A friend once commented that this shrub looked like a weed. Wait ’til it flowers, I said.
While, its just started flowering and it is spectacular. It has numberous clusters of small, pink flowers, which the bees are going wild for. The problem is, I’ve forgotten its name and can’t find it in my gardening books – even though I know I’ve seen it in one before and know that it is indigenous.
Anyone recognise it and can supply us with some information?
It is a Dombeya burgessiae – it does grow like a weed, but it is indigenous (and rewarding). Its a great tree for a small garden, and can be cut back quite easily if its starting to take over, or get lanky.
it’s beautiful! i wonder if it comes in other colours.
thanks Ross, you’re a mine of information 🙂 I have cut it back a few times and it comes back better and better.
em, not sure if there are other colours but the flowers dry really well. if you’re ever making potpourri?
hey! I have seen this flower around and have often wondered myself. Good to know. Great idea for a blog
There is another species with flowers of such a pale pink they are almost white.
hey emme. mine are pale pink with almost red centres.tropical nursery.or see them bloom outside burgess nursery westville if memory serves.grape vine shaped leaves.winter flowers.
there is a white flower in another dombeya species.but it does get a whole lot taller.and flowers not as showy
The white (actually more of a cream colour when admired up close) flowered species is called Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild pear). I have five of them in my garden, two of which are already fairly big trees. They are semi-deciduous because of the frost here in the Karoo, but have a really fast growth rate if watered well in summer. The flowers attract loads of flying insects especially bees, flies and beetles of all sorts. When the tree matures the bark on the trunk becomes dark with deep fissures.
I’d like to get hold of one of the pink flowered D. burgessiae at some point.
maybe try out our plant and seed exchange alexander:
https://www.sprig.co.za/category/plant-and-seed-exchange/
if cuttings would last the journey? maybe someone in the cape has some?