Harpephyllum caffrum--Kaffir Plum

[fastfeat]

OK, I'm not advocating the wholesale planting of this species as a street tree again, but I find it interesting to occasionally indulge the thought processes of arborists and landscape architects who came before. And also, I like to shine a little light on trees that are on the verge of falling out of the trade because they are no longer planted in quantities once demanded by post-War builders.

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

So for you young folk out there (and Floridians who've never been to SoCal), here is Kaffir plum (Harpephyllum caffrum) growing in Cerritos. It is rather closely related (Anacardiaceae) to Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and is similarly dioecious (male or female flowers on separate trees). Kaffir plum, from South Africa, is generally considered a superior tree than the pepper, having considerably stronger branching habit and luxuriant foliage. Often, this is one of the darker greens and denser trees (if not severely root-pruned) where grown. It is also considerably more tender (but takes considerable ocean buffeting). It has edible fruit, but their production above sidewalks creates significant trip-and-fall hazards. Will grow well in milder Bay-area communities. It grows well in Florida (Orlando southward), but is uncommon. With it's whorled foliage and high sheen, it would seem to be a good choice to mix with gumbo limbo and others, IMHO. Will take 25-27F/-3-4C as it gains size; tolerates wide range of soils and pH.

[joe_OC]

Love this tree! I have one in my backyard. It is thirty-something years old. I just had the canopy raised on it as it was getting too droopy and low. I've planted a lot of Chamaedoreas under it because it provides a filtered sun environment. Will snap up some pictures of it tomorrow.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Nice looking tree. I have never seen one nor even seen it listed for sale anywhere. Do you think it would be invasive in Florida like Schinus? (Almost nobody uses the genus name in Florida as this plant is so hated, nobody wants to dignify it with a proper Latin name.) Many South African plants do well here but are not invasive because we are a completely different climate. How about wind resistance? Are those pics representative of a mature size? It reminds me of Carrot Wood, Cupaniopsis anacardiodes. Carrotwood is a great tree other than being invasive. It is a medium sized tree that is fairly wind resistant. Its size and shape and reliability in the landscape needs a good replacement.

[Eric in Orlando]

Nice ! The one you gave me is growing well.

[Eric in Orlando]

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

Around here this could be applied to;

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)

Podocarpus macrophyllus, the original species form grown as a tree. 'Maki' is what is sold and used as hedges

Peltophorum dubium

Handroanthus umbellatus (Tabebuia umbellata)

Araucaria bidwillii

[Eric in Orlando]

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

Around here this could be applied to;

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)

Podocarpus macrophyllus, the original species form grown as a tree. 'Maki' is what is sold and used as hedges

Peltophorum dubium

Handroanthus umbellatus (Tabebuia umbellata)

Araucaria bidwillii

[Eric in Orlando]

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

Around here this could be applied to;

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)

Podocarpus macrophyllus, the original species form grown as a tree. 'Maki' is what is sold and used as hedges

Peltophorum dubium

Handroanthus umbellatus (Tabebuia umbellata)

Araucaria bidwillii

[bahia]

I don't think I have seen any of this tree here in the SF Bay Area, but it does look superficially like a Carrotwood Tree, which is another tree that has fallen out of favor for street tree purposes because of the invasiveness and messy fruit. The Brazilian Pepper is still used quite a bit as a street tree in San Francisco in particular, where they can look spectacular and see to grow a bit more open than the dense ones seen in warmer locations. I like the tree myself, but can understand why it is despised in Florida where it creates so many problems.

[fastfeat]

Nice looking tree. I have never seen one nor even seen it listed for sale anywhere. Do you think it would be invasive in Florida like Schinus? (Almost nobody uses the genus name in Florida as this plant is so hated, nobody wants to dignify it with a proper Latin name.) Many South African plants do well here but are not invasive because we are a completely different climate. How about wind resistance? Are those pics representative of a mature size? It reminds me of Carrot Wood, Cupaniopsis anacardiodes. Carrotwood is a great tree other than being invasive. It is a medium sized tree that is fairly wind resistant. Its size and shape and reliability in the landscape needs a good replacement.

Jerry--

Harpephyllum is indeed similar to Cupaniopsis, and was often used as a substitute or with it. Kaffir plum is more round-headed and heavier-limbed (without the narrow crotch angles). Since it branches much like gumbo-limbo (when included bark is absent), Kaffir plum would likely take wind well.

Usually seen around 25-35'/8-12m here, the biggest I've seen are around 50'/17m, but that's rare. Here is one closer to typical "mature" stature:

Seed should be ripe in a month or two. I can send you some if you want. Invasiveness shouldn't be much of a problem (esp. if you only plant one ...) Seedlings occasionally pop in turf under parent trees but I can count on one hand the number of vols I've seen escape cultivation (in 30+ years here).

[fastfeat]

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

Around here this could be applied to;

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)

-----------------------------------------

Jesse Durko (Davie, FL) has about 15-20 very nice young 7gal Nageia nagi from Winter Park seed I gave him. Truly an outstanding tree that should be propagated regularly. (I've never seen in SoCal outside of arboreta). Will post pics if I can find the missing disk from my recent trip there.

[fastfeat]

I've always despised the old nurseryman's circular sleight:

Customer: "Well, why don't you grow it anymore?"

Nurseryman: "Well, nobody plants it anymore"

Customer: "Why doesn't anyone plant it?"

Nurseryman: "'Cause nobody grows it anymore!"

Around here this could be applied to;

Nageia nagi (Podocarpus)

-----------------------------------------

Jesse Durko (Davie, FL) has about 15-20 very nice young 7gal Nageia nagi from Winter Park seed I gave him. Truly an outstanding tree that should be propagated regularly. (I've never seen in SoCal outside of arboreta).

[Eric in Orlando]

Nageia nagi were popular decades ago as you see nice mature specimens in the old neighborhoods around Orlando but they have since disappeared from the nnursery trade.

They proved themselves the absolute most wind resistant trees following the 3 hurricanes of 2004 here at Leu Gardens. We have about 12 mature specimens and none even had leaves blown off of them. Our prime specimen is located in an open area and about 30ft tall. Either a microburst or small tornado sliced through that area of the Garden during Charley and it wasn't fazed. The others around town I observed after the storms had no damage either and even retained all foliage. I guess being native to the Ryukyu Islands they have evolved with typhoons and are storm resistant. We grow seedlings from our trees and sell them at the spring plant sale.

[joe_OC]

Here is my Kaffir Plum:

[joe_OC]

Spathodea campanulata (african tulip tree) is being used in Huntington Beach now. That is also a great street tree, so I can't complain.

[fastfeat]

Hey Joe--

Good on you for keeping the Harpephyllum around for all those years.

I used to live at 8th and Orange (downtown HB). I planted a Bischofia javanica in the front yard that loved it there; pretty sure it got removed though when the lot was (supposed to be) subdivided. In the parkway, I also planted a Brahea edulis (volunteer from the front yard!!), Thevetia thevetioides, and Lagunaria patersonia. All three were thriving the last time I was down there (maybe two years ago).

Where are they using Spathodea? There may have been a tree at Main St Park, but I don't recall any street trees when I did their inventory some years back.

[joe_OC]

They line the 405 and in the greenbelts on the off ramps near Beach Blvd exit. The In & Out Burger off of Beach also has several in the parking lot. I hope to see more along the streets. There is a standard orange one and the smaller yellow variety right across from Ralph Valez's house.

[fastfeat]

I rediscovered this very nice big multi-trunked one in Caruthers Park in Bellflower recently.

[The Silent Seed]

I'd love some seeds when they are ready, also, please!