Vachellia karroo

Family: Mimosaceae (Thorn-tree family)

Common names: Sweet Thorn (E); umuNga (Z); Soetdoring (A); Mookana (NS); Mooka (Tsw);

Native to: Southern Africa

Tree

Vachellia karroo

SEMI-DECIDUOUS

FULL SUN

FROST HARDY

LOW WATER REQUIREMENTS

MEDIUM WATER REQUIREMENTS

FAST GROWER

FRAGRANT

ATTRACTS BIRDS

ATTRACTS INSECTS

FLOWER COLOUR:

AVERAGE SIZE:

6m x 5m

MAXIMUM SIZE:

12m x 8m

FLOWERING TIME:

J F M A M J J A S O N D

FRUITING TIME:

J F M A M J J A S O N D

DESCRIPTION

A magnificent, dense and rounded tree with a dark-brown bark. It bears straight, white, paired thorns are up to 15cm long. The fruit is a brown sickle-shaped pod which splits on the tree. The flowers are sweetly-scented, round and yellow.

NATURAL HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION

A variety of habitats from dune forests to grasslands.

WILDLIFE & ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS

A useful tree for the large wildlife-friendly garden.
It attracts bees with its high nectar yield.
Birds such as sunbirds and parrots visit them frequently.
It is a larval host plant for several butterfly species.

LANDSCAPING USES

A magnificent shade tree for a large garden.
Do not plant too close to built structures as the roots may cause damage.
A great windbreak on farms.

GARDEN THEMES

Bushveld, Woodland

FLOWERS

The sweet-smelling flowers are yellow balls approximately 15mm in diameter.

FOLIAGE

BARK

FRUIT

SEED

SPINES

BUTTERFLY/MOTH HOST PLANT

Anthene amarah amarah (Blackstriped Hairtail)
Anthene constrastata mashuna (Mashuna Hairtail)
Anthene definita definita (Common Hairtail)
Anthene otacilia otacilia (Otacilia Hairtail)
Anthene talboti (Talbot’s Hairtail)
Axiocerses tjoane tjoane (Common Scarlet)
Azanus jesous jesous (Topaz-spotted Blue)
Azanus moriqua (Thorn-tree Blue)
Azanus natalensis (Natal Spotted Blue)
Azanus ubaldus (Velvet-spotted Blue)
Chrysoritis chrysaor (Burnished Opal)
Crudaria leroma (Silver-spotted Grey)
Crudaria wykehami (Wykeham’s Grey)
Uranothauma nubifer (Black Heart)

PLANTBOOK