Tree Fuchsia

Halleria lucida

In less favourable conditions, the Tree Fuchsia is a small tree, but at Ferncliffe, it becomes something entirely different. Individuals in the pilot project area are impressive in height and in July 2021 their flowers covered the forest floor like leaf litter. These blossoms are orange to dark red tubes that grow directly from branches and trunk.

According to Sanbi’s PlantZAfrica, in Zulu culture the Tree Fuchsia is used to protect against evil. The twigs are burnt when offering sacrifices to the ancestors. “Plants are set alight each year, the ashes mixed with crocodile fat and this mixture is smeared onto cuttings of Rhamnus prinoides which are then driven into the ground around the village to protect the community from wizardry and lightning.”

 

FAQs

It’s one of the easiest climate crisis mitigation methods we know. Trees absorb and sequester carbon – and indigenous forest is far better at carbon capture than degraded lands or plantations. Trees also provide habitat to incredible living creatures, help purify the air, protect soil from erosion, and protect our water catchments. Never mind offering local residents a rejuvenating space to relax and exercise in.

Yes. They are all species that occur within the reserve itself, or the immediate area surrounding it, including the corridors through the plantations. Trees are grown from seed and cuttings sourced from the area (within 50km), or purchased from local nurseries or organisations as our nursery grows. * Exceptions are species that might have historically disappeared from the forest

In the Ferncliffe Nature Reserve, in a corridor of indigenous trees, or in an area designated for rehabilitation in conjunction with a landowner. We have full permission to plant from the municipal authorities or relevant landowners.

Once a year for two years. After this period, our website’s news page will have updates, and you can follow us on social media for all the latest progress and sightings.

Physical certificates feature hand-drawn and painted artwork by Connor Cullinan, and are printed on quality A4 paper. Digital certificates look the same as the paper versions, but are issued via email. If you’d like to print them yourself, we recommend choosing a matt paper of 250 gsm. Both are designed to be beautiful gifts.

Connor Cullinan is a fine artist with many solo and group shows to his name. He is producing a series of original prints to help Ferncliffe raise funds for its restoration work. The images are based on fauna and flora that can be found in the forest and on its fringes. The images are open editions*, and are signed and dated. The first three prints in the ongoing series are of a Porcupine, Vervet monkeys and a Forest Weaver, and they were produced at Black River Studio in Cape Town, South Africa.

*An open edition print means an unlimited number of prints of the same artwork is sold.

If your order is urgent, please contact us first to see if we’ll be able to deliver on time. We’re a very small team and this system is not automated.

Digital certificates will be sent electronically via email, within three business days, Monday to Friday (excluding RSA public holidays).

Postage of print orders is by courier. We post once a week, however, so please expect the order to take longer than a standard delivery — or contact us to make a plan.

Prints and certificates will be packaged flat, sandwiched between stiff cardboard.

As soon as conditions are right. Generally this means spring and summer, as this is the rainy season and the young trees will need water at first. So your tree may have to wait its turn for a few months before ‘release’ into the wild, or have been planted a little in advance of your order!

Yes, in South Africa. We are registered as a Public Benefit Organisation, number 93 007 2645, and can issue Section 18A tax certificates on request. You will need to supply us with the information required by SARS.

The debit card and EFT options on the site don’t support international cards – sorry! A credit card should work. Alternatively, you can mail us the details of your order and make a direct payment into our bank account (see the contact page for details).

Price

Original price was: R650.Current price is: R520.
Special

Plant a tree certificate