PlantFiles: Common Cabbage Tree
Cussonia spicata

This is a relatively common nursery plant here in So Cal, yet it doesn't show up in too many books. It is a strong grower, but has really soft wood, so is prone to blowing over and losing limbs. The growth pattern is sort of like a palm with leaves showing up at the top of the plant, and falling off below. As a seedling and juvenile it is an attractive unusual plant for the garden, basically looking like a stem with a round, pompom-like head of leaves. However, as it ages it becomes less interesting. It does eventually branch, looks a bit more like an 'ordinary' tree. The leaves a deep green and deeply divided. It is an African native.