Searsia lancea
Karee · also African sumac, Willow rhus, Bastard willow
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Searsia lancea, also known as African sumac, is an evergreen, frost-hardy, and drought-resistant tree with arching branches and weeping foliage, growing up to 30 feet tall with a 35-foot spread. Native to Southern Africa, it is commonly found in the Highveld and Bushveld. This species is tough and reliable in dry conditions, making it an effective screen or windbreak in urban plantings, though it is susceptible to Texas root rot.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 910.02%35 yr7.5 in
- 220.02%—9.0 in
- 10.00%——
Traits
- Form
- Weeping
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 30 ft
- Canopy spread
- 35 ft
- Water needs
- Low
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Blooms
- Jun, Jul, Aug
Trunk diameters across every city: median 7.5 in, mean 6.4 in, 90th percentile 9.0 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Tropical & Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
- Zambezian evergreen dry forests
Tropical & Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands
- Southern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets