Sagewood

Afrikaans name: Saliehout

Sagewood tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Buddleja salviifolia

The Sagewood tree is found in suitable habitat over most of South Africa. It is absent from the eastern coastal belt and from the arid regions in the west. It can be found in a variety of habitats including along higher altitude streams, rocky hillsides and in evergreen forests. At best the Sagewood can be described as a small tree. It reaches a maximum height of 8 metres but is often smaller. The bark is reddish-brown in colour. The leaves are long and pointed and are greenish on top and white or brownish underneath. Young leaves have brownish hairs which disappear with age. The flowers are small but are pretty and come in an array of colours including white, cream and purple. The fruit is small. The wood of the Sagewood was used to make the shafts of assegais.

References and further reading

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 940

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 100

Tsitsikama Trees - Author: Prof. HB Rycroft - Published: 1980 - Page: 104

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 160

The Flora of the Natal Drakensberg - Author: Donald Killick - Published: 1990 - Page: 72

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

The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei - Author: Elsa Pooley - Published: 1994 - Page: 426

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 92

SA Wild Flower Guide No 6 - Karoo - Author: David Shearing & Katryn van Heerden - Published: 1997 - Page: 112

Sappi Tree Spotting: Bushveld - 2nd edition - Author: R Grant and V Thomas - Published: 2005 - Page: 44

Photographic Guide to Trees of Southern Africa - Author: B, P, and B-E van Wyk - Published: 2000 - Page: 74

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

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 248

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 300

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

Butterfly Gardening in South Africa - Author: Jill Reid - Published: 2000 - Page: 37

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

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