© JonRichfield, some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Searsia spp.
Karees
Africa (centered in southern Africa), Middle East, and Asia
Overview
Searsia spp. is a genus of more than 100 evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, formerly grouped within Rhus spp.. The genus is centered in southern Africa, with further species in tropical Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Most species carry characteristic three-parted (trifoliate) leaves, the leaflets often narrow, leathery, and aromatic when crushed. Plants range from low shrubs around 3 feet (0.9 m) to spreading trees of 25-30 feet (8-9 m), with several species, such as S. lancea and S. pendulina, forming rounded or weeping canopies. Small greenish to yellow flowers are borne in branched sprays, with male and female flowers usually on separate plants. Female trees carry large quantities of small, flattened drupes that ripen brown or yellow and are eaten by birds. Searsia spp. is strongly drought tolerant once established and grows on a wide range of soils. Many species sucker or self-seed freely, which can make them hard to contain in small spaces.
Native Range
Africa, with the greatest concentration of species in southern Africa. Additional species occur in tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and parts of Asia.Suggested Uses
Searsia spp. species are used in southern Africa as shade trees, street trees, screening shrubs, and windbreaks, and for stabilizing dry or disturbed ground. Bird-eaten fruit and dense cover support garden wildlife. Lower shrubby species are used in informal hedging and bank plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 30'
Width/Spread3' - 25'
Bloom Information
Flowering is mostly in late winter and spring, with timing varying by species and climate. The small greenish to yellow flowers grow in branched sprays and are wind- and insect-pollinated. Most species are dioecious, so only female plants set the brown to yellow drupes, which can persist into the following season.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight