Cape Chestnut

Did you know

• The genus name Calodendrum means 'beautiful tree' in Greek, and it lives up to the name when covered in pink blooms.
• Cape chestnut is not a true chestnut—it belongs to the citrus family, Rutaceae.
• The large, oily seeds have been used to make soap and a non-edible oil for lamps in rural South Africa.
• A mature Cape chestnut in full bloom can be so covered in flowers that the foliage is almost invisible.
• The tree is a popular street tree in South African cities like Cape Town and Pretoria.

Color meanings

Uses

• street tree
• ornamental shade tree
• oil production from seeds