Celtis africana

Celtis africana is a large deciduous tree that, in Israel, reaches a height of 15 m, but in its land of origin can grow as high as 25 m. The trunk is light gray and smooth in texture. When the tree is very mature, horizontal wrinkles form on it, which give it an even more interesting appearance. The tree’s branches are long and tend to droop towards the end for a weeping appearance. This differentiates this Celtis from its siblings and gives it a more dramatic and sculptural appearance, mainly when the tree sheds its leaves. Its fall colors are especially impressive in colder micro-climates. The leaves are dark green with a bluish hue and are large and glabrous. The younger leaves are hairy and have a velvet-like texture. The tree’s canopy is dense, both due to the foliage and due to the branch structure, but it does not make very much shadow compared to other Celtis trees because of its weeping structure. The tree’s flowering is inconsequential, after which the tree bears fruit, berries that, when ripe, are brown-orange. Its growth rate is fast, and it requires minimal water. It prefers well-drained, non-saline soil. It is well-suited for weather conditions in most parts of the country, except for the Jordan Valley or Aravah regions.

The tree’s wood is very strong and has various uses in carpentry, house construction and toy-making. When the tree is cut or sawed, it emits an unpleasant odor, and its common name comes from this characteristic. In Africa, the different parts of the tree are used in folk medicine. The tree’s shape is sculptural and spectacular, and it is an excellent tree for many uses. It is very important to properly prune and design the tree’s structure from its youth to establish a stable and balanced frame to prevent future breakages.

In the same family: Celtis bungeana | Celtis australis |Celtis sinensis | Celtis africana | Celtis occidentalis | Zelkova serrata