Pepperbark Tree (Warburgia salutaris)

Family: Canellaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Warburgia salutaris or commonly known in various names such as Pepperbark Tree, Fever Plant, and Pepper Root is a fairly slow-growing, evergreen tree growing about 10 m high and can usually be found in Southern Africa. It has a dense and rounded crown. The leaves are simple, olive green, and arranged alternately. The flowers are small, green, and occur in the axils of leaves. Each flower has 10 yellow-green petals.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Bark/Inner Bark

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavour soups and curries. — The leaves are used to flavour soups and curries.; The leaves have a bitter, burning, aromatic taste.; The leaves are used as a tea.; The bark contains mannitol.

Habitat & North American Range

Savannah woodland, coastal forest and Afromontane forest. Lower rainforests, drier highland forest areas, and in secondary bushlands and grasslands at elevations from 1,000 - 2,000 metres. (Zone 10)