Woody > Combretum > Combretum imberbe > Combretum imberbe
Combretum imberbe
Leadwood
Origin: Southern and eastern Africa. Angola, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and S. Africa.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Combretum imberbe is native to most Southern African countries and is mostly found in moist, open fields or by riverbanks. This makes it ideal for gardens located in moist and warm climates. This tree will not survive in any time of frost, so it is important that they are located in humid places. The Leadwood tree is quite delicate looking. However, it is quite tough with a Canadian Hardiness Zone 6a-8a. It would be the perfect tree to put by water sources like ponds, valleys, and rivers. They are also useful for harvest. The fruits are edible and the roots are traditionally used as medicine for coughs, colds, and diarrhea.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Combretaceae |
| Genus |
| Combretum |
| Species |
| imberbe |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 10 - 12 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6a - 8a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c - H1b |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-12) - 1 |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 10 - 34 |
| Height |
| 15 - 21 m |
| Spread |
| 10 - 20 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| This tree is the largest Combretum in South Africa. It is a slow-growing tree with yellow/green fruit that will have four D-shaped wings. The bark is moderately rectangular and will flake off. |
| Landscape |
| Leadwood trees are used to grow for naturalization but are found mostly in riverbeds. The tree only tolerates full sun and cannot grow in the shade; so it is better planted out in the open. Combretum imberbe is useful for fences, walking sticks, toys and turnery. The wood is quite durable, so it is popular for furniture because of its longevity. |
| Cultivation |
| Soil should be well drained and the tree needs to be in full sun. It is relatively drought resistant; however, the trees do not do well in frost. |
| Shape |
| It is a very straight tree with little canopy spread and is single-stemmed. |
| Growth |
| Slow |
| ID Characteristic |
| The bark is a light grey colour on the main stem. The leaves on this tree are arranged opposite to each other, and can have up to seven obovate leaves. The fruit that is produced is 4 winged and is a yellowish-green colour. |
| Pests |
| Small rodents in Africa will eat the seeds of the fruit. Up to 35% of the seeds can have an affliction with parasites. With the trees growing out in fields, domestic livestock will destroy some of the seeds that are on the ground. |
| Habitat |
| Leadwood roots collect lots of water from the ground, so they are found along rivers and in valleys. Open grasslands are common places for these trees to grow in, because they need full sun. Leadwood also prefers rocky areas like kopjes. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Combretum imberbe's bark colour is a light grey. It contains tight and interlocking plates that explain the pattern of the bark and rectangular shape. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| It has a very obovate leaf bud, but the flower tends to be more orbicular. Both are around 4 - 10mm in size. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaf colour is greyish-green on top and yellowy-green on the bottom. It is an obovate leaf shape and is spine-tipped, making it very stiff. On the rachis, the leaves are arranged opposite to one other. The leaf petiole can be from 4 - 10mm long but is commonly seen from 5 - 6mm. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowering period for Combretum imberbe is typically November to March; it can also start as early as August. On the growth laterals, the inflorescences undergo the start of their growth. The flower is quite spiky, however, there is either a single spiked or a branched panicle at the terminal. It will grow up to 50mm in length. It has a green-starting colour but moving into autumn it will change into a light brown. |
| Fruit Description |
| A sub-circular fruit comes off of leadwood trees. They are typically in a D shape. The size of the fruit is not large, the length and width will not exceed 1.5cm. In bloom, the colour is yellowish green, turning a light brown towards August that persists through to spring. The fruit will be ripe again by April. |
| Colour Description |
| Leadwood bark is a light grey when young. After maturing it will become a bit darker. The colour of the leaf is greyish-green on the top and yellow-green at the bottom. The flower starts off green, changing to a light brown through the seasons. The fruit will be the same as the flower, starting off green and changing light brown. |
| Texture Description |
| The Leadwood tree is a coarse-textured plant. It has flaky, tight, and interlocking plates. The tree's texture stays the same all the way through the year. |
| Notable Specimens |
| Combretum imberbe is only found in the southern countries of Africa, listed in the origin. |
| Propagation |
| Healthy seeds are needed when growing Leadwood. First, you have to remove the seed from the fruit if it has not been parasitized. After this, soak the seeds for a few hours and plant them in trays filled with river sand, since the plant enjoys being by the riverside. A layer of sand should be applied on top after planting. After two weeks, the seedlings will germinate. Be careful of the temperature, since frost is a major concern and can easily kill the plant. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| This tree is very durable, so there are many uses for it. The wood carving industry makes sculptures, tables, tools, and almost all types of furniture out of its wood. Fuelwood is another use, since Leadwood is extremely slow-burning and is good for cooking. Some medicinal uses come out of the tree's roots, and are only for human consumption. Digesting the roots can help with diarrhea, coughs and colds. |
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