Euclea Crispa

The leaves are small; blue to grey and variable in shape. They are smooth and leathery to the touch. Whitish green to yellow bell-shaped flowers are produced from spring to summer - October to February; they attract bees with their sweet scent. The male and female flowers are on separate trees. A single-seeded fruit ripens from reddish brown to black. They are palatable to humans and eaten by birds and mammals.

The blue guarri is not threatened and its red list status is “Least Concern”.

This evergreen tree is indigenous to Southern Africa and has a wide natural distribution range, from the Eastern Cape, up the KwaZulu-Natal coast and further northwards past South Africa's northern border.

Occurring in bushveld, sheltered places in grassland, forest margins and often in rocky places on both north- and south-facing slopes. Once established they are drought- and frost-resistant, and will grow in full sun and partly shady conditions.

The genus name Euclea from the Greek word eukleia meaning glory and fame, referring to the fine ebony-like wood of some species. Crispa refers to the wavy edges of the leaves.

The genus Euclea belongs to the Ebony Family which is represented in South Africa by 35 species, all slow-growing trees or shrubs. The genus Euclea is a slow growing member of the Ebony Family together with 35 other tree species in South Africa.Euclea is native to Africa, up to Arabia and the Comoro Islands. Worldwide, several species are used for timber, producing a hard, dark heartwood timber similar to ebony. Euclea pseudebenus from western southern and tropical Africa is known as black ebony but the typical commercial ebony is derived from a species of the related genus Diospyros, namely D. ebenum, which is found in India and Sri Lanka.

The sweetly scented flowers are visited by bees. The seeds attract many species of birds, antelope and vervet monkeys in the wild. Black rhino have been seen to enjoy browsing the leaves and bark of Euclea crispa.

The tough leathery leaves are fire-resistant, and fresh branches are used to beat out veld fires. Fruit edible. The chewed ends of the twigs serve as toothbrushes. Medicinally an infusion of the root is taken orally as a remedy for diabetes; also to prevent rheumatism and epilepsy.

The roots yield a dark brown dye when boiled which is used economically to colour wool, mats and baskets.

In nature, the blue guarri grows quite easily from fresh seed as this is its natural way to spread. It must be noted that only female trees produce seed.

During autumn collect your seeds from healthy trees which are disease-free. Remove the thin fleshy seed covering. The seed should be plump, not shrunken and light. Aim to sow as soon as possible after harvesting. Fill a 10 cm deep seedling tray with a mix of rich soil and compost. Ensure the soil is level by pressing down fairly firmly, then place the seeds on top. Cover the seeds with a layer of river sand to a depth of 5 mm. The tray should be kept moist during germination, but never wet. Transplant the seedlings into black nursery bags when they are at the second leaf stage. These slow-growing seedlings will need to be protected from strong winds and frost during their first two years.

This evergreen tree will provide year-round shade to your garden; the large canopy provides homes and a food source to birds and other wildlife as well as providing a sweet scent from the flowers in spring and summer.