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Common Guarri
Euclea undulata
SA tree no: 601
English: Common Guarri, Small-leaved Guarri, Fire Fighter's Blessing, Guarri Bush, Guarriwoo, Thicket Euclea, Thick-thorn Guarri-bush, Guarri Bush, Small-leaved Jackalberry
Afrikaans: Knoppiehout, Kleinblaarghwarrie, Gewone Ghwarrrie, Ghwarrieboom, Ghwarriebos, Guarri, Guarribessies, Guarriboom, Guarribos, Guarriheuning, Guarrihout, Gwharrie, Kwar, Raasbessie, Raasbessiebos, Kanniedood, Koedoe-ghwarrie, Knophout
Xhosa: umShekisane, umTshekisani, umGwali
Zulu: gwanxe, inkunzane, umShekizane, umBophanyamazane, iDungamuzi
N. Sotho: Motlhajwa
S. Sotho: Mokwere Kwere, Mokwerekwere
Tswana: Motlhakola
Venda: Tshitangule
Historical scientific names: Euclea myrtina, Euclea undulata var. myrtina, Euclea microphylla, Euclea oleifolia
Subspecies: Euclea undulata subsp. undulata, Euclea undulata subsp. myrtina
Euclea undulata, commonly known as the Small-leaved Guarri or Common Guarri, is an exceptionally tough and adaptable indigenous evergreen shrub or small tree widely distributed across diverse biomes of Southern Africa. This resilient plant is well-known for its dense, often rigid growth habit, small, glossy, dark green leaves with distinctively wavy or undulate margins, and its abundant clusters of small, black, edible berries that are a crucial food source for birds and other wildlife.
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Distinguishing features
A dense, evergreen shrub or small tree with rigid, often intricately branched stems.
Features small, glossy, dark green leaves with characteristic wavy (undulate) margins.
Produces small, bell-shaped, creamy-white flowers in short clusters.
Bears small, round, fleshy berries that ripen to black.
Extremely hardy, drought-tolerant, and frost-resistant, adaptable to a wide range of conditions.
Overall appearance:
Euclea undulata is a highly variable plant, typically growing as a dense, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a very compact and rigid appearance. In more favourable conditions, it can grow into a small, gnarled tree. Its overall form is dense and impenetrable, with attractive, slightly undulating dark green foliage.
Height:
Usually grows between 1 and 4 metres tall, but can sometimes reach up to 6 metres as a tree.
Width:
Forms a dense, spreading bush, typically 2–4 metres wide, making it excellent for hedges and screens.
Leaves:
Simple, alternate or sub-opposite, generally small, elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate in shape, 1–5 cm long.
They are stiff, leathery, and glossy dark green above, paler below.
The most distinguishing feature is their strongly wavy or "undulate" margins, giving the plant its specific epithet.
New leaves can sometimes have a reddish tinge.
Flowers:
Small, inconspicuous, bell-shaped, and typically creamy-white or yellowish-green.
They are borne in short, dense clusters (axillary racemes or cymes) in the leaf axils.
Euclea undulata is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Only female plants will produce berries.
Flowering season:
Flowers mainly in spring to early summer, generally from September to December, but flowering can occur sporadically at other times.
Fruits:
Small, round, fleshy berries (drupes), about 4–7 mm in diameter.
They ripen from green to a dark purple or black colour.
Each fruit contains a single hard seed.
They are edible, sweet, and a significant food source for birds and other wildlife. Fruits ripen from summer to autumn, generally from February to May.
Seeds:
Small, hard, contained within the fleshy fruit. They are dispersed by birds and can be sown for propagation.
Bark:
Smooth and light grey on young stems, becoming darker, rougher, and finely fissured or flaky on older trunks.
Stems:
Multi-stemmed from the base, forming a dense, bushy, and often intertwining structure. Branches are stiff and rigid.
Wood:
The wood is extremely hard, dense, and durable, often with a dark heartwood (resembling ebony). It is used for small articles, tool handles, carvings, and as a very good firewood.
Roots:
Possesses a strong, deep, and fibrous root system, which makes it excellent for soil stabilisation and allows it to be planted near paving or buildings. It is not considered invasive.
Soil type:
Extremely adaptable, thriving in a wide range of well-rained soils, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It tolerates very poor, rocky, and even saline conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun but can tolerate semi-shade. It is exceptionally hardy, extremely drought-tolerant, and very frost-resistant once established, making it suitable for almost all climatic conditions across South Africa.
Edibility:
The ripe dark purple to black berries are edible and have a sweet taste. They are commonly consumed by birds, other wildlife, and occasionally by humans.
Uses:
Hedge & Screening: Its dense, evergreen growth, hardiness, and response to pruning make it an ideal choice for formal or informal hedges, windbreaks, and privacy screens, especially in challenging environments.
Ornamental: Valued in gardens for its distinctive wavy-margined, glossy foliage, dense form, and abundant berries.
Wildlife Garden: A highly valuable bird-attracting plant due to its abundant, edible berries. It also provides excellent nesting and roosting sites.
Drought & Frost Hardy: Ideal for water-wise, low-maintenance gardens and areas subject to extreme conditions.
Traditional Uses: The fruit has been eaten, roots have been traditionally used for various remedies (e.g., toothache, stomach complaints) and as a source of black dye. The hard wood is also used for carvings and small implements.
Ecology:
Birds: The small, dark berries are a crucial food source for a vast array of fruit-eating birds, including various bulbuls, starlings, mousebirds, and turacos (louries). Birds are key dispersers of its seeds.
Insects: The inconspicuous flowers attract pollinating insects, including bees.
Habitat: Provides dense cover and shelter for small animals and birds due to its compact growth. It forms an important component of the understorey in various bushveld and forest types.
Distribution and habitat:
Euclea undulata is one of the most widespread and ecologically important species in Southern Africa, found across all nine provinces of South Africa, and extending into Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland.
South African Provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
Habitat: Extremely adaptable, found in an exceptionally wide range of habitats including dry grasslands, bushveld, thickets, woodlands, rocky outcrops, forest margins, and even semi-desert areas. It is a dominant species in many mixed bushveld and scrub communities.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Euclea is derived from the Greek word 'eukleia', meaning "glory" or "fame," possibly referring to the attractive appearance or useful qualities of certain species.
The species epithet undulata is Latin for "wavy" or "undulate," referring to the characteristic wavy or crisped margins of its leaves.
The common name "Small-leaved Guarri" refers to its relatively small leaf size compared to other Euclea species and its classification as a type of "Guarri" tree.
Historical aspects:
Euclea undulata has been an integral part of Southern African ecosystems and human cultures for centuries. Its edible berries have been a traditional food source, and its incredibly hard, dark wood was highly valued for various implements and carvings. Indigenous traditional healers used parts of the plant for various ailments, and its roots were historically a significant source of black dye, highlighting its profound cultural and practical importance.
Interesting facts
This "Small-leaved Guarri" is a true chameleon – its leaves are distinctively wavy along the edges, like little green ruffles!
It's one of the toughest plants in South Africa, able to survive in almost any harsh condition, from scorching sun to chilly frost – a real survivor!
Its wood is so incredibly hard and dense, it's often used for making traditional walking sticks and small, sturdy tools – a true "knotty wood"!
Growing tips
Propagation: Can be propagated from fresh seeds. Clean the seeds from the fruit and sow in a well-drained, sandy mix. Germination can be slow and irregular, often benefiting from light scarification or soaking.
Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in spring or summer can be rooted, especially with rooting hormone and mist, but success rates can be variable.
Planting: Plant in full sun for best growth and berry production, though it tolerates semi-shade. It is suitable for a wide range of garden types due to its adaptability.
Soil: Adapts to almost all well-drained soil types, including poor and rocky soils.
Watering: Extremely drought-tolerant once established. Water regularly when young to ensure establishment.
Frost: Very frost-hardy once mature, making it suitable for cold inland areas.
Maintenance: Responds exceptionally well to pruning, making it ideal for shaping into formal hedges or screens. It is generally a very low-maintenance plant.
Fruiting: Remember it is dioecious; you will need both male and female plants for fruit production.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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