38 responses

1. Hi Catrien

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Dombeya rotundifolia is typically a bushveld species, but perhaps check with your local nursery to find out whether it will suit your conditions.

   If it is suitable, the safe recommended planting distance from any structures is 5m.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

2. Hi Mario

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook and apologies for the delay in responding.

   It may be possible that your tree is under some stress. In gardens, this could be that the tree is getting too much water either due to leaking pipes, incorrect irrigation settings or a change in the water flow on the property. Check the soil around the plant for signs of excess moisture. Otherwise, other options to investigate are the use of any harmful chemicals around the tree such as petrol from garden equipment, pool backwash or herbicides.

   I hope you manage to save your tree.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

3. Good day, Will the Dombeya rotundifolia grow in Wellington Western Cape and what is the closest on can plant it to a house? We are planning a small avenue

4. Howzit Glenice
   My wild pear gave me a beautiful show of flowers and brand new leaves and now the flowers have dried up and the leaves are dying, as if it is winter. Can you help

5. Hi Elizabeth

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   The pink form of Dombeya rotundifolia is rare.

   If the pink flowered form is in close proximity to white-flowered trees there is a possibility of cross-pollination as they are pollinated by fling insects so you’re unlikely to be guaranteed a pink-flowered offspring from your marked trees.

   It’s still worth trying though it will take approximately 3-5 years before a young plant starts producing flowers.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

6. I have a 2 pink Dombeya trees in the mountain They stand between ordinary white Dombeyas. I have marked them for a few years now and they consistently produce pink flowers.
   Will the seed produce pink Dombeyas?
   Is it the same specie?

7. Hi Iris

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   I don’t recommend the cutting back of any tree as it then looses its natural shape and is more susceptible to pests and diseases that can kill the tree.

   At 3m, your tree is still fairly young so don’t interfere and just look forward to its spring display.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

8. Do I have to cut back Dombeya Rotundifolia at all. We have one that is about 3 meters high. If I do have to when should it be

9. Hi Juliette

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Dombeya rotundifolia has varying growth rates depending on your location and soil conditions. I’m not in favour of formal, linear planting as each tree has a “personality” and will develop a unique form which is the beauty of nature. In order to avoid the frustration of trying to manage irregular growth, I’d rather recommend random planting with spacing of 3-10m between each tree.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

10. Hi.

    I would to make a small wild pear plantation in ac22 x 15 m area. How far apart do I plant these wild pear trees, please?

11. Hi Lene

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dombeya rotundifolia is considered to be non-allergenic as it’s pollinated by insects.

    Interestingly, wind-pollinated plants such as grasses are mostly allergenic.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

12. Hi Glenice
    I was wondering, is the Dombeya rotundifolia allergenic? I would love to plant some in our garden but are scared of allergies.

13. Hi Jacqui

    Dombeya rotundifolia is not naturally found in winter rainfall regions as it requires a dry winter to promote its dormant phase.

    Perhaps consider Pavetta lanceolata as an alternative.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

14. Is the tree suitable for Cape Town climates?

15. Hi Tracy

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    It sounds like your tree may be receiving too much water. As this is a deciduous tree it would be best not to water at all in winter to allow it to go dormant. In the summer months, allow the soil to dry between watering periods.

    If your garden has an irrigation system, consider making adjustments to reduce the amount of water your tree is receiving.

    Lichen is an organism which is often seen growing on trees and rocks in nature. It is definitely not a sign of stress, but rather an indicator of a healthy ecosystem so that is no need to remove or treat it.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

16. My dombeya is full of white aphids..the entire tree’s bark is covered. The tree is approx 5m tall, trunk has started growing lichen, we do have an ant problem in our garden and in our area. (I presume the lichen an indication of stress)How do I treat?.

17. Hi Sipho

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    You’re right that a plant’s lifespan will depend on the growing conditions. Dombeya rotundifolia can survive beyond 15 years.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

18. Hello Glenice, do you have an average age of Dombeya rotundifolia ? I am aware that may it may depend on a number of factors but a ball-park figure would really help :).

    Kin

19. Hi Lynette

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    The tree may well be Dombeya rotundifolia. Since we’ve had a late winter, it is possible that the tree hasn’t shed its leaves in July.

    You’re welcome to send some photos to designs@groundedlandscaping.co.za and we’ll try to assist with the ID.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

20. Dear Glenice, I hope you can help me identify a small tree in the Hoedspruit area in the bushes next to a seasonal stream. The leaves are a close fit to Dombeya rotundifolia, and according to my books, they grow there. The leaves still on the tree now in July, are extremely rough, feeling like sandpaper, top and bottom. Further the bark of the multi-stemmed trees are very smooth light green-grey striped and like marble. They do not have the thick black bark found on the ancient Dombeyas growing on the rocky koppie in my Pretoria garden. Unfortunately, there were no flowers in Hoedspruit to help ID them. I am literally stumped trying to identify those trees. I can send you photos if that will help.

21. Hi Mic

    Thanks for visiting our site.

    Dombeya does not have male and female on separate trees, so this is not the situation.

    I don’t know what the age of your tree is or where you’re situated as this may have a bearing on the lack of flowers. Here are some other things to consider:-
    – Dombeya rotundifolia grown from seed can take 5-10 years before it begins to flower.
    – Most deciduous trees that flower in spring, like Dombeya rotundifolia, prefer to have a dry winter. If you are running an irrigation system, consider not running the cycle in the zone around your tree from June to August
    – Dombeya prefers a well-drained soil so check your soil condition.
    – Trees will go through some transplant shock when transferred to the ground from a nursery bag. The duration of this varies according to the change in conditions at the new site. Perhaps your tree is still adjusting to its new home.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

22. Hi.

    I have a new Dombeya Rot. I planted about 18 months ago. I was looking forward to the famous flowers last spring but nothing came. Someone told me the Dombeya comes in male and female and only the one flowers. Is this true??

23. Hi Elsa

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Your tree sounds like it’s displaying signs of distress which sound like over-watering may be a possibility. Dombeya rotundifolia prefers a dry winter to allow it to go dormant. If this doesn’t happen, then the flowering is compromised in spring.

    Please check your watering and reduce the watering in that area if possible. If that doesn’t appear to be the cause, I’d recommend you contact an arborist to inspect your tree.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

24. Good afternoon,
    I have a Dombeya rotundifolia of about 4 – 5 years old and about 6 – 7 metres tall. It was growing very beautiful up until this year. It had hardly any flowers this past flowering season and when the leaves were growing out, it did not even cover half the tree, with many branches just leave-less. And now, only 3 months into summer, the leaves are turning yellow and falling down. I am very worried about my tree and are afraid that I will loose this beauty. Can you please think of any possible reason that this might happen?

25. Hi Louise

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    I haven’t experienced this and none of the books which I reference has any mention of this. Perhaps there was a carrion plant/kill near the area?

    Flourish!
    Glenice

26. Hi. Please advise whether the leaves of the dombeya rotundifolia emits a carrion like smell at certain times of the year

27. Hi Alta

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dombeya rotundifolia doesn’t have an aggressive root system and will make a fantastic focal tree. Note that the recommended planting distance from any structures is 3m.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

28. Hallo. How aggressive is its root system?
    I live in Bloemfontein & would like to replace the Paper Mulberry growing close to the house with this indigenous species (Dombeya rotundifolia)

29. Hi Judy

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    The fruit of a Dombeya is only 6mm in diameter and hardly causes a mess. And, as far as I know, the fruit is eaten by many birds. With regards to the leaves dropping, this only happens once a year as the tree is deciduous, so it won’t be a continual task all year.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

30. Hi Maritza

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook and for buying my book.

    Dombeya rotundifolia grows best in summer rainfall regions, so you may struggle to find one in your area. However, try the nursery at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for seed or seedlings.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

31. Hi Glenice
    I came across this tree in your book Indigenous Garden Plants and really want to plant one in my garden. We live in Western Cape fynbos/strandveld region and I was wondering whether it would survive here. Also where do you think I can get a seedling or seed?

32. Dear Glenice We are moving to a townhouse complex in Riverclub Johannesburg The unit has a large centrally enclosed patio open to the elements with bedrooms, litchen & study leading into the open area which has light floor tiles. (Not grass) with space for two trees. I can’t make up my mind between the two pom pom trees or two dombeya rotoundiflora The pink of the flowering pom pom will look stunning against the white walls but it may not grow tall enough & may not provide enough shade in summer or sun in winter The dombeya produces fruit which may make keeping the atrium tiles clean a mission what with bird poo & rotten fruit dropping to the tiles How difficult would either of these trees be to grow to above gutter height without creating too big a cleaning task during their messy seasons (fruit attracting birds leaves dtopping etc) I accept the beauty of trees in the atrium will come at the price of some extra work but I’d like to minimise it if possible. Thank you for your assistance & the informative website Regards Judy Croome

33. Hi Disa

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Dombeya is easy to propagate from seed. This is best done in spring – sow in a seedling mix and keep moist.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

34. How can I propagate Dombeya?

35. Hi Dirk

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    I’m not aware of this species attracting cuckoos.

    However, Kiggelaria africana (Wild Peach) definitely does attract cuckoos as they feed on the caterpillars of the Garden acrea butterfly that uses the tree as a host plant.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

36. Hi Glenice, would this tree attract cuckoos?

    Thanks

    Dirk

37. Hi Pietie

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    The Dombeya rotundifolia is a deciduous tree. Rather than loosing its leaves for the whole of winter, it does so towards the end of the cold spell. Shortly after the tree is denuded of foliage, it is covered in magnificent white flowers and one barely notices that no leaves are present. The period that the tree has no foliage is about 6-8 weeks, but will depend on the climate.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

38. Hi there, is this tree evergreen?