Kirkia wilmsii stem

The stem of Kirkia wilmsii is covered in smooth grey bark; roughness in the photo only occurring in the fork. The tree is often multi-stemmed from the base. Small bumps on the stem indicate where new branches may sprout later.

K. wilmsii trees are often seen among rocks on hillsides. Shoots from the roots may grow next to the main tree. This coppicing tends to have leaves spread along the stems, looking different from those of the tree itself.

The wood of K. wilmsii is grey in colour, light and coarse-grained, little used, while the bark yields a strong fibre. Water is sometimes obtained by people from the thickened roots during drought and leaves may be cut to feed goats.

The tree grows easily from seed or truncheons. It does well in cultivation in warm climates and sheltered positions (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002).