34 responses

1. Hi Sarah

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Dodonea angustifolia does tend to develop a bare stem if the light intensity reduces or if not constantly pruned.

   As the pruning seems to have been quite harsh, your bushes may take a while to recover and you may not attain a fully dense growth lower down. Give them time or perhaps consider replacing them with another species suitable for your conditions.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

2. Hi, I have few of these as a screen but they grew quite tall to about 33m high and no longer have lower branches for the first 150cm, they now basically look like trees. Today my gardener chopped them all very short to about 180cm so only few branches with leaves left on the main trunks. Will them survive this pruning or will they die?
   Is there a way of making them bushy on the lower part again?
   Thanks a lot

3. Hi Haci

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   We’re not experts on edible indigenous plants so cannot offer advice on this.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

4. Hello, can the fruits be saved and consumed as herbal tea?

5. Hi Susan

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Yes, they can be planted alternately and could provide a wonderful show with their contrasting foliage colours. For dense screening, space them 60cm apart.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

6. Can I alternate Sand Olive with False Olive as a skreen next to a wall? And how far apart should I plant them?

7. Hi Pierre

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook and for your feedback.

   Dodonaea is best planted 2m from any structures to help avoid any potential damage to structures in future.

   I’m not aware of the resin being a continuous occurrence or causing a major issue as it’s generally seasonal on young branches.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

8. Hi Glenice

   First off, thanks for a fantastic piece of work in putting this website together!

   I am thinking of lining a driveway with a few sand olive trees to provide shade from the afternoon sun. I am concerned that because the leaves are covered in resin that it may drip on cars parked in the driveway? What is your experience with this? It will be planted in a small space of about 1.5m between the driveway and a wall.

   Kind regards
   Pierre
   Roodepoort, Gauteng

9. Hi Miehleketo

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ is a hybrid cultivar of the indigenous Dodonaea viscosa. If you’re not a total purist for your indigenous space, this will add purple-bronze foliage to your garden.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

10. Hi Glenice

    Is this plant related to the Dodonaea viscosa purpurea? I think the common name is Sand Olive Purple Leaf. Just wondering if it’s indigenous. I’d love to add some purple colour to my indigenous garden.

    Regards
    Miehleketo

11. Hi Morne

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    You’ll need to remove lower branches as the plant grows and that will encourage it to grow into a tree-like form.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

12. Hi. I would like to plant the Sand Olive in the West Coast an nature it to become free sanding tree and not a hedge. Any advice?
    Thnks
    Morne

13. Hi Martin

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Depending on your growing conditions, you can expect 0.5-0.9m growth per year from Dodonaea angustifolia.

    Flourish!
    Glenoice

14. How fast does a sand olive grow

15. Hi Theresa

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    As far as I’m aware, Dodonaea angustifolia doesn’t have any gum so this is most probably coming be from another tree.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

16. Does the sand-olive tree give off gum that can fall onto cars that you struggle to wash off?

17. Hi Rina

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dodonaea angustifolia can be planted 70-100cm apart, depending on your desired height and growing conditions.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

18. Please advise how far apart sand olives must be planted to make a hedge?

19. Hi Nita

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    It sounds like your tree may be exposed to wind that is affecting the taller branches.

    Check your conditions and perhaps provide a windbreak to protect your tree.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

20. Hi
    I have a purple sand olive in Stilbaai which has grown beautifully ( tree) but suddenly seems to be showing die back on the growing points of branches. It is flowering flower down branches. Can you advise please?

21. Hi Tracyjane

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Sand olives do not usually have an aggressive root system. However, to be safe, do not plant the tree less than 1.5m from your structure.

    Ballito has a favourable climate to grow many species and your choice will fare well.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

22. I would like to plant Sand Olives in our garden next to a large man made pond. What are the roots like in this tree? and will it grow well in Ballito Natal ?

23. Hi Sally

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Your sand olives (Dodonaea angustifolia) should be relatively easy to transplant:
    – Water the plants deeply before the transplant.
    – Prepare your planting holes with compost and an organic fertiliser.
    – Dig out as much of the root ball as possible – at least 40cm around the trunk and about 50cm deep.
    – Plant in the new location and water deeply, daily for at least 6 weeks.

    Flourish!
    Glenice
    – Trans

24. I have some sand olives growing in my garden – grew from seed as I did not plant them. They are approximately one meter tall. I would like to transplant them in a different area of my garden. Would this be possible? If so, what sort of soil preparation should I do? I live in Tulbagh.
    Thank you
    Sally

25. Hi Christine

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dodonea angustifolia often has the tendency to grow a network of roots near the soil surface which stabilise the plant. But, as the tree remains fairly small, the root system does not classify as invasive.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

26. Please can you advise if the root system is very invasive. I am growing 5 shrubs into a screening shrub in a very small garden in Cape Town, Milnerton area.

27. Hi Hanle

    Thanks for your feedback.

    Please keep visiting and let us know if there’s anything we add to enhance the site.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

28. I want to thank you for this valuable resource. I came across it a few years ago when I decided to turn my garden mostly indigenous. I planted about 8 of the trees on your list and whilst they are too young to flower, they give me immense pleasure already. Thank you so much for compiling the list and being prepared to still advise people. I refer others to your list all the time.

29. Hi Mitch

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Propagation of Dodonaea angustifolia is most reliable from seed. However, cuttings may also work. You’d need to experiment with several hardwood cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings taken in autumn. The use of a rooting hormone will increase your changes of success.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

30. It’s it possible to grow Dodonaea from cuttings (or truncheons)? No available info on this on any of the sites I have visited.

31. Hi Gail

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dodonea angustifolia (Sand olive) prefers sandy soil. However, it is a fairly hardy plant that may be able to adjust to clay soil conditions. When planting, consider adding some river sand to your planting hole to assist with the drainage.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

32. Hi Glenice
    How would the sand olive do in clay soil please?
    Thanks
    Gail

33. Hi Sheilagh

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Yes, the sand olive makes a stunning hedge. In fact, lovely specimens can been seen around cattle kraals in rural villages.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

34. Hi Can anyone tell me whether this sand olive can be made into a hedge?
    Thank you,
    Sheilagh