The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 13 Winter 2015 Low res | Page 30

Indigenous trees

The Natal Mahogany
What would one look for in the almost
ideal indigenous tree for your garden?
Probably a large tree that is attractive, fast
growing, provides good shade, is evergreen,
and good for birds and insects. The Natal
Mahogany fulfills all of this and more.
The Trichilia emetica, commonly known the Natal
Mahogany, has been one of the most popular indigenous
trees for many years and deservedly so. In fact many people
do not realise that it is indigenous.

Description

Mature trees can reach a height of 15 to 20 metres, with a
lovely rounded shape. Being evergreen, they provide good
shade all year round and make a good shade tree in the
garden too. Their flowers, which are smallish and white,
are very popular with bees and other insects. The fruit is a
greenish capsule which splits when ripe to show the 2 to 3
seeds inside. The seeds are very attractive, being black and
almost covered by a fleshy red aril. It has separate male and

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By Ant Fynn

female plants, so both male and female trees need to be
grown if fruit and seed are required

Where to find them

It is found principally in the lower lying areas of our country,
and often along river banks. Readers familiar with Mana
Pools would have seen the Natal Mahoganies along the
banks of the Zambezi, which remain large and dark and
handsome all year round. Unfortunately, many of them are
slowly falling into the riv \