Mountain Cabbage Tree

Afrikaans name: Bergkiepersol

Mountain Cabbage Tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cussonia paniculata

The Mountain Cabbage Tree is not the tallest of trees as it only grows to a height of 5 metres. What it lacks in height it makes up form in character which is why it is popular with gardeners.

This slow-growing tree favours rocky habitats in mountainous areas, often growing in cracks between rocks where dry leaves collect providing nutrients for it.

The flowers attract large numbers of bees and other insects. Kudu favour the leaves and Chacma Baboons eat the young shoots. Birds eat the black seeds when ripe.

The Mountain Cabbage Tree is very useful. The leaves are fed to cattle and goats while the soft wood was used to make brake-blocks for wagons.

Mountain Cabbage Tree

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

Whats that Tree? - Author: Eugene Moll - Published: 2011 - Page: 174

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 98

What Tree is That? - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1967 - Page: 33

Trees of Southern Africa - 3rd edition - Author: Keith Coates Palgrave - Published: 2002 - Page: 849

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

Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand - Author: Tree Society of SA - Published: 1974 - Page: 222

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 203

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

Sixty-six Transvaal Trees - Author: B de Winter, M de Winter & D Killick - Published: 1996 - Page: 132

SA Wild Flower Guide No 6 - Karoo - Author: David Shearing & Katryn van Heerden - Published: 1997 - Page: 108

Sappi Tree Spotting: Highveld and the Drakensburg - Author: Val Thomas and Rina Grant - Published: 1998 - Page: 58

Sappi Wild Flower Guide - Mpumalanga and Northern Province - Author: Jo Onderstall - Published: 1996 - Page: 148

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: 110

Indigenous Garden Plants of Southern Africa - Author: Glenice Ebedes - Published: 2017 - Page: 22

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 391

Field Guide To The Wild Flowers Of The Witwatersrand & Pretoria Region - Author: Braam van Wyk & Sasa Malan - Published: 1988 - Page: 288

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1977 - Page: 246

A Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa - Revised - Author: E. Palmer - Published: 1983 - Page: 271

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

For more info: SANBI

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