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Common Saffron
Elaeodendron croceum
SA tree no: 415
English: Common Saffron, Forest Saffron, Saffron, Saffron Wood, Yellow Wood, Cape Saffronwood, Coastal Saffronwood
Afrikaans: Geelhout, Geelhoutboom, Gewone Saffraan, Opregtesaffraan, Opregtesaffraanhout, Regtesaffraan, Regtesaffraanhout, Saffraanhout, Saffraan, Bossafraan, Saffraanboom
Xhosa: Ikhukhuzi, Umbomvane, Umbovana, Umbovane, Ummakhankatha
Zulu: Ikhukhuze, Isinama, Isithundu, Umbovane, Usahlulamanye, Usehlulamanye
Venda: Tshibvukahalwa
Historical scientific names: Cassine crocea, Cassine papillosa, Crocoxylon croceum, Elaeodendron capense, Elaeodendron papillosum, Elaeodendron sphaerophyllum, Ilex crocea
Elaeodendron croceum, commonly known as the Saffron Wood or Saffronwood, is a beautiful indigenous evergreen tree native to the coastal and evergreen forests of South Africa. This medium to large tree is highly prized for its attractive, glossy, dark green leaves, and most distinctively, its striking yellowish to orange sap/cambium which gives the tree its common name. It produces small, inconspicuous flowers followed by decorative yellow-orange fruits.
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Distinguishing features
A medium to large evergreen tree with a dense, rounded crown.
Characterised by its bright yellowish to orange sap/cambium visible when the bark is damaged or peeled, resembling saffron.
Features glossy, dark green, oval leaves with a slightly wavy margin.
Produces small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers.
Bears small, yellow to orange, berry-like fruits that are attractive to birds.
Overall appearance:
Elaeodendron croceum is a medium to large evergreen tree with a dense, rounded, and often spreading crown. It is a visually appealing tree, especially noted for the contrasting bright yellow-orange inner bark and its lush, glossy foliage.
Height:
Typically grows between 5 and 15 metres tall, but can reach up to 25 metres in sheltered forest environments.
Width:
The crown can spread significantly, often 5–10 metres wide, providing excellent shade.
Leaves:
Simple, opposite or sub-opposite, oval to elliptic in shape, measuring 5–10 cm long.
They are glossy dark green above and paler below, with a prominent midrib and often slightly wavy or scalloped margins.
The texture is somewhat leathery.
Flowers:
Small, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, and sometimes fragrant.
They are borne in small, branched clusters (cymes) in the leaf axils.
Elaeodendron croceum is generally hermaphroditic, meaning individual flowers contain both male and female reproductive organs. It is not dioecious.
Flowering season:
Flowers predominantly in spring and early summer, typically from September to November.
Fruits:
Small, roundish, fleshy drupes (berry-like fruits), about 1–1.5 cm in diameter.
They ripen to a bright yellow, orange, or reddish-orange colour, creating a vibrant display.
Each fruit contains 1–4 seeds.
Fruits are produced in abundance from late summer to autumn, generally from February to May.
Seeds:
Small, hard, contained within the fleshy fruit. They are typically dispersed by birds. Propagation is possible from fresh seeds.
Bark:
Smooth and light grey on young trees, becoming darker and more fissured with age. The inner bark (cambium) is distinctively bright yellow to orange, which is visible if the bark is scratched or peeled, giving the tree its common name.
Stems:
The trunk is typically straight, becoming stout with age. Branches are smooth and form a dense canopy.
Wood:
The wood is hard, heavy, and very durable, with a fine grain. It is highly valued for furniture, flooring, tool handles, and general carpentry. Its durability contributes to its "ironwood" characteristic.
Roots:
Possesses a non-aggressive root system, making it suitable for planting relatively close to buildings or paving in urban gardens.
Soil type:
Prefers well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soils. It can adapt to various soil types but thrives in loamy or sandy-loamy conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun to semi-shade. It is moderately frost-tolerant once established but may need protection when young. It is also quite drought-tolerant once mature, but performs best with adequate moisture.
Edibility:
The fruits are generally considered edible but are often bitter or astringent and not typically consumed by humans. They are a significant food source for birds.
Uses:
Timber: Highly prized for its strong, durable, and attractive wood, used in furniture, flooring, tool handles, and general carpentry.
Ornamental & Shade Tree: An excellent choice for gardens, parks, and large landscapes due to its attractive glossy foliage, dense shade, and neat growth habit.
Wildlife Garden: A highly valuable bird-attracting tree due to its abundant, colourful fruits. It also provides excellent nesting and roosting sites.
Hedge & Screening: Can be pruned to form a dense, formal hedge or screen when young.
Traditional Uses: The bark and roots have been used in traditional medicine for various ailments, and the inner bark's yellow colour was historically used as a dye.
Ecology:
Birds: The bright yellow-orange fruits are a major food source for a wide variety of fruit-eating birds, including barbets, turacos (louries), starlings, bulbuls, and pigeons, making it an excellent bird-attracting tree. Birds are crucial for seed dispersal.
Insects: The small flowers attract pollinating insects.
Habitat: Provides dense cover and shelter for birds and other small animals within its canopy.
Distribution and habitat:
Elaeodendron croceum is widely distributed along the coastal and interior forest margins of South Africa.
South African Provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Western Cape.
Habitat: Typically found in coastal forests, evergreen forests, riverine forests, and sometimes in drier woodland fringes. It prefers areas with good rainfall and is often a component of climax forest communities.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Elaeodendron is derived from the Greek words 'elaia' meaning "olive tree" and 'dendron' meaning "tree," referring to the olive-like appearance of its fruit and leaves.
The species epithet croceum is Latin for "saffron-yellow" or "saffron-coloured," referring to the distinctive yellow-orange colour of its inner bark.
The common name "Saffron Wood" directly translates this feature.
Historical aspects:
The Saffron Wood has long been a significant tree in Southern African ecosystems and for human communities. Its distinctive inner bark was historically used as a dye, and its hard, durable wood was highly valued for timber. Its fruits have been a traditional food source for wildlife. It played a significant role in early South African timber industries.
Interesting facts
This tree is like a hidden treasure chest – scratch its bark, and you'll find a bright yellow-orange surprise underneath, just like the spice saffron!
Its wood is so hard and strong, it's considered an "ironwood" and has been used for making all sorts of sturdy things, even tool handles!
If you want to attract a party of birds to your garden, plant a Saffron Wood! Its vibrant yellow-orange fruits are a magnet for feathered friends.
Growing tips
Propagation: Best propagated from fresh seeds. Clean the seeds from the fruit and sow in a well-drained, sandy loam mix. Germination can be slow and sometimes erratic.
Cuttings: Can be rooted from semi-hardwood cuttings, especially under mist conditions with rooting hormone, though this can be challenging.
Planting: Plant in a sunny to semi-shady position. Ensure adequate space for its mature size, as it forms a large, spreading crown.
Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Add compost to the planting hole.
Watering: Water regularly when young to ensure establishment. Once mature, it is fairly drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells.
Frost: Protect young plants from severe frost for the first few years.
Maintenance: Generally low maintenance. Requires minimal pruning, mainly to shape or remove dead/damaged branches.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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