Wildflower Nursery

Indigenous Plants for a Sustainable Future

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Grassland Biome Experts
    • Who We Work With
    • Services and Products
    • Project Portfolio
  • Indigenous Library
  • Articles
  • e-Newsletter
  • Contact

Zanthoxylum capense

by Johan Wentzel

Zanthoxylum capense
Common Name
Small knobwood
Plant Type
Tree
The speckled and knobbed main stem makes it very unusual. When the leaves are crushed, they smell like lemon.
Plant Description

Zanthoxylum capense is a hardy, deciduous or semi-deciduous small to medium-sized tree. Its bark is a dark grey colour and smooth. The bark often has knobs (cone shaped) with a small spine/thorn. The leaves are compound, shiny, dark green above with lighter green underneath. They are brittle when handled/crushed and give off a strong citrus scent. It flowers between October and February in small white scented flowers carried in clusters on the ends of the branches. Different trees carry female and male flowers seperately. The female flowers develop into clusters of tiny orange-red fruits with oily black seeds inside. The fruit is edible but can cause a hot/burning sensation.

Zanthoxylum capense trees attract many pollinators including birds, many butterflies and insects. It often hosts the Citrus swallowtail and other swallowtail butterflies. It features beautifully in a container, as a feature plant central in a garden or part of a forest garden. When pruned it exposes the interesting knobbly stem as a feature in the garden. It does well in both semi-shade and full sun and prefers well drained compost rich soil.

You may find stock of this plant at Random Harvest.

Afrikaanse Naam
Kleinperdepram
Hardiness
Hardy
Position
Sun
Water Requirements
Water wise
Evergreen
Evergreen
Growth Rate
Fast
Flowering Time
Early summer
Flower Colour
Yellow/green
Shape
Compact
Soil
Loam
Plant Size
3m
Region
Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Limpopo, North West
Habitat
Grassland, Savannah, Rocky outcrops
Grown by Wildflower Nursery
No

Contact Us

Johan – 082 801 1741
[email protected]

Annette – 082 908 6591
[email protected]

Subscribe to our Monthly e-Newsletter

* indicates required

Indigenous Plant Palette Selector

Use the Indigenous Plant Palette Selector to create a list of plants for your specific needs.

Search the Plant Database

Copyright © 2025 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · Powered by ITM Web Development · Log in