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Friday, November 14, 2014

Cussonia paniculata sinuata - Mountain Cabbage Tree

The Mountain Cabbage Tree is a slow growing small tree, much like a dracaena with a swollen trunk designed to hold water. South African native, tolerant to about 20*F. Ours (DEAD) in the garden showed some cold damage at 22, losing some of the newer foliage.



Leaves are clustered at the tip of the plant.




Evergreen leaves are palmately compound, 2-3' long, mostly petiole, with 10 or so bluish green, deeply dissected or lobed leaflets.



Flowers after many years, yellow tiny flowers on a  woody stalk.





Fruit



Trunks are deeply furrowed, usually single when young but later may be branched after initially flowering.



Misidentification:
Can't think of anything

Location:
Aptos
Cabrillo College Horticulture Gardens (Dead)

Rio Del Mar Flats
216 Venetian

458 Seaview Dr. Might still be okay, they were not looking to good.

Santa Cruz
1310 Laurel Dr.