Cape Chestnut

Frost Tolerance: Young trees need protection against frost

Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Origin: Coastal Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa

Growth Habits: Evergreen or deciduous tree, fast growing to 20 to 70 feet tall (6-21 m), 25 to 40 feet wide (7.5-12 m), dense rounded shape; smooth gray trunk; dark green, relatively large, scented leaves with entire margin, 2 to 9 inches long (5-22 cm), 0.8 to 4 inches wide (2-10 cm); the leaves have a citrus smell when crushed

Watering Needs: Regular water in summer, dislikes windy locations

Propagation: Seeds or softwood cuttings in spring or early summer, under mist

The genus name 'Calodendrum' comes from the Greek for 'beautiful tree'.

Blooming Habits:
Striking, large, faintly sweet-scented flowers, with long narrow curved petals, in conspicuous terminal panicles during early summer. The trees need to be 6 to 8 years old to bloom.

Fruiting Habits:
The fruit is a large 5-lobed woody knobbly capsule, 1.6 inches in diameter (4 cm), splitting during late summer to autumn. It contains large light, smooth, black seeds.