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Karee

Searsia lancea

SA tree no: 386

English: Karee, Red Karee, Willow Karee

Afrikaans: Rooikaree, Wilgerkaree

Tswana: Mokala

Sotho: Mosokela

Zulu: iNthlokosane

Xhosa: umHlakothi

Synonyms: Rhus lancea, Rhus viminalis

Searsia lancea, commonly known as Karee or Rooikaree, is a beautiful and highly adaptable evergreen tree, often described as medium-sized. It's easily recognised by its graceful, drooping branches and its distinctive trifoliate (three-part) leaves that are glossy green above and duller below. While its flowers are small and greenish-yellow, it produces abundant clusters of small, shiny, yellowish-brown to reddish-brown fruits that are a favourite food for many bird species.

This tree is incredibly hardy, able to withstand drought, frost, and various soil conditions, making it a popular and valuable plant across South Africa.

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Distinguishing features:

Medium-sized evergreen tree with a dense, rounded, drooping crown.
Distinctive trifoliate (three-part) leaves, often narrow and spear-shaped.
Glossy dark green leaves above, duller below.
Small, inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers.
Produces abundant clusters of small, round, shiny yellowish-brown to reddish-brown fruits.
Very hardy to drought and frost.

Overall appearance:

Searsia lancea is a graceful, medium-sized evergreen tree with a dense, rounded, and often drooping crown. Its dark green, three-part leaves give it a fine texture, and its abundant fruit clusters add interest, especially in winter.

Height:

Typically 4 m to 8 m, but can reach up to 10 m tall.

Width:

Can spread 6 m to 8 m wide.

Leaves:

Trifoliate (compound with three leaflets).
Leaflets are narrow, lance-shaped (lanceolate).
Length ranges from 60 mm to 120 mm.
Glossy dark green on the upper surface, duller green below.
Margins are entire (smooth).
Petioles (leaf stalks) are present.
Appear almost willow-like due to their shape and slight drooping.

Flowers:

Small, inconspicuous.
Greenish-yellow.
Occur in dense, branched clusters (panicles) in the leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem).
Male and female flowers are usually on separate trees (dioecious), but sometimes on the same tree.

Flowering season:

May to July (late autumn to early winter).

Fruits:

Small, round (spherical) drupes.
Approximately 4 mm in diameter.
Shiny, yellowish-brown to reddish-brown when ripe.
Produced in abundance.
Ripen from July to October (winter to early spring).

Seeds:

Small, enclosed within the fruit.
Cleaned seeds should be sown in trays in spring.

Bark:

Dark brown to black.
Rough and fissured (cracked) on older stems and trunks.
Young branches may be reddish-brown.

Stems:

Branches often droop gracefully, contributing to the rounded crown.
Reddish-brown when young.

Wood:

Hard and tough.
Used for fence posts and tool handles.
Often used as firewood.

Roots:

Non-invasive, making it suitable for planting closer to structures than some other trees.

Soil type:

Very adaptable to soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Tolerates a wide pH range. Prefers good drainage but can tolerate some waterlogging.

Aspect:

Thrives in full sun. Extremely hardy to frost and drought once established.

Edibility:

The berries are edible, though not particularly palatable, having a slightly sour or tart taste.
The fruit can be dried and ground into a powder for making a type of sour porridge, or used to make a refreshing "karee beer."

Uses:

Landscaping: Excellent ornamental and shade tree for gardens, parks, and farms. Ideal for avenues, street planting, and windbreaks. Its non-invasive roots make it suitable for planting near buildings and paving.
Agroforestry: Used as fodder for livestock, especially in dry periods, as leaves and young shoots are palatable.
Traditional: Fruits are edible and used to make a fermented drink ("karee beer") and a type of porridge. Used medicinally for treating coughs, colds, and stomach ailments.
Timber/Wood: Hard and tough wood used for fence posts, tool handles, and as a good quality firewood.
Erosion control: Can be used to stabilise soil on riverbanks.
Attracts wildlife: Flowers attract insects (especially bees). Fruits are a major food source for various bird species, especially in winter.

Ecology:

Bird food: The abundant fruit is a highly favoured food source for many bird species, including louries, barbets, mousebirds, bulbuls, starlings, and doves.
Bee forage: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, supporting honey production.
Pioneer species: Often one of the first trees to colonise disturbed areas due to its hardiness and adaptability.
Nitrogen fixer: While not a legume, it contributes to soil health through its extensive root system.

Distribution and habitat:

Widely distributed throughout South Africa, except for the humid coastal parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Found in all nine South African provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape.
Typically grows along riverbanks, in rocky areas, and in open grassland. Often found in Karoo areas.

Derivation of name:

The genus name Searsia honours Paul B. Sears (1891–1990), an American ecologist and conservationist. Previously, this species was part of the large genus Rhus. Many Rhus species were reclassified into Searsia.
The species name lancea is Latin for 'lance-shaped' or 'spear-shaped', referring to the shape of its leaflets.
The common name 'Karee' is a Khoisan word referring to the tree itself or the fermented drink made from its berries. 'Rooikaree' (Red Karee) might refer to the reddish young branches or the reddish-brown bark. 'Willow Karee' refers to its willow-like appearance.

Historical aspects:

The Karee tree has been a valuable resource for indigenous peoples for centuries, providing food, medicine, and wood. Its hardiness allowed it to be widely used by early settlers for fence posts and farm implements.

Interesting facts:

This tree is so tough, it's like the ultimate survivor! It can handle scorching droughts, chilly frosts, and almost any kind of soil, making it super popular for planting all over South Africa.
Even though its flowers are tiny, its fruits are a huge hit with birds! Many different species flock to the Karee tree for a winter snack, turning it into a feathered feast.
You can actually eat the berries from the Karee tree! They're a bit tart, but traditionally, people have dried them and even made a special "karee beer" out of them.
Its name, 'Karee', comes from a Khoisan word, showing how deeply this tree is rooted in South Africa's cultural history!

Growing tips:

Planting location: Searsia lancea is an excellent choice for gardens, parks, and farms. It's great for providing shade, as a screen, or for avenue planting. Its non-invasive root system means you can plant it closer to paving or buildings than many other trees.
Soil and watering: It's incredibly adaptable to almost any soil type and can tolerate both wet and dry conditions once established. Water regularly when young to help it establish, but it's very drought-hardy once mature.
Aspect: Plant in full sun for best growth. It's extremely hardy to both frost and heat.
Maintenance: It requires very little pruning once established.
Propagation: Easily grown from seed or cuttings.Seeds: Collect the berries when ripe (July to October), clean the seeds, and sow them in trays in spring. Soaking seeds in hot water (100°C) for 24 hours can improve germination.
Cuttings: Take semi-hardwood cuttings.

This plant is a fantastic alternative for:

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