Description

General aspect and origins - Cunonia capensis is also known as the butterspoon tree, butterknife tree or rooiels in Africaans. It is a spreading tree which is native to the moist areas of South Africa and which can reach up to 60 ft (20 m) tall. In temperate zones, it will be smaller.
Leaves - Leaves are evergreen, opposite, up to 6-8 in (15-20 cm) long, pinnate with 5-7, sometimes 9 leaflets which are 2-4 in (5-10 cm) long each. Leaf stems and the new leaves are green-red. Also, this plant has strange green-red stipules at the tip of the stems, which look like flattened spoons, hence its common name butterspoon or butterknife tree.
Flowers - This plant has white flowers that are grouped in erect, bottlebrush-shaped racemes. Each raceme is about 4-8 in (10-20 cm) long. These flowers are strongly scented.
Fruits - The fruit is an inedible capsule.

Culture

C. capensis is not frost-hardy. It may reliably withstand 32°F (0°C) temperatures for a brief period, but certainly won't survive freezing temperatures. It should thus be grown outdoors in frost-free areas, in USDA zones 10 and warmer.
Soil - C. capensis needs a light, neutral to slightly acidic, fertile and well-drained soil. As it is not very drought hardy, the soil should be kept fairly moist during the warm months.

Propagation

This plant can be propagated by seeds (in spring) or by cuttings (with semi-ripe wood in mid to late summer, with a bottom heat)
Seeds are oblong and flattened.