that 10cm deep and should never rest against the stem of the tree.
- Keep the soil moist but not soaked. This may mean watering once or twice a week until the tree is settled well in its new home. For the first two weeks to a month, depending on weather and environmental conditions.
When to plant
Early Spring / Summer
Where to plant
- Full sun / partial sun
- Thrives in moist, well-drained soil.
Germination time
2 - 4 weeks
When can I regrow
Wait until the next growing season.
Plant Specs
- Small, usually cream, yellow, or reddish flowers, depending on the species.
- Lance-shaped leaves.
- Height: 2 - 10 meters
