Cussonia is a genus of plants of the family Araliaceae, which is native to the Afrotropics. It originated in Africa and has its center of distribution in South Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Due to their striking habit, they are a conspicuous and easily recognizable group of plants. Their genus name commemorates the botanist Pierre Cusson. They are squat to lanky shrubs and trees with a palm-like habit. Their stems and underground parts are succulent, and their bark is often corky. These plants are best grown from seed. These plants can handle an occasional and mild frost, but a chill will make the leaves fall off.

Strikingly beautiful! Cussonia natalensis is wonderfully unusual & architectural of form. The highly ornamental star-shaped thick & leathery dark evergreen leaves appear at the very end of the branches, forming into giant round clusters or heads. Even better, the foliage turns golden in autumn as new growth begins to sprout. The Rock Cabbage Tree is fast growing and makes a great architectural statement for garden containers & bonsai.