Euclea natalensis is an adaptable, easy-to-grow tree with a neat, dense, rounded crown of dark green foliage, decorative pale, gold-tinged new growth, and makes a useful screening plant or handsome shade tree.

Euclea natalensis is a shrub or small bushy tree, 4-10 m tall, and under warm and well-watered conditions, a medium-sized tree 12-18 m tall with spreading branches. It has a spread of 5-10 m.

It is found growing under many different conditions in a wide variety of habitats, from arid rocky scrub to dune bush, open grassveld, woodland, forest, forest margin, riverine fringes, bushveld and in swamps, from sea level to 1200 m.

Grow Euclea natalensis in a warm position, in full sun or partial shade, with fertile soil and moderate to good water supply, particularly during the summer months. Protect from frost when young. Water generously during its first years to allow it to establish itself. This species is wind tolerant, and drought tolerant when established.

Euclea natalensis is relatively slow growing. It is suited to many different types of gardens, including windy coastal gardens, well-watered subtropical gardens as well as bushveld and woodland gardens. In an exposed, windy, coastal site it will form a low, rounded, bushy, stunted tree, whereas in a protected, well-watered garden it can be expected to grow into a handsome medium-sized, spreading tree.

The leaves are hard and leathery, dark green and shiny above and paler underneath. The lower surface is often covered with thick, velvety red hairs, the upper surface is occasionally also covered with hairs. The leaves are in opposite arrangement, variable in size, shape and hairiness, most often oval to oblong with pointed, bluntly pointed or rounded tips.

The veins are prominent, particularly on the upper surface. The margins are thickened and often wavy. The new growth in spring is very decorative with pale, gold-tinged, velvety hairy foliage emerging out of the dark green crown.

Euclea natalensis is dioecious (with male and female flowers borne on separate trees).

The flowers are small, bell-shaped, cream to yellow and are carried in many-flowered, branched sprays in the axils of the leaves. They have a heavy, sweet scent and are worked by bees.

The trees flower in winter-spring (June-October)