Common Cabbage-Tree

Afrikaans name: Gewone Kiepersol

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cussonia spiccata

The Common Cabbage-Tree grows to a height of 3 to 10 metres.

The leaves of this tree are arranged spirally. Its flowers are greenish-yellow in colour and are packed on to stalks. The flowers five way to purplish fruit.

In South Africa they can be found from near Cape Town, along the south and east coast, and across the whole northern and and north-eastern portions of South Africa.

A variety of wildlife make use of this tree. Various mammals eat the leaves, bark and roots. Birds are attracted to the flowers are fruit. Some butterflies are also attracted to the fruit.

References and further reading

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 110

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 850

Whats that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 175

The Gardener - 2021/02 - Author: - Published: 2021 - Page: 44

The Natal Bushveld - Volume 1 - Author: Natal Parks Board - Published: 1981 - Page: 59

The Flora of the Natal Drakensberg - Author: Donald Killick - Published: 1990 - Page: 70

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 378

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 149

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 134

Sasol First Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1999 - Page: 25

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 110

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 92

Plants of the Baviaanskloof - Author: D Euston-Brown & M Kruger - Published: 2023 - Page: 237

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 111

Piet van Wyks Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 185

Indigenous Beginnings - Author: Anneke Kearney - Published: 2008 - Page: 31

Healing Trees & Plants of the Lowveld - Author: Dumes, Loon and Bester - Published: 2009 - Page: 27

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 159

Eastern Cape Veld Flowers - 2nd edition - Author: Eily Gledhill - Published: 1981 - Page: 174

Everyones Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 87

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 270

Country Life - Issue 175 - Author: - Published: 2011 - Page: 90

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 185

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 245

For more info: SANBI

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