Die Witstinkhout is nog een van my gunsteling bome, seker maar omdat dit so sinoniem is met my geboorte dorp Pretoria. Daar groei die aller mooiste Witstinkhout bome in Sunnyside en natuurlik by die Fonteine. Daar kan jy die pragtige lang wit stamme van die bome waardeer.

Een van die beste inheemse skadubome, want dit verdra ‘n wye verskeidenheid klimaat toestande, behalwe kwaai ryp.

Die boom groei goed in die Wes Kaap, dit het ‘n mooi vorm en gras sal tot teen die stam groei. Half-bladhoudend, afhangend van waar dit groei. Op die hoëveld en hier by ons verloor dit al hul blare in die winter. In die lente loop hul uit en die boom is sommer gou oortrek met lieflike lowergroen blare. Dit het onbeduidende blommetjies. Dit is baie gewillig om te groei en groei bykans in enige grond soort.

Juis om hierdie rede is dit ‘n boom wat redelik gereeld gebruik word as sypaadjie boom en in parke as koeltebome.

Wit stinkhout groei baie maklik van saad en in ‘n gevestigde tuin sal daar gereeld van hul opslaan as daar ‘n boom in die omtrek is, hul oranje saadjies is ‘n lekkerny vir voëls en die versprei hul saad na ander tuine. Hul blom in hul vierde jaar en maak al ‘n mooi koelte boom in sowat 3 jaar. Jong bome groei redelik vinnig, so 1-2 meter per jaar.

Die boom huisves ook ‘n verskeidenheid van insekte, dit is ook die gasheer boom/plant vir die skoenlapper Libythea labdaca. Dit is vir my vreeslik interessant dat feitlik al ons inheemse bome die gasheer is van ‘n spesifieke skoenlapper is.

Jong boompie in my tuin geplant as ‘n saailing, so 2 jaar terug.

A Little bit more green

This is a plant growing in our area and a lot of people think it’s a weed as they mistake it with the “Kasterolie boom”.

This one is indigenous and an amazing plant.

Meliantus Major, Honey flower, Touch-me-not, Kruidjie–roer-my-nie

A large bushy shrub with bamboo-like stems and large, bluish-green compound leaves. This plant is grown for its luxuriant, ornamental, drooping leaves. They are up to 750mm long, compound and the leaflets have a strong unpleasant smell when bruised, hence one of the common names, touch-me-not. The rusty-red flowers appear in large spikes and are followed by “inflated” fruits. This is a vigorous and hardy plant that will shoot rapidly after winter if scorched by frost. The generic name comes from Greek meli, honey, and anthos, flower, referring to the surprisingly large quantities of nectar they produce. It has a widespread distribution.

This is a fast growing plant that suites to a variety of growing conditions. Once established, it will survive long periods of drought. Plant in a sunny place where the bluish green foliage and inflorescences can be seen. Water generously and regularly. Propagates easily from seed or rooted cuttings