Calodendrum capense
In bloom the Cape Chestnut is a beautiful tree that flourishes in montane, coastal and riverine forests, occurring patchily along Africa’s east coast from Kenya southwards to the Western Cape of South Africa. In forests it can grow to 20m tall while in gardens – where it is a very popular feature plant – it grows to only about half that height. The striking flowers are carried in early summer and is popular with butterflies, many of which – including the Citrus Swallowtail – also uses the Cape Chestnut as a fodder plant for their larvae. Primates and birds love the seeds. An oil made from the seeds is used as a skin care product, and in days past the wood was used to make wagon parts and furniture.
Cape Chestnut
Cape Chestnut
Cape Chestnut
Cape Chestnut
Cape Chestnut Tree in a hillside forest
Cape Chestnut flowers
Cape Chestnut flowers
Cape Chestnut in bloom
Cape Chestnut tree
DeWetsWild 
What a beautiful flower! I can see why people would grow it in their gardens.
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Seeing one of these trees in full bloom is a real treat, Siobhan
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I am happy to share that we have a beautiful Cape Chestnut tree in our garden 🙂
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And in your forested garden I am sure it grew much taller than it would in most others, Anne.
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Ek probeer nou dink of ek al ‘n Chestnut boom gesien het … maar kan nie so iets onthou nie (dis so mooi, ek sou dit moeilik vergeet het)!
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Hulle is veral opvallend aan die Tuinroete in Desember – miskien as julle weer daar en dan toer sal jy hulle opmerk.
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It’s a beautiful and very useful tree!
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I absolutely agree, Hien!
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Delicate and lovely!
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Very much so!
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Not just a pretty face but useful as well. 😁
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Very true, Janet!
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Ons het hier ook Chestnuts https://www.southernwoods.co.nz/shop/aesculus-hippocastanum/ Kinders hou daarvan om met sade te speel. hul noem dit concas, dit hop lekker.
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Ons Kaapse Kastaiing is eintlik glad nie familie van die “Horse Chestnut” wat in die noordelike halfrond natuurlik groei en onder ander na baie van die ou Engelse kolonies ingevoer is nie, Ineke. Eintlik lyk hulle maar net op n afstand bietjie na mekaar, vandaar die naam.
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Aha, ek sien. Nie so daaraan gedink nie. Dankie vir verduidelik. Eks so opgewonde, ek en Bea het ‘n koekoek voël gesien vandag. Ek het ook twee kingfishers en hul nes in wal langs stroom raakgeloop gister.
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Dit is baie interessante waarnemings so diep in die herfs-seisoen in, Ineke!
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Herfs het nog nie regtig toegeslaan nie. Was nog heeltyd bo gemiddeld warm met selfs subtropiese front oor ons. Ongelukkig/gelukkig draai die weer Donderdag dat daar goed koue gaan inbeweeg. Ek dink ons spring sommer oor herfs winter in.
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Sterkte met die bibber-en-beef, Ineke!
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En hoe! Dankie vir meelewing van brrrrrrr. Word al kouer. Vannag gaan net 6 grade word en more 13 grade maar gelukkig kan sonnetjie dalk bietjie uitkom.
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Gorgeous!!
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Much prettier than these pictures could capture!
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Always seems to be the way! Good thing the smells and sights are forever embedded in our memories.
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