| Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Celastrales |
| Family: | Celastraceae |
| Genus: | Pterocelastrus |
| Species: | P. tricuspidatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus Loes. |
|
Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus (commonly called Candlewood, Cherrywood or Kershout) is a medium-sized evergreen tree, indigenous to South Africa.
A tree that grows particularly well in coastal conditions (although it can also be found inland), it naturally occurs from Cape Town in the west, all the way along the south coast of South Africa as far as Kwazulu-Natal. In the wild it reaches 10 meters in height and in a garden it can be pruned to form a proper shade tree. However, it can also be allowed to grow as a bushy screen if its lower branches are not removed. The masses of sweetly-scented, bisexual flowers are followed by large numbers of very distinctive and attractive bright-orange, lantern-shaped berries. The Candlewood tree tolerates drought and severe frost once it is established.[1]