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Olinia emarginata

by Johan Wentzel

Olinia emarginata
Common Name
Mountain hard pear
Plant Type
Tree
Olinia emarginata is a beautiful tree that is evergreen and has a very neat shape. The pale to dark pink flowers that appears in spring is followed by a fleshy red drupe that is favoured by birds. A worthwhile garden subject, but very difficult to cultivate.
Plant Description

Native to South Africa, Olinia emarginata is an attractive, ornamental tree that is normally found in KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensberg and Gauteng.

The Mountain Hard Pear is classified as a small to medium sized tree and can grow to a height of 5 to 7 m.  The size of the tree will vary from small in open areas to large in a forest habitat.  It can be single-  or multi-stemmed and has glossy, green foliage which forms a dense round crown.  The tree is evergreen and the leaves are hairless with a darker shade of green on top and a pale green below.  When crushed, the leaves emit a faint smell of almonds.

Flowering takes place from spring to summer and the flowers are carried in loose, axillary heads.  The flowers are small with a light to dark pink colour and are slightly fragranced.  After flowering, the tree forms cluster of small, round fruit which turn red in autumn, and hang on the tree until well into winter.  The flowers and fruit attract insects and birds alike.  The tree is best known for its interesting bark which is mottled with a flaky appearance.  The trunk is grey or creamy-white in colour with orange tinged markings, which can create an interesting focal point in the garden.

Olinia emarginata is a beautiful tree that is evergreen and has a very neat shape. The Mountain Hard Pear is frost hardy, but need sufficient water to flourish.  It grows well in sunny positions and does not have an invasive root system, which makes it ideal for a smaller garden.  This ornamental tree has a moderate growth rate and can be utilized as a screening tree.  It will also grow well in a container and makes an excellent bonsai specimen.  Please note that the tree is hard to cultivate and therefore not easily available at nurseries. Specimens hardly get on the market.

I am lucky to have one in my garden.

You may find stock of this plant at Random Harvest.

Afrikaanse Naam
Berghardepeer
Hardiness
Very hardy
Position
Sun
Water Requirements
Water wise
Evergreen
Evergreen
Growth Rate
Moderate
Flowering Time
Summer
Flower Colour
Red
Shape
Compact
Soil
Loam
Plant Size
5m
Region
Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern seaboard, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Limpopo
Habitat
Forest, Riverine
Grown by Wildflower Nursery
Yes
  • Olinia emarginata

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Random Harvest Nursery: 082 553 0598

Jonathan Taylor: 0768305242

Email: [email protected]

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