What does a fever tree look like?

Author: Ronny Goldner  |  Last update: Friday, May 1, 2026

A medium to large sized tree with a sparsely rounded to spreading crown. The fever tree has a very distinctive yellow trunk which is covered with a fine dust. It occurs on river banks, flood plains and swampy area.

Where does a fever tree grow?

Fever tree is found in eastern and southern Africa. It is a medium sized tree, up to 25 m tall with smooth bark that is yellow greenish in color. Its spreading branches possess thorns up to 7 cm long. Feathery, compound leaves allow sunlight to filter through its open canopy.

What is a fever tree used to treat?

Quinine, which comes from the cinchona tree, or 'fever tree' as it is colloquially known, is tonic water's primary ingredient, and has an important role in the history of malaria treatment.

Is a fever tree a real tree?

Vachellia xanthophloea (previously Acacia xanthophloea) is a tree in the family Fabaceae, commonly known in English as the fever tree. This species of Vachellia is native to eastern and southern Africa (Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Eswatini, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe).

What disease does Fever-Tree cure?

The Miraculous Fever Tree: Malaria, Medicine and the Cure that Changed the World.

How the Fever Tree got its name

What eats a Fever-Tree?

Branches and leaves provide food for elephants and giraffes. The nectar rich yellow flowers are a strong insect attractant and are also eaten by monkeys and grey louries (on the UA campus the tree's height prevents local monkeys from reaching the flowers).

What are some interesting facts about the Fever-Tree?

There are also other interesting facts about the fever tree such as that the bark of the tree was used for medicines for treating fevers and eye infections. The roots are also powdered up for the treatment of malaria. Our colour range, Fevertree, is inspired by the array of colours this tree displays.

Is a Fever-Tree safe for dogs?

🌿 Fever Tree is non-toxic for dogs, confirmed by pet poison control centers. ⚠️ Moderation is key; excessive consumption may cause mild gastrointestinal upset.

Why are they called Sweetgum trees?

Natural History:

Everybody likes something that is cheap and looks good! It is not just called sweetgum for nothing, the name is derived from “storax flow” because of the sap that leaks from the wounded bark. In the past, this sap has been used for the production of chewing gum.

What is the Fever-Tree used for in medicine?

Fever bark contains the chemicals yohimbine and reserpine, which can lower blood pressure. These chemicals might also be unsafe. People use fever bark for high blood pressure, malaria, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

What does quinine do to your body?

Quinine may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). If your blood sugar gets too low, you may feel weak, drowsy, confused, anxious, or very hungry. You may also sweat, shake, or have blurred vision, a fast heartbeat, or a headache that will not go away.

Why is Fever-Tree expensive?

Fever-Tree, a British company, has gone back to the drink's roots, using cinchona-derived qui nine and cane sugar in its Premium Indian Tonic Water, which makes for an expensive mixer—$6.99 for a four-pack of 7-ounce bottles, or about 25 cents an ounce.

How long does Fever-Tree last?

Fever-Tree Mixers on X: "Hi @everydaydrinker, thanks for the messages. Each bottle has about a 15 month shelf life, thanks." / X.

What makes Fever-Tree special?

Fever-Tree Tonics are made with natural ingredients with nothing artificial added such as sweeteners, preservatives or colouring. The ingredients include quinine from the Congo, soft spring water, cane sugar or fruit sugars in the case of the Naturally Light mixers, along with a range of botanicals.

Why is Fever-Tree so popular?

If there's a singular reason for Fever-Tree's rise to near dominance of the premium mixers category – both in the drinks industry and in the consumer market – it's this: until they entered the market, no other mixers brand was creating products with a firm emphasis on flavour over price.

What is the most poisonous plant for dogs?

Sago Palm: Often used as an ornamental shrub in temperate zones, it's considered one of the most toxic plants for dogs. Every part of the plant is toxic, especially the seeds. Ingesting just a few seedpods can result in acute liver failure.

What are the side effects of Fever-Tree?

Fever bark seems to be UNSAFE. It contains chemicals that can cause side effects such as stuffy nose, irritability, allergic reactions, eye problems, kidney problems, depression, and psychotic reactions. Large doses can cause heart problems and death.

What can you mix Fever-Tree with?

How to Make Fever-Tree cocktails
  • By Mixer (All)
  • Premium Tonic.
  • Mediterranean Tonic.
  • Premium Ginger Beer.
  • Premium Ginger Ale.
  • Premium Club Soda.
  • Sparkling Pink Grapefruit.
  • Light Cucumber Tonic.

Why is it called a Fever-Tree?

Origin of the name

The fever tree gets its common name from pioneers who believed that the tree caused fevers. In fact the fever was actually malaria which they caught from mosquitoes that bred in the swampy fever tree habitat.

What is the Fever-Tree wood used for?

Fever tree Wood Slabs

The Fever Tree has a very distinctive yellow trunk which is covered with a fine dust. It occurs on river banks, floodplains, and swampy areas. Acacia xanthophloea produces a durable timber, which is used in specialty construction, carpentry, boat building, boxwood, and furniture.

How fast does a Fever-Tree grow?

The Fever Tree (Acacia Zanthophloea) is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree up to 30m tall, with an open, rounded to spreading crown. The Fever Tree has a fast growth rate of approximately 1.5m per year.

What is the spiritual meaning of the Fever-Tree?

Legend has it that the tree will keep away evil-spirits and even tornadoes. The Fever tree contains ingredients which are very popular and are widely traded amongst South African herbalists. The bark of the tree is yellow and sickly looking, creating the belief in the past that it was the tree which caused malaria.

How to propagate a Fever-Tree?

It is also found in low-lying swampy areas, along the margins of lakes and on river banks. The fever tree is propagated through seeds and seedlings. Fever tree can be propagated through cuttings as well. Seed needs scarification to achieve maximum germination.

What is the bark of the Fever-Tree?

The bark of the Fever Tree contains quinine, an alkaloid which is produced as a defence against insects. Caterpillars which would otherwise eat the leaves greatly dislike the taste of quinine, and will leave the tree untouched.

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