Cape Ash

Afrikaans name: Essenhout

Cape Ash tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ekebergia capensis

The Cape Ash has a wide distribution in Africa. It is found from South Africa through to Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is a large tree that can reach 15 metres in height. It can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from riverine forests, at sea-level, through to evergreen forests at around 1500 metres above sea-level.

The bark is rough and varies in colour from grey to black. The leaves are large and glossy green in colour.

During summer the Cape Ash gets sprays of small white flowers which are quite sweetly scented. The fruit starts off green and turns bright red when it is ripe. The fruit is a popular food amongst many fruit-eating birds as well as mammals such Chacma Baboon, monkeys and Nyala.

Leaves of the Cape Ash

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Tsitsikama Trees - Author: Prof. HB Rycroft - Published: 1980 - Page: 48

What Tree is That? - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1967 - Page: 9

The Natal Bushveld - Volume 1 - Author: Natal Parks Board - Published: 1981 - Page: 27

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 452

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 28

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 92

Pocket Guide - Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2013 - Page: 69

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 202

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 224

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 26

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 148

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 126

Piet van Wyk s Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st editi - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 119

Indigenous Beginnings - Author: Anneke Kearney - Published: 2008 - Page: 34

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 119

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 162

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 31

Everyone s Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 47

Eastern Cape Veld Flowers - 2nd edition - Author: Eily Gledhill - Published: 1981 - Page: 146

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 70

A site-by-site guide to trees in the Kruger National Park - Author: Marissa Greeff - Published: 2017 - Page: 146

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 181

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 166

For more info: SANBI

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