White Pear Tree

Afrikaans name: Witpeer Boom

Leaves of the White Pear tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Apodytes dimidiata

The White Pear tree grows to around 4 or 5 metres in height and are popular in gardens. The white flowers are very attractive especially when the tree is covered in them.

The leaves are bright green and paler underneath. After flowering deep red berries are produced. A number of bird species eat the berries and insects are attacted to the flowers.

In South Africa the tree is found from around Knysna through to Dukuduku.

The wood of the White Pear is hard and used to be used to make wagons. Nowadays it is used to make furniture.

Bark of the White Pear tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

The Zulu's use the bark and leaves to treat various ailments.

References and further reading

What s that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 143

Tsitsikama Trees - Author: Prof. HB Rycroft - Published: 1980 - Page: 70

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 637

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 284

The Gardener - 2021/01 - Author: - Published: 2021 - Page: 58

Sappi Tree Spotting: KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape - 2nd edition - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 2004 - Page: 286

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 58

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 128

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 294

Know Them by their Fruit - Author: AT Ankiewicz - Published: 2021 - Page: 373

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 169

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 14

Piet van Wyk s Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 1st editi - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 1988 - Page: 148

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 56

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 62

Field Guide to the Trees of the Kruger National Park - 5th edition - Author: Piet van Wyk - Published: 2008 - Page: 148

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 198

Eastern Cape Veld Flowers - 2nd edition - Author: Eily Gledhill - Published: 1981 - Page: 156

Everyone s Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 65

For more info: SANBI

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