Calodendrum capense is a very ornamental tree, suitable for use as a shade or specimen tree in gardens and parks, also as a street tree.

At the coast this tree is often evergreen, but inland it is deciduous with rich yellow autumn colours. In a forest environment, this tree can reach heights of up to 20 m, but at the forest margin or in the open it is shorter, approx. 7 m, with a more spreading canopy. In general this is a handsome well-shaped tree with a single trunk and a dense rounded canopy.

It occurs along the south and east coast of southern Africa from around Swellendam in the Western Cape through the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Swaziland, Gauteng, North West and Northern Province and into tropical Africa as far north as Tanzania and Ethiopia, and grows mainly in forests and kloofs (ravines / gorges), but occasionally in scrub and riverine bush, from sea-level to 2000 m.

It does best in deep fertile, well-composted soil with plenty of moisture, particularly during spring and summer, and requires a warm sunny position. To develop and maintain its shapely canopy, it requires protection from strong, sustained winds, like Cape Town's south-easter. Young plants require protection from frost, but established specimens should be able to survive in Zone 9 (-7°C / 20°F) When grown in bitterly cold areas, it is likely not to flower very well.

Calodendrum capense is propagated by seed or cuttings.

The leaves are dark green, relatively large (5-22 cm long x 2-10 cm wide), simple, with untoothed undulate margins, and elliptic in shape.

One of the diagnostic features of this family is the presence of oil glands on the leaves, visible as tiny translucent dots when held up to the light. Another common feature, caused by the oil, is the strong scent of the leaves, particularly when they are crushed.

The larvae of several butterfly species, including the orange dog (Papilio demodocus) which also uses other citrus family trees, breed on the foliage.

When in bloom, the whole canopy turns pink. It is a magnificent sight. The flowers are large and striking, faintly sweet-scented and carried in conspicuous terminal panicles during early summer (October to December).

Close up, each delicate flower has five long narrow pale pink petals (4-5 cm x 0.5 cm), alternating with five petal-like staminodes (sterile stamens), also pale pink but conspicuously dotted with purplish to maroon glands. The calyx is star-shaped and persists after the flower has dropped off.

Birds do not find the nectar-filled flowers inviting, but butterflies do feed on them