Calodendrum capense-- Cape Chestnut

[fastfeat]

Usually blooming in June-July locally, this one in Orange was putting on a good show the third week of April this year.

Native to south Africa, this member of Rutaceae (Citrus family) is slow-growing to maybe 40' in SoCal. Well-behaved, deep roots make it a good street or patio tree. At its best in coastal areas (away from immediate influence) to intermediate valleys/hills. Possibly useful in Bay Area banana belts, where it could get some heat and little frost. Cold-hardy to 25-30F, maybe lower with age. Likes heavy soil (but still has to drain); not good on sand. Apparently dislikes high night temps and humidity of Florida; never successful there for long.

[AggiePalms]

Whoa! That is impressive, like the Poincianas south of here in Florida. I don't guess it could handle 8b/9a with high summer temps and humidity? I would sure like to try one...

[Justin]

I have a couple, and they're doing okay, but in no hurry to do much of anything, including bloom. But pictures like this will give me some patience with them.

[aloetom]

Wow, great looking tree and pix.

Thx for putting them up !

[LJG]

I planted one 5 years ago as a 15 gallon. It still has not bloomed for the first time. They are a somewhat slower growing tree and certainly take their time for first bloom.

[Palms1984]

Here's some beautiful trees which bloom very early every year in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA. I've seen these trees bloom in January! There's about a dozen trees in this over flow parking lot.

I took these photos on April 27, 2011.

[Palms1984]

Here's the other pic.

[Palms1984]

A close up of the flowers.

[Palms1984]

Usually blooming in June-July locally, this one in Orange was putting on a good show the third week of April this year.

Native to south Africa, this member of Rutaceae (Citrus family) is slow-growing to maybe 40' in SoCal. Well-behaved, deep roots make it a good street or patio tree. At its best in coastal areas (away from immediate influence) to intermediate valleys/hills. Possibly useful in Bay Area banana belts, where it could get some heat and little frost. Cold-hardy to 25-30F, maybe lower with age. Likes heavy soil (but still has to drain); not good on sand. Apparently dislikes high night temps and humidity of Florida; never successful there for long.

The large Calodendron capense - Cape Chestnut trees in parts of the San Francisco Bay Area(mostly East, South Bay) survived the freeze of 1990 with little to no damage at all. This tree is much hardier than 25ºF/-3.9ºC.

[bahia]

While they may be hardy here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a 20~25 year old one in Strybing Botanic Garden that has never bloomed, they don't seem to be inclined to flower here. I have yet to see any north of San Luis Obispo that actually flower in northern California. Does anyone know of any here in the SF Bay Area, perhaps Fremont or San Jose, where they may get the extra warmth they may need to bloom? I can be fairly certain there are none here in the Berkeley/Oakland area or San Francisco proper that have flowered. The ones at Strybing probably saw down to 22~24F for a couple of days in the 1990 freeze. I'd love to use this tree here in the SF Bay Area, if I actually knew what it takes to get one to bloom!

[Palms1984]

While they may be hardy here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a 20~25 year old one in Strybing Botanic Garden that has never bloomed, they don't seem to be inclined to flower here. I have yet to see any north of San Luis Obispo that actually flower in northern California. Does anyone know of any here in the SF Bay Area, perhaps Fremont or San Jose, where they may get the extra warmth they may need to bloom? I can be fairly certain there are none here in the Berkeley/Oakland area or San Francisco proper that have flowered. The ones at Strybing probably saw down to 22~24F for a couple of days in the 1990 freeze. I'd love to use this tree here in the SF Bay Area, if I actually knew what it takes to get one to bloom!

Edited May 26, 2011 by Palms1984

[Palms1984]

While they may be hardy here in the San Francisco Bay Area, there is a 20~25 year old one in Strybing Botanic Garden that has never bloomed, they don't seem to be inclined to flower here. I have yet to see any north of San Luis Obispo that actually flower in northern California. Does anyone know of any here in the SF Bay Area, perhaps Fremont or San Jose, where they may get the extra warmth they may need to bloom? I can be fairly certain there are none here in the Berkeley/Oakland area or San Francisco proper that have flowered. The ones at Strybing probably saw down to 22~24F for a couple of days in the 1990 freeze. I'd love to use this tree here in the SF Bay Area, if I actually knew what it takes to get one to bloom!

There used to be two large trees (next to each other) in Mission San Jose Fremont, however, they were cut down more than 10 years ago. My tree in Mission San Jose, Fremont used to bloom heavily every year. I do know of a large blooming tree in the Irvington District of Fremont. It's located on Roberts Street a few blocks south of the Safeway Store on Washington Blvd...however, it's difficult to find because it's on a property which sits back from the road. Also, I've seen blooming trees in San Jose.

Here's a pics I took today at Morley Field, Balboa Park, San Diego.

[BigFrond]

These will take up to 8 years to flower. The ones at Palomar College are quite nice. They're about 10 ft tall and loaded with flowers. I have two of them but may not plant any because they drop lots of leaves.

[Palms1984]

These will take up to 8 years to flower. The ones at Palomar College are quite nice. They're about 10 ft tall and loaded with flowers. I have two of them but may not plant any because they drop lots of leaves.

I purchased a young tree in 1993 from the Los Angeles Arboretum for $10.00 in a 5 gallon pot. It bloomed the first year and every year after. I think it may have been a cutting-grown plant from the very large tree at the arboretum.

[bahia]

Can anyone else confirm that cutting grown trees from mature flowering specimens are more likely to bloom at a small/younger size? Anyone know if they are difficult to root from cuttings, therefore aren't generally propagated this way? If grafted or rooted cuttings from mature flowering trees guarantees more certain blooms, that would seem a real opportunity for wholesale tree growers to capitalize on making this a more popular flowering tree throughout coastal California! I know that grafted Chorisia speciosa 'Majestic Beauty' are similar, they can be found in bloom as a 15 gallon sized tree, while a seed grown specimen here in Berkeley/San Francisco can also be 40 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground and still never have bloomed yet. I'm kind of surprised that I've never seen any excitement on any other plant forums here in northern California about Calodendrum capense trees blooming in the San Jose/Fremont area. You'd kind of expect that there would be almost universal excitement about a blooming Cape Chestnut tree here in the SF Bay Area, similar to the attention that a blooming Lagunaria pattersonii attracts around here). I've been watching the ones, (now only one remaining) at San Francisco Botanical Garden for many years now, and they've never bloomed there, although at close to 35 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground, they would seem to be large/old enough to have bloomed. I suspect they want/need warmer conditions than they get in San Francisco to encourage blooming.

[fastfeat]

Can anyone else confirm that cutting grown trees from mature flowering specimens are more likely to bloom at a small/younger size? Anyone know if they are difficult to root from cuttings, therefore aren't generally propagated this way? If grafted or rooted cuttings from mature flowering trees guarantees more certain blooms, that would seem a real opportunity for wholesale tree growers to capitalize on making this a more popular flowering tree throughout coastal California! I know that grafted Chorisia speciosa 'Majestic Beauty' are similar, they can be found in bloom as a 15 gallon sized tree, while a seed grown specimen here in Berkeley/San Francisco can also be 40 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground and still never have bloomed yet. I'm kind of surprised that I've never seen any excitement on any other plant forums here in northern California about Calodendrum capense trees blooming in the San Jose/Fremont area. You'd kind of expect that there would be almost universal excitement about a blooming Cape Chestnut tree here in the SF Bay Area, similar to the attention that a blooming Lagunaria pattersonii attracts around here). I've been watching the ones, (now only one remaining) at San Francisco Botanical Garden for many years now, and they've never bloomed there, although at close to 35 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground, they would seem to be large/old enough to have bloomed. I suspect they want/need warmer conditions than they get in San Francisco to encourage blooming.

bahia--

I truly believe that "I suspect they want/need warmer conditions than they get in San Francisco to encourage blooming" is indeed the case. Older versions of SWGB list it as a Zone 15, 16 tree, but not Zone 17. This suggests to me that the heat required for growth, bloom is more of an issue than the colder winter minimums inland. (Of course, coastal SoCal,(Sunset Zone 24, south of Point Conception), while hardly "warm" by most standards, still has far more heating degree hours than points increasingly northbound, on the average.)

Though I've not tried to root cuttings of it personally, I suspect that it would be difficult to very difficult, as are most other tree-type Rutaceae (Aegle marmelos, Casimiroa edulis, Geijera spp, most Citrus) because of high wood density.

Of additional coming concern, though perhaps not immediately in the Bay Area, is that Calodenrum capense is a known host of Asian Citrus psyllid. As such, expect its production, transportation, pruning/planting will likely become more restricted, especially once citrus greening becomes established in the state.

Ken.

Edited June 1, 2011 by fastfeat

[Palms1984]

Can anyone else confirm that cutting grown trees from mature flowering specimens are more likely to bloom at a small/younger size? Anyone know if they are difficult to root from cuttings, therefore aren't generally propagated this way? If grafted or rooted cuttings from mature flowering trees guarantees more certain blooms, that would seem a real opportunity for wholesale tree growers to capitalize on making this a more popular flowering tree throughout coastal California! I know that grafted Chorisia speciosa 'Majestic Beauty' are similar, they can be found in bloom as a 15 gallon sized tree, while a seed grown specimen here in Berkeley/San Francisco can also be 40 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground and still never have bloomed yet. I'm kind of surprised that I've never seen any excitement on any other plant forums here in northern California about Calodendrum capense trees blooming in the San Jose/Fremont area. You'd kind of expect that there would be almost universal excitement about a blooming Cape Chestnut tree here in the SF Bay Area, similar to the attention that a blooming Lagunaria pattersonii attracts around here). I've been watching the ones, (now only one remaining) at San Francisco Botanical Garden for many years now, and they've never bloomed there, although at close to 35 feet tall and over 15 years in the ground, they would seem to be large/old enough to have bloomed. I suspect they want/need warmer conditions than they get in San Francisco to encourage blooming.

s

=

bahia--

I truly believe that "I suspect they want/need warmer conditions than they get in San Francisco to encourage blooming" is indeed the case. Older versions of SWGB list it as a Zone 15, 16 tree, but not Zone 17. This suggests to me that the heat required for growth, bloom is more of an issue than the colder winter minimums inland. (Of course, coastal SoCal,(Sunset Zone 24, south of Point Conception), while hardly "warm" by most standards, still has far more heating degree hours than points increasingly northbound, on the average.)

Though I've not tried to root cuttings of it personally, I suspect that it would be difficult to very difficult, as are most other tree-type Rutaceae (Aegle marmelos, Casimiroa edulis, Geijera spp, most Citrus) because of high wood density.

Of additional coming concern, though perhaps not immediately in the Bay Area, is that Calodenrum capense is a known host of Asian Citrus psyllid. As such, expect its production, transportation, pruning/planting will likely become more restricted, especially once citrus greening becomes established in the state.

Ken.

I agree with Fastfeat. I'm pretty sure the 20 - 30 degree plus higher temps in the Fremont and San Jose areas than in San Francisco makes a huge difference with their flowering. I've seen the trees at the San Francisco Botanical Garden. They're large trees, however, I've never seen any evidence of flowering over the many years they've been there. I would suspect Cape Chestnut trees from San Leandro south should bloom fairly well. My tree bloomed very well in Hayward (before I moved to Fremont).

Regarding cutting grown trees: I started cuttings from my tree in the past. They grew very easily from cuttings. I just put the semi-hard cuttings directly into the soil, during summer. Can't remember how long it took to generate roots, though.

Edited June 1, 2011 by Palms1984

[fastfeat]

Regarding cutting grown trees: I started cuttings from my tree in the past. They grew very easily from cuttings. I just put the semi-hard cuttings directly into the soil, during summer. Can't remember how long it took to generate roots, though.

Good to know; still learning something new everyday, I think...

[Palms1984]

I was up in the Bay Area this weekend. Found the the Cape Chestnut tree on Roberts at Carol Street in the Irvington District of Fremont, CA.(San Francisco Bay Area). This tree is about 30ft/10m tall and has a pretty large circumference. It was loaded with flower buds...the tree should start blooming as soon as all the rain stops and the weather warms. Here's one pic I took on very cloudy June 3, 2011.

[Palms1984]

Here's a closer view of the Cape Chestnut's flower spikes in Fremont. The tree was completely covered with flower spikes...this is what I remembered of the other trees I've seen in southern Alameda County and San Jose. I discovered this tree back around 1995 when I lived in the Mission San Jose District of Fremont (when it was in full bloom). It's obviously been there for many years.

Edited June 6, 2011 by Palms1984

[JasonD]

Wow, it looks like this should be a staple of the 408/510/650 (away from the ocean).

[Palms1984]

Wow, it looks like this should be a staple of the 408/510/650 (away from the ocean).

I'm not sure why this tree is not more available in many parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. It's very drought tolerant and would make a good flowering tree for medians and parks.

[Than]

On 5/5/2011 at 8:22 AM, LJG said:

I planted one 5 years ago as a 15 gallon. It still has not bloomed for the first time. They are a somewhat slower growing tree and certainly take their time for first bloom.

How's this one doing? Has it bloomed yet? Also, does it retain its leaves on frosty days?

[Than]

On 5/5/2011 at 6:15 AM, Justin said:

I have a couple, and they're doing okay, but in no hurry to do much of anything, including bloom. But pictures like this will give me some patience with them.

Where do you grow them? In California or Hawaii? And how fast do they grow?