Cordia caffra, commonly known as the septee tree, is a small to medium sized deciduous tree growing to 7 m, rarely reaching 20 m, but on coastal dunes it may become only a small shrub, often prostrate (SA Tree List No. 652). Its bark is smooth, creamy brown and often mottled, some scattered pink patches and flaking pieces usually present.
The species distribution lies in a coastal strip along the east coast of South Africa in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as inland in the Lowveld parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo; also in southern Mozambique.
Seen in habitat among dune scrub, in forests and woodland, along forest margins and near streams. The species is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.
Five Cordia species occur in South Africa, 250 worldwide (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; www.plantzafrica.com; www.redlist.sanbi.org).