False Olive tree

Afrikaans name: Witolienhout

False Olive tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Buddleja saligna

The False Olive tree is a fairly dense shrub that can reach a height of 9 metres but is more often 5 metres in height. It is found in many areas across South Africa apart from the more arid regions. Quite often this tree is found singly in wooded areas and on rocky slopes but they may be found in small groups near watercourses. The False Olive tree may have one or more stems but either way it has lots of branches. The branches grow upwards then droop down towards the end. During early summer it gets covered in cream-coloured flowers. The flowers attract lots of bees and moths. The leaves are long and slender and are pointed at the tips. The wood used to be used to make shafts for assegais but nowadays it is used more for fence posts. The False Olive tree is quite a popular tree amongst gardeners and is a good species for bonsai enthusiasts.

Bark of the False Olive tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 99

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 939

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 118

Trees & Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, Magaliesberg & Pilanesberg - Author: Joan van Gogh - Published: 1988 - Page: 92

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 206

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 422

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 158

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 84

SA 4X4 - Vol 21 No 2 - Author: - Published: 2013 - Page: 62

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 45

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 165

Plants of the Baviaanskloof - Author: D Euston-Brown & M Kruger - Published: 2023 - Page: 468

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 16

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 48

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 301

Eastern Cape Veld Flowers - 2nd edition - Author: Eily Gledhill - Published: 1981 - Page: 186

Everyones Guide to Trees of South Africa - Author: Keith, Paul and Meg Coates Palgrave - Published: 1989 - Page: 95

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 274

For more info: SANBI

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