Dais cotinifolia, known as the pompom tree, is a small Southern African tree belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family. It occurs along the east coast northwards from the Eastern Cape, inland along the Drakensberg escarpment through KwaZulu-Natal and the Transvaal, with an isolated population in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. It flowers profusely during the summer months and produces a multitude of pink, sweet-scented, globular flowerheads about 8cm across.[1]
Dias cotinifolia is a small tree of up to 6m in height, with a rounded, leafy crown.[2] In cultivation, its height and span only reach 2-3m in the UK[1] and can reach up to 4 metres in Australia.[3] It has small ovate-oblong shaped and lustrous leaves up to 5cm long.[1] It is evergreen in mild climates and deciduous in cool climates.[3] In spring,[3] or in the summer,[1] it bears scented star-shaped rose-lilac,[1] or pink coloured flowers,[3] in round clusters 8cm across.[1] The bark is tough and fibrous and the branchlets are difficult to break.[4]
Uses
Used as an ornamental in gardens,[1] can be grown as a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub.[3] It prefers full sun and in fertile and well drained soils.[1][3]
Its bark yields fibres that are strong enough to be used as thread.[1]
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