Cunonia capensis Seeds - Butterspoon Tree, Butterknife Tree or Red Alder

This is a wonderful tree from South Africa. Named “Butterknife Tree” because of the fascinating stipules that look like butter knifes. Emerging from stipules are the leaves that look like little alien fingers when they first come out.

The foliage is most beautiful - the new growth is bronze & the older foliage is glossy green & evergreen. It has showy white fragrant flowers that are bottlebrush shaped & it blooms in Summer.

From South Africa, it is found growing in forests and moist spots. In forests it can reach up to 30’, growing in more open areas it gets to be only 15’. It is fast growing but the wood is hard and fine grained and has been used in furniture making. Grows best in mild climates, doesn’t like the heat. Don’t let it get too dry either, it prefers moist soil.

The Afrikaans common name Rooiels (= Red Alder) is derived from the resemblance of the wood to the true Alders (Alnus spp.) of the Northern Hemisphere.

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