Schotia afra

I am very proud of my Schotia afra tree. It was grown from a bean I acquired, some years ago, from Tasmanian mail order seed people--Phoenix Seeds.

This tree has proven to be very drought-hardy, and I can't imagine why they are not grown by everybody. The amount of heat and dryness they can stand, once established, is quite amazing; but they will not grow very fast without extra water. They are evergreen, and have pretty pink to red flowers that drip with nectar for the native birds. The foliage is green and dainty. They are also quite frost-hardy; and mine has endured quite heavy frosts since its babyhood. Still, I do think they'd be happier, in infancy, if swaddled in a little shadecloth; or grown under some pioneer species--like a tree lucerne--for protection.

The beans they produce are edible--either green or mature. I recall they are also called ''Hottentot Bean'', by some. They are a good permaculture species for any dry climate garden. It's probably easiest to start them off in pots, and grow them indoors, as attractive houseplants, for the first year or so--as I did. Once blooming, they are a good source of colour for the dry climate cottage gardener.