SANParks.org Forums • View topic - Would you chop down pine trees?

Find a weeping boer-bean tree, grab a handful of healthy seeds from the ground. Plant in trays and those that come up, plant those but keep them protected from frost for first few years. Once the start producing flowers all the surrounding bees and birds will be visiting your garden every August. Just dont park your car under them.

Pine trees are alien.
You fall into Ecozone b, Bankenveld.
I would look at planting Sweet Thorn Acacia, flowers attract many birds, and the tree adds value to the soil. Grows fast and frost resistant.
Karee Rhus, Buffalo Thorn or Quilted Blue Bush are other options. There are many more , Sappi Trees of the Highveld, would be an excellent referance book for your local area.

Some easy growing tress that also occur naturally in that region : White Stinkwood ( Celtis africana ) , Wild olive ( Oleo africana ) , Karee ( Searsii lancea ) , Cabbage tree ( Cussonia paniculata ) .

Forest, Okie, thank you.

I am so enjoying living here and see so many beautiful trees everyday that I think I'm going to send some to the tree ID thread.

Look forward to learning more

I would pull them out (HATE PINE TREES!) and just plant something indigenous back :thumbs_up:

Look at the area, veld and the birds you want to attract

MM, although white stinkwood and wild olive a both endemic to the area, the former has very invasive roots and the latter is quite slow growing, but both very worthwhile trees to have.

White stinkwood attracts a lot of birds -it attracts many insect eaters from leaf preeners to woodpeckers boring out grubs in the dead wood. The fruit is also a firm favourite.

I would also suggest Wild Peach (Kiggelaria Africana) - the fruit is well loved by birds. It also host Acra Horta caterpillars. Although they strip down much of the trees leaves, the tree recovers quickly but this is a huge delicacy for all the Cuckoo species.

Another good choice is the Tree Fucia (Halleria Lucida) which forms a smallish evergreen tree. It flowers for quite a long time and is one of the most nectar rich trees that you can find.

I am a great advocate for taking out alien invaders trees, but always plant a suitable replacement.

Also visit the National Botanical gardens plant of the week site:http://www.plantzafrica.com/frames/plantsfram.htm