This lovely tree gets its English common name from the masses of white blooms which appear before the leaves in early spring. It bears a resemblance to a true pear (Pyrus communis) in full flower. It is no relation of the pear tree, which is in the Rose family (Roseaceae) like the peach and apricot.

Like other Dombeya species the flowers remain on the tree until after the fruit capsules have formed in the centre of each flower. The petals turn brown and become dry and light. Once the fruit is ripe and falls from the tree, the petals act as wings and float it away. The wild pear grows in woodland, wooded grassland and rocky mountain slopes from Kwazulu-Natal northwards to Ethiopia.

The name Dombeya was given in honour of Joseph Dombey (1742 - 1793), a French botanist who worked in Peru and Chilé. Rotundifolia refers to the round leaves of this species.

This is a deciduous, very fast growing tree, 1 - 1.5m per year. It may reach up to 10m in height but is usually between 3 and 6 metres. The bark is dark brown, very rough and corky on mature trees. It forms a protective, fire resistant layer around the trunk. The leaves are almost round and are covered with the minute star-like hairs, which are a character of Dombeya.

The wild pear is a lovely garden specimen, the spectacular show of scented flowers is a herald of spring. It has a single stem and a somewhat rounded crown. It is both frost and drought resistant. The flowers appear from July to September, the earlier flowering taking place in the warmer northern areas. The dried flowers can be used in flower arranging. This is a good wildlife garden tree as it attracts bees and butterflies. It is a larval food plant for the Ragged Skipper (Caprona pillaana) butterfly. The wild pear is also reportedly a good bonsai specimen, which develops the corky bark and reduced leaf size after 2 - 3 years.

The wild pear has many traditional uses as well. Strong rope fibre is made from the bark and the plant is used medicinally for various purposes, including a love potion made from the flowers. It is a useful tree on farms and nature reserves as game and stock browse from it. The wood is termite resistant and often used as fence posts. Bee farmers also appreciate the tree for the large amounts of nectar and pollen which it produces.

Growing Dombeya rotundifolia

The wild pear can be propagated from seed in spring in deep seed trays of good, fine seedling mix, lightly covered with sand and kept moist. The seedlings should be transplanted once the true leaves have formed, into small nursery bags filled with a 3:1 mixture of sand and compost. They should be given protection from heat and sun until they are hardened off.

References

• Henning, G.A, Henning, S.F et al. 1997. Living Butterflies of Southern Africa, Vol. I. Umdaus Press. Pretoria.
• Thomas, V and Grant, R. 1998. Sappi Tree Spotting, Highveld and the Drakensberg. Jacana Education. Johannesburg.
• Venter, F and J-A. 1996. Making the most of Indigenous Trees. Briza Publications. Pretoria.
• Van Wyk, B and van Wyk, P. 1997. Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers. Cape Town.

by Alice Aubrey
Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden
September 2001