African wisteria

Seeds: 15  / Botanical name: Bolusanthus africanus

The most spectacular tree of subtropical South Africa

The long-lived African wisteria is certainly one of the most spectacular native trees of subtropical South Africa. This decorative, small to medium-sized deciduous tree loses its leaves for only a short time in spring. It is usually multi-stemmed but can be pruned to form a single trunk. The bark is brownish-gray, rough, and fissured. Its blue-purple, fragrant, pea-like flowers grow in spirally arranged panicles from spring to early summer on the drooping branches and can cover the entire tree. The flowers are followed by papery, brown seed capsules that hang from the branches in clusters. The tree is well-suited for container cultivation and also for bonsai.

Natural habitat: The African wisteria is native to subtropical South Africa, where it is now protected and may not be felled.