textAdminOnlyNameForClipboard
Outeniqua Yellowwood
Afrocarpus falcatus
SA tree no: 16
English: Outeniqua Yellowwood, Common Yellowwood, Bastard Yellowwood, Falcate Yellowwood, Smooth-barked Yellowwood, Weeping Yew
Afrikaans: Outeniekwageelhout, Outenikwalandsgeelhout, Outeniquageelhout, Outeniquasgeelhout, Bastergeelhout, Blou-geelhout, Fynblaar-geelhout, Gewone Geelhout, Gewonegeelhout, Kalander, Kalandergeelhout, Kroesgeelhout, Nietlandergeelhout, Nikolander
Xhosa: Umkhoba, Umkolaya, Umngcondo
Zulu: Umgeya, Umhlenhlane, Umkhandangoma, Umomphumelo, Umpume, Umsonti
N. Sotho: Mogôbagôba
Venda: Mufhanza
Synonyms, misapplied or old scientific names: Decussocarpus falcatus, Nageia falcata, Nageia meyeriana, Podocarpus falcatus, Podocarpus gracilior, Podocarpus gracillimus, Podocarpus meyerianus, Taxus falcata
Afrocarpus falcatus, commonly known as the Outeniqua Yellowwood, is one of South Africa's most iconic and majestic indigenous trees. It's a large, evergreen conifer, renowned for its towering height, beautiful yellowish timber, and the distinctive peeling bark of mature specimens.
Have you got a better picture?
If you don't mind us using it, please upload it by clicking the Upload button below (you must be logged in to do this)
Distinguishing features:
Tall, straight trunk, often with a clear, branchless lower section.
Mature bark peels in rectangular or rounded plates, revealing reddish-brown underbark.
Small, needle-like to linear, dark green leaves.
Produces fleshy, plum-like fruits (often yellow when ripe) on female trees.
One of the tallest indigenous trees in South Africa.
Overall appearance:
Afrocarpus falcatus is a magnificent, large, evergreen tree with a stately, often conical crown when young, becoming more rounded or irregular with age. Its most striking features are its tall, straight trunk and the characteristic flaking bark of mature trees.
Height:
Typically grows 10 to 45 metres tall, but can reach up to 60 metres, especially in moist forest environments, making it one of South Africa's tallest trees.
Width:
The crown can spread to a width of 5 to 10 metres.
Leaves:
The leaves are small, linear, and somewhat sickle-shaped (falcate), hence the specific epithet. They are spirally arranged (or sometimes loosely spiralled) on the twigs, typically 2-4 cm long and 2-4 mm wide. They are dark green, leathery, and have a prominent midrib. Juvenile leaves can be longer, up to 12 cm.
Flowers:
Like all conifers, Afrocarpus falcatus does not produce true flowers. Instead, it produces reproductive cones. It is dioecious, meaning individual trees are either male or female. Male cones are small, catkin-like (finger-shaped), yellowish-brown, and occur in clusters in the leaf axils. Female cones are solitary and very small, developing into a fleshy fruit-like structure.
Flowering season:
Pollen cones (male) appear from July to September. The female cones (which develop into fruits) mature over a long period, often throughout the year, but mostly from December to January.
Fruits:
The "fruits" are not true fruits (as it's a conifer, not a flowering plant) but are actually a fleshy, modified cone scale (epimatium) that encloses the seed. They are spherical to ovoid, about 1.5-2 cm in diameter. They are initially green, ripening to a distinctive yellow or light red-brown, and have a thin, slightly resinous, fleshy covering. They are plum-like in appearance.
Seeds:
Each fleshy "fruit" contains a single, hard, spherical seed, about 10-14 mm in diameter. The seed is fully enclosed by the fleshy epimatium.
Bark:
The bark is a prominent feature. On young trees, it is relatively smooth and grey. On mature trees, it becomes dark purplish-brown or greyish-brown and peels off in large, irregular, rectangular to rounded plates or flakes, revealing the reddish-brown underbark. This creates a beautiful, mottled, or mosaic-like pattern on the trunk.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood, known as yellowwood or "podo," is highly prized. It is yellowish, fine-grained, straight-grained, and moderately hard but easily workable. It is durable and resistant to decay, making it excellent for high-quality furniture, flooring (like parquet blocks), panelling, shipbuilding (especially masts and beams), musical instruments, and general construction. It was historically one of the most important timber trees in South Africa.
Roots:
It has a deep, strong taproot system, which helps it anchor firmly and access water, making it relatively wind-firm.
Soil type:
Thrives in deep, rich, well-drained soils, typically loamy or sandy soils, often with a good organic matter content. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil pH.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun, especially once mature, but young plants can tolerate semi-shade or shade in forest understoreys. It requires moderate to high rainfall and humidity. Mature trees are fairly hardy to frost, but young plants should be protected.
Edibility:
The ripe, fleshy covering of the seed (the epimatium) is edible, though it can be somewhat resinous. It has a sweetish, slightly tangy taste. The seed itself is not typically eaten.
Toxicity:
The fleshy covering of the fruit is edible. However, some sources advise caution with the seed itself, and it's generally best to only consume the fleshy part. There's no widespread indication of significant toxicity for humans when consuming the ripe fleshy fruit, but like with many wild foods, moderation is advised.
Uses:
Its most significant use is for its timber, which is one of the most valuable timbers in South Africa. It's used for high-quality furniture, flooring, panelling, joinery, and structural beams. Historically, it was crucial for ship masts due to its straight growth. As an ornamental tree, it's widely planted in large gardens, parks, and as an avenue tree due to its majestic size and attractive foliage and bark. It attracts wildlife with its fruits. Traditionally, parts of the tree have been used in local medicine.
Ecology:
The ripe, fleshy "fruits" are an important food source for various fruit-eating birds, including Cape Parrots, Knysna and Purple-crested Turacos (louries), Rameron Pigeons, African Green Pigeons, and Delagorgue's Pigeons. Bats and bushpigs also consume the fruits, aiding in seed dispersal. The dense crown often provides excellent roosting and nesting sites for a variety of bird species. Its seedlings are tolerant of shade, allowing them to establish in the forest understorey.
Distribution and habitat:
Afrocarpus falcatus is indigenous to South Africa and is widely distributed from the Western Cape, through the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo provinces, extending into Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, and Mozambique. It is typically found in moist montane forests, coastal forests, and along riverbanks, often forming a dominant component of these ecosystems, especially in the Knysna forests.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Afrocarpus means "African fruit," referring to its African origin and its cone-like fruit.
The species name falcatus is Latin for "sickle-shaped" or "hooked," referring to the slightly curved shape of its leaves.
Common names like "Outeniqua Yellowwood" refer to the Outeniqua Mountains in the Western Cape, a region where these majestic trees are prominent. "Yellowwood" refers to the characteristic colour of its timber. "Bastard Yellowwood" is an older name, possibly referring to a subtle difference from other yellowwood species or its former botanical classification.
Historical aspects:
The Outeniqua Yellowwood holds immense historical and cultural significance in South Africa. As one of the largest and most commercially valuable timber trees, it was heavily exploited during colonial times for construction, furniture, and shipbuilding. This led to significant deforestation of old-growth forests. Today, it is a protected tree in South Africa, meaning it cannot be cut or disturbed without a permit, a testament to its ecological importance and the need for its conservation. Many magnificent old specimens, known as "Big Trees," are preserved in national parks (like the Garden Route National Park) and serve as symbols of South Africa's natural heritage.
Interesting facts:
This tree is an absolute giant – it's one of the tallest indigenous trees in South Africa, often reaching heights that could dwarf a multi-story building!
Forget paint, this tree's bark does its own art project! On mature trees, the bark peels off in big, irregular flakes, creating a cool, mottled pattern of greys and reddish-browns on its trunk.
While it's a "yellowwood," it's not a flowering plant! It's a conifer, which means it makes its seeds in cones, even though its female "fruit" looks like a juicy little plum.
Those plum-like fruits are a feast for some of our most beautiful birds, like the vibrant Knysna and Purple-crested Turacos. It's like a drive-through restaurant for them!
Growing tips:
Propagation: Best from fresh seed, which can be slow and erratic to germinate. Cuttings are also possible but can be difficult.
Planting: Prefers a sheltered, moist, well-drained spot, ideally with deep, rich soil. Young trees appreciate some shade.
Watering: Requires regular watering, especially when young, and during dry periods. It thrives in high rainfall areas.
Frost Protection: Protect young trees from severe frost. They become more tolerant with age but prefer warmer climates.
Feeding: Benefits from compost and mulch around the base, which helps retain moisture and provides nutrients.
Space: Remember this tree can grow to be enormous, so choose a planting site where it has plenty of space to reach its full majestic potential, away from buildings or foundations that could be impacted by its size and root system.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Plant type
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)