The Trees of Brackenridge

The Environmental Committee – Steve, Chris and Angela as co-ordinator of the Flora Finders Project were present – finally had the long planned guided walk with Georg von den Bussche on 25 September 2024.  Georg is a retired forester who was responsible, among other for the State Forests of Northern Transvaal. He is an expert on our Western Cape tree species and does guided walks and lectures for the Dendrological Society of SA.

The walk was very informative and we will try to do it again – although without Georg – with all EMC members on board and whoever else might want to come. That will be as soon as we receive the thirty tree labels which we ordered today.

We walked and talked for about 3 hours and did not even cover the large areas above Orchid Valley and around Barrington’s. That and also a large area to the right of the main gate can hopefully be done at a later stage.

Angela made a few notes and here is a short summary – and by the way, you can read up on the main species in this estate (incl. gardens) in the little booklet „Plant Indigenous“, which is available from the office. For your own gardening activity you might also want to consult the “List of Recommended Plants for Private Gardens” which you can download here.

To begin with there are the more common trees, like e.g. the many Cape Beeches (Rapanea melanophoes), Star Apple (Diospyros dichrophylla), Glossy Current (Searsia lucida) and other Searsia (formerly Rhus) species which like the Keurboom and Bitou are important pioneer plants.

Download the trails map here

As for the more interesting trees, we immediately started identifying the first species as we walked down block 6 on „Bayview Path“ and crossed over to „Milkwood Way“. And wow, there are many nice tree species present and we hope that future walkers will enjoy the labels on them! To name just a few trees found here: old big Milkwood – the most magnificent one estimated by Georg to be easily 500 years old – plus a few younger ones; then Candlewood, Thorn Pear, False Saffron, Red Silky Bark, White Stinkwood, many Wild Fuchsia, and Wild Pomegranate, Cheesewood etc. And unfortunately in the more open areas also too many invasive alien species still!!

We then carried on to Bitou Park where we found all the common ones plus some planted trees which are also common in Brackenridge like Waterberry, Cape Ash, Wild Plum, and even a rather uncommon White Pear which was also most probably planted.

Download the trails map here

The last part of our walk went up „Wildegranaat Loop “, crossing over to Orchid Valley.

We found a dense thicket here with lots of Cape Beeches, Wild Pomegranate/Wilde Granaat, False Saffron, some Candlewood, etc.

On „Forest Way“  down the stream via two bridges we finally discovered two further large Milkwood, a False Ironwood, False Saffron, Buddleja and Cape Beech.

Here is a list with botanical names and national tree numbers of all the trees which we identified. Individual trees representing twenty of these species were tagged; these are indicated by green numbers in the table below. The temporary white tags will soon be replaced with the official green labels of the Dendrological Society of SA.

List of indigenous trees identified at Brackenridge Estate, 25.09.2024

National tree numberBotanical nameCommon nameArea foundNotes
139Pittosporum viridiflorumCheesewoodin most areasExcellent tree for insects and birds, fire resistant
399.3GymmnosporiaWhite forest spike thornin most areas
398
Maytenus acuminataRed Silky BarkMilkwood Way
409
Pterocelastrus tricuspidataCandlewoodMilkwood Way and Forest Way
414
Cassine peraguaFalse SaffronMilkwood Way and Forest WayIn older trees the bark is orange at the bottom of the trunk
422
Apodytes dimidiataWhite PearBitou Glade ParkMost probably planted
498
Scolopia zeyheriThorn pear / WolwedoringMilkwood WayWhite blotches on bark, here grows close to 398 Maytenus a.
503
Trimeria grandifloraWild Mulberryin most areas
578
Rapanea melanophloeosCape Beech / Boekenhoutin most areasvery common forest tree, also known as Boekenhout
579
Sideroxylon inermeMilkwoodMilkwood Way and Forest Waythe large specimen could be about 500 yrs. old!
603
Diospyrus dichrophyllaStar Applein most areasSmall green furry fruit
636
Buddleja salignaFalse OliveMilkwood Way and Forest Way and gardensexcellent for coastal conditions
688Burchellia bubalinaWild Pomegranatein most areasBright orange flowers in September, October
437Dodonea viscosaSand Olivein many areas and gardensDrought and wind resistant shrub to small tree, medicinal properties
039
Celtis africanaWhite StinkwoodMilkwood Way and gardens
708
Canthium inermeTurkey berry or BokdrolMilkwood WayOpposite pairs of straight spines
307
Lachnostylis hirtaCoalwoodForest Way
733Tarchonanthus littoralisWild camphor bushForest WayGreat garden tree, wind and drought resistant
618
Olea capensis (subspecies capensis)False IronwoodForest Way
634
Nuxia floribundaForest ElderForest Way
099
Osyris compressa (previously Colpoon)Tannin bush/Cape sumachWildegranaat loop and elseA root parasite, shrub or small tree, fruit bright red to black
298Ekebergia capensisCape AshBitou Glade Park and streets and gardens
361
Harpephyllum affrumWild PlumBitou Glade Park and streets and gardensEastern Cape, planted. Red plum edible fruit loved by birds
507Dovyalis afraKei AppleBitou Glade Park and streets and gardens Planted? Apricot type edible fruit
555
Syzygium cordatumWater berryBitou Glade Park and streets and gardensEastern Cape, planted. Water-loving
245Erythrina lysistemon + caffraCoral treeBitou Glade Park and streets and gardensEastern Cape and subtropical species, planted
049Ficus burtt-daviiVeld figBitou Glade Park and streets and gardensDifferent species, planted. Invasive roots!
050Ficus surBroom cluster fig
365Loxostylis alataTarwoodGardensBeautiful foliage and wind + drought resistant
016Afrocarpus falcatus Outeniqua YellowwoodStreets and gardensPlanted, too big for gardens
221Virgilia sppKeurboomMany areasPioneer tree
736Osteospermum moniliferaBitou or bush tick berryMost areasPioneer shrub, attractive for birds and bees, semi succulent
670Halleria lucidaTree FuchsiaMost areasSmall tree or large shrub, small red flower
637Buddleja salvifoliaSage wood or WildesalieGardensTree or large shrub, wind resistent
380Searsia chirindensisRed currantin many areas
388.1 Searsia lucidaGlossy currantin many areas