Rothmannia capensis is one of the loveliest indigenous trees for the home garden. It attracts birds and it has a non-aggressive root system. This evergreen tree grows up to 10 m tall in woodlands but reaches 20 m in forest, with a dense roundish crown.

This beautiful tree is suitable even for small gardens as an individual specimen tree or in a small grove.

It grows very well in light shade or full sun at a rate of a little over 0,5m per year, preferring loam or sandy soils to clay. It grows moderately fast and may flower in its second year, but most take a little longer.

It is frost-resistant and to some extent drought-resistant.

The glossy, leathery and simple green leaves are often crowded towards the ends of the branches and have little bumps or pockets (domatia) in the axils of the veins. Although they are usually opposite, a third leaf may also be present. When leaves do fall, they leave a leaf scar

Leaves are velvety and light green when young and become hairless as they age. The mature shiny blade is elliptic to oval or slightly lanceolate. It is dark green above and a lighter green below. The Midrib and side Veins protrude below and above they are just visible.

Distinct raised pockets with Domatia (hair-tuft domatia – a tiny chamber produced by plants that house arthropods) are present. They occur as surface swellings in the vein axils. Even without a hand lens, their small bumps are clearly visible on the upper surface.

The beautiful large, solitary, stalkless bell-shaped flowers are borne singly in summer from December to February. They are about 80 mm long and are creamy white with purplish-red streaks and speckles inside the flower tube. They have a strong sweet scent which lingers even after they dry.