The wild plum or Harpephyllum caffrum (SA Tree List No. 361) is a decorative evergreen tree with edible fruit. It grows in many parks and gardens in South Africa and elsewhere. In nature it occurs from the Cape along the south and east coasts of the country into inland provinces north east of the Vaal River.
It is very easy to appreciate the popularity of this tree. And just as easy to plant one where space allows. The wild plum is a medium-sized tree that may reach 15 m. The attractive red fruit, oblong drupes with single seeds, look better than they taste, as they are quite sour. The fruit eating birds, such as louries, Cape parrots, barbets and bulbuls, as wel as animals like baboons, monkeys and bushbabies don’t mind that though (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).
The sapling in picture shows just the shiny pinnate (compound) leaves with their wavy edges and a little of the red new growth.