Schotia is a genus of 4 or 5 species in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Caesalpinioideae. They are evergreen or deciduous shrubs and small trees from the hot, dry areas of central and southern Africa. They are grown for their showy clusters of flowers which are followed by protein-rich, oblong leathery pods. They need a warm, frost-free climate and shelter from wind and grow best in full sun and light to medium well-drained soil. Propagate from seeds or cuttings in spring.

The gorgeous pink flowers of the forest boer-bean are almost certainly its most distinguishing feature, contrasting its close relatives, the weeping boer-bean, the dwarf boer-bean and the Karoo boer-bean which more often than not have scarlet flowers. Schotia latifolia is a tree which grows up to 3 m tall where the environment is dry and scrubby but may reach 15 m when growing in more soggy areas. The crown is rounded in form except when growing in a forest environment where the tree will be taller and more slender, the crown shaped according to the jungle canopy. In Mpumalanga it is usually found on mountain slopes. The bark is usually even and reddish brown to grey. The seeds are fit for human consumption and have been used for food traditionally by both indigenous African people and the European settlers and farmers. The pods were selected green and then roasted. The seeds would in effect have been steamed within the pods. These were detached from the pod and consumed. The strong white wood has been used to make sturdy fence posts even though it is not an economically significant wood. The bark has been used as a dye which produces a greenish colour. It has also been recorded that the bark contains tannin used as a tanning agent for leather. Schotia latifolia has been used successfully as a bonsai subject.