The White Stinkwood tree has a very high vibration. This is an essence for aligning with your higher self, and for connecting with your soul purpose and inner guidance. The White Stinkwood essence offers auric protection and may be useful for those wanting to develop their channeling abilities. White Stinkwood is an essence to use for when you are working with manifesting intentions into reality. Useful for times of transitions and life changes.

This essence enlightens the crown chakra.

Affirmation: I am a Being of radiant light energy and my source is Love. My light transforms the world. I am One with the Light.

Corresponding Colour: Violet / White

Supportive Essences: The Milkwood and Spike Thorn may act as supportive essences to the White Stinkwood – particularly if the White Stinkwood essence is being used to address a long-standing imbalance and an “awareness crisis” has arisen. An awareness crisis is an intensification of negative feelings or old patterns of being. It is the soul’s way of calling our attention to these old blockages that need to be acknowledged, blessed and released.

The White Stinkwood
Celtis africana
Family: CANNABACEAE

Learning about how this tree grows in nature brings further appreciation for its essence:

With their human-like, pale-silver trunks and tender green growth each Spring, White Stinkwoods are perhaps the most popular of all South Africa’s indigenous trees. Previously placed in the Ulmaceae family (like the English elm tree), Celtis has now been reclassified into the Cannabis family. Other than a shared evolutionary origin, members of the family have few common characteristics; some are trees (e.g. Celtis), others are herbaceous plants (e.g. Cannabis). The deciduous White Stinkwood occurs from the Western Cape to Ethiopia in northern Africa. Very adaptable, it grows on sand dunes, rocky outcrops and in lush forest. As a consequence of this adaptability, its appearance and size vary considerably.

In Spring, clusters of tiny flowers – resembling miniature, golden crowns – appear.  These are followed by the small, round, golden berries which are enjoyed by an array of wild life. They have a very sweet, almost carrot-like flavour. The leaves are browsed on by kudu, bushbuck, grey duiker, grysbok and impala, as well as the larvae of the African snout and blue-spotted charaxes butterflies. The name “White Stinkwood” has caused some confusion – it is not related to the true stinkwood, Ocotea bullata, and neither, despite numerous references in various texts about the timber of this tree, does it stink! In fact, the heartwood has an earthy, sweet perfume.

The wood is soft to medium in hardness and makes a good general timber, suitable for planking and shelving. In days passed it was apparently used to make yokes. Some African cultures revere the White Stinkwood for having magical, spiritual powers. It is said to offer protection from negative forces and to bestow fertility, as well as to deter snakes.

Wind-fallen branches are gathered at Platbos and hand-crafted into unique and beautiful pendulums.

Distinctive and stately, the White Stinkwood graces many gardens and avenues. As urban trees, these trees are fast growing. Here at Platbos however, they occur within a dense forest canopy of evergreen trees and as a consequence, they are slow growing with bark that is mottled with lichens and mosses associated with clean air. The sandy soil is dry in summer and harsh conditions during this season cause the growing leaders to die back and side branches to form giving the trees of Platbos their twisty, gnarled and slight baobab appearance. The tree on our logo pays homage to this unique characteristic of the Platbos White Stinkwoods.

Harvesting of any parts of a tree or plant must always be done in a kind, respectful and sustainable manner, and necessary permits obtained from the relevant authorities. Those purchasing natural plant remedies also have the responsibility to ensure that these products have been sustainably harvested as otherwise they too are contributing to the likely extinction of the plant and other animals in the ecosystem that rely upon it for their survival.