Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
karoo boer-bean
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Schotia afra
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Schotia afra is an evergreen small tree large bush that can grow up to 10 meters tall (1). The karoo boer-bean has many pale, rigid branches with dark brown bark. The bark/twigs on younger growth can be gray and smooth but with age, the old growth becomes brown, cracked and fissured. (3) The leaves of Schotia afra are alternately arranged, dark green, coriaceous and pinnately compound with many leaflets. Up to 18 pairs of leaflets can be present in each leaf, with each leaflet being about 4mm in size (2) Blooms of the Schotia afra appear in summer and continue into the fall. They are usually bright red but can also be pink in color. (3) The flowers are usually perfect - they contain pistils and stamens allowing them to interbreed and to be cross pollinated (3,4). Following flowering, fruit and seeds form. The fruit is an oblong legume, dehiscent seed pod. The juvenile seed pods are vibrant green, red, and pink, while the mature pod is dark brown. Pods are usually around 2cm long and 0.5cm wide (3).
Compound:
Sch afr
Geographic Origin:
Africa
Ecozone Origin:
Afrotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The history of the Schotia afra is not well established. This plant is known to be native to a small region in South Africa (3). The genus name Schotia is named after Richard van der Schot, who was a botanist and a head gardener at the Schonbrunn Imperial Garden in Vienna (5).
Cultivation Notes:
Schotia afra grows very well in the Tucson weather/climate (USDA zone 9a-9b). It grows best in zones 9-11 (6). They can be propagated by stem cuttings and seeds (5). The schotia afra prefers well draining soil along with bright amounts of light. This plant is also very tolerant to cold spells and is considered hardy for brief periods of low temperature exposure (7).
Ethnobotany:
Schotia afra has been used for many things. It is most notably used for its nutritional value. The seeds are often eaten - they can be either grounded up or roasted. The bark is used as tannin after it has been soaked and grounded up. Also, this plant is used in many people's gardens as an ornamental or shade-bearing tree (5).
Height:
16 - 20 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Grow Season:
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Red
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
