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River Bushwillow
Combretum erythrophyllum
SA tree no: 536
English: River Bushwillow, Red-leaf Bushwillow, Combretum
Afrikaans: Vaderlandswilg, Rivierkershout, Rooiblad, Riviervaderlandswilg, Rooiblaar
Xhosa: umDubu we mlambo
Zulu: umBondwe, umDubu-wehlandze, umHlalavane, umKhosikazi
N. Sotho: Mohwidiri, Modibo
S. Sotho: Miavana, Modubo
Shona: Muvungu
Swati: Umdvutshwa
Tsonga: Nkuwa
Venda: Mugavhi, Mugwiti, Muvuvhu
Historical scientific names: Combretum strictum
Combretum erythrophyllum, commonly known as River Bushwillow or Vaderlandswilg, is a beautiful indigenous deciduous tree. It is highly valued for its attractive flaky bark, the striking reddish autumn colours of its leaves, its clusters of fluffy, cream-coloured flowers, and its characteristic four-winged fruits, making it a very popular and widely planted shade tree.
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Distinguishing features:
Bark is pale grey to yellowish-brown, smooth and peels off in irregular patches, revealing paler under-bark, creating a mottled or jigsaw puzzle effect.
Leaves turn brilliant red, orange, or yellow in autumn before falling.
Flowers are creamy-yellow, borne in dense, fluffy spikes.
Fruits are distinctive, four-winged, yellowish-brown, and persist on the tree for many months.
Often found growing along rivers and watercourses.
Overall appearance:
The River Bushwillow (Combretum erythrophyllum) is a graceful deciduous tree, often with a spreading, rounded crown and somewhat drooping branches. Its most distinctive feature is its beautiful mottled bark, which peels in flakes like a Plane tree. In autumn, its leaves transform into a spectacular display of reds, oranges, and yellows before falling, while in spring, it produces fluffy, cream-coloured flower spikes, followed by its characteristic four-winged fruits.
Height:
Typically grows 7 to 12 metres tall, but can reach up to 20 metres in ideal, sheltered conditions.
Width:
Forms a broad, spreading crown, usually 5 to 10 metres wide, providing excellent shade.
Leaves:
The leaves are simple, opposite or sub-opposite, elliptic to ovate or oblong, typically 5-10 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. They are light green and glossy when young, maturing to a duller mid-green. The margins are entire (smooth) and often wavy. There are often small domatia (pockets of hairs) in the axils of the veins on the underside of the leaf. In autumn, before falling, the leaves turn spectacular shades of red, orange, or yellow.
Flowers:
The flowers are small, regular, and inconspicuous individually, but are borne in dense, fluffy, yellowish-cream or greenish-cream spikes, typically 5-10 cm long. These spikes emerge from the leaf axils. The flowers are sweetly scented, especially in the evening. Combretum erythrophyllum flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive parts, though sometimes appear functionally unisexual.
Flowering season:
It primarily flowers in spring (around September to November).
Fruits:
The fruit is a distinctive, four-winged, dry, and papery capsule, typically 1.5-2.5 cm long and wide. It ripens from green to yellowish-brown or reddish-brown, and often persists on the tree for many months, providing continued ornamental interest, sometimes through winter. Each fruit contains a single seed.
Seeds:
Each winged fruit contains a single, elongated, brown seed. The wings aid in wind dispersal, allowing the seeds to be carried some distance from the parent tree.
Bark/Stems:
The bark is a prominent identification feature. It is pale grey, creamy, or yellowish-brown, smooth on younger trees, but as the tree matures, it flakes off in irregular, jigsaw-like patches, revealing paler, yellowish, or reddish-brown under-bark. This gives the trunk a beautiful mottled or speckled appearance. The branches are often drooping.
Thorns:
None.
Wood:
The wood is whitish, hard, and tough. It is not generally used for fine timber due to its irregular growth and smaller size, but it is used for fence posts, general carpentry, and makes good firewood.
Roots:
It has a strong, spreading, and fairly deep root system, which helps it to withstand strong currents in its riverine habitat. The roots are generally not considered aggressive towards foundations or paving.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soils, from sandy to loamy and clay soils. It thrives in rich, alluvial soils found along riverbanks. It is tolerant of various pH levels.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. It is highly tolerant of drought once established, making it suitable for water-wise gardens. It is also very wind-resistant. It is moderately frost-tolerant; while young plants may be damaged by severe frost, established trees are quite hardy and generally recover well. It is specifically adapted to wet or seasonally flooded soils and can tolerate short periods of waterlogging.
Ediblity:
The fruit is generally not considered edible for humans.
Toxicity:
While not generally considered highly toxic, some sources suggest that the leaves, if ingested in large quantities, may cause mild digestive upset in livestock due to the presence of tannins. It is not known to be toxic to humans.
Uses:
An exceptionally popular and widely planted indigenous tree for gardens, parks, avenues, street planting, and farms. It provides excellent, dense shade in summer and allows sunlight through in winter due to its deciduous nature. It is ideal as a specimen tree, a screen, or for planting in groups along driveways or boundaries. Its hardiness, fast growth, and adaptability make it suitable for a wide range of climates and conditions. It is also important in riverine rehabilitation and erosion control along watercourses.
Ecology:
The fluffy, scented flowers attract a variety of insect pollinators, particularly bees, which are drawn to the nectar. The distinctive four-winged fruits are adapted for wind dispersal, ensuring that seeds are spread efficiently. The tree provides excellent nesting sites and shelter for numerous bird species, including seed-eating birds and insectivorous birds. Many species of birds and small mammals are attracted to the tree for the insects and possibly as a water source when planted near water. It is a larval host plant for certain butterfly species, including the Common Silver-striped Charaxes (Charaxes druceanus) and the Lilac-bordered Charaxes (Charaxes pelias).
Distribution and habitat:
Combretum erythrophyllum is widely distributed throughout South Africa, found in all nine provinces (Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, and Northern Cape). It also extends into neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Eswatini. It is almost exclusively found along riverbanks, perennial and seasonal watercourses, pans, and floodplains, often in alluvial soils, from sea level up to medium altitudes.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Combretum is derived from the Latin name used by Pliny the Elder for a climbing plant.
The species epithet erythrophyllum is derived from the Greek words 'erythros' (red) and 'phyllon' (leaf), referring to the characteristic red autumn colours of its leaves.
The common name "River Bushwillow" describes its preference for riverine habitats and its common name "Bushwillow".
"Vaderlandswilg" (Afrikaans for "Fatherland Willow") refers to its willow-like appearance and its status as a widely recognised indigenous tree of South Africa.
"Rooiblad" (Afrikaans for "red leaf") also points to its autumn foliage.
Historical aspects:
The River Bushwillow has long been a familiar and appreciated tree in the South African landscape, especially along its waterways. Its resilience and shade-providing qualities made it a favoured tree for farmers and early settlers. Its timber has been used for various practical purposes over time. Its ecological role in stabilising riverbanks and supporting diverse wildlife populations has been vital for centuries, making it an integral part of riverine ecosystems.
Interesting facts:
This tree is like nature's own chameleon, changing its leaves from green to brilliant red, orange, or yellow in autumn – a real showstopper!
Its bark is super cool; it peels off like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, revealing lighter colours underneath, making every trunk unique.
Even though its flowers are tiny, they come in fluffy, creamy-yellow spikes that are packed with nectar, making them a buzzing hotspot for bees.
True to its name, you'll almost always find this tree hanging out by rivers and streams, where its strong roots help hold the soil in place.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily propagated from fresh seed. No special treatment is usually required, but scarification (gently nicking the hard seed coat) can sometimes speed up germination.
Light: Prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade.
Watering: Water regularly during establishment. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant, but will thrive and grow larger with consistent access to water, especially in its preferred riverine conditions.
Soil: Adaptable to most well-drained soils, but prefers loamy or alluvial soils.
Maintenance: Low maintenance. Prune to shape or to remove any dead or crossing branches. It is a moderately fast-growing tree.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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