The South African Biodiversity Institute(SANBI) has announced the White-ironwood Vepris lanceolate(rare) and the Lavender tree Heteropyxis natalensis (common) as the tree of the year for 2014.
Annually Arbor week is celebrated during the first week of September to educate about our wide range of indigenous trees. Both a commonly available and a more rare species are declared every year to ensure there is a tree of the year occurring in your area.
The Lavender tree naturally occurs across the eastern parts of the country, including KZN, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng. It has a non-invasive root system and grows up to approximately 3 metres.