Cussonia spicata - Spiked Cabbage Tree

Family: Araliaceae

Common Name(s): Spiked cabbage tree, Owveld cabbage tree, common cabbage tree

Native to: Southern Africa

Flowering: Spring-Summer

Watering: Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland

Description

A strikingly beautiful garden tree with strong architectural form grown mainly for its very attractive evergreen foliage. Its unusual shape makes it a feature in the garden as a focal point in the landscape as well as an indoor plant in its juvenile stage. Usually single trunked, it is a quick growing, relatively long lived tree which grows to 6metres in height and has 20cm diameter leaves that are divided into 5 to 9 leaflets produced in large round heads and carried on long thick stalks. In spring and summer, densely clustered spikes of small, greenish flowers stand well above the canopy and are followed by succulent fruits.

Cultivation

Sensitive only to heavy frosts, they will grow in cooler areas in a sheltered, sunny position. If grown in containers, be sure to provide adequate water in the growing season. Prepare the growing site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone, rich compost or well decayed animal manure prior to planting out. Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth. Protect them from Psylla insects that causes pimple like growths on the leaves with a systemic insecticide.