[1] The bark of Maytenus oleoides is greyish-brown, smooth when young but becoming rugged and corky as it ages, with vertical grooves and transverse cracks.

The climate is one of cool moist winters and dry warm summers, with an average precipitation of 160 cm (63 in) which mostly falls between May and August.

The intervening patches of evergreen forest which occupy about 10% of the land consist mostly of Maytenus oleoides, Cunonia capensis, Kiggelaria africana, Ilex mitis and Brabejum stellatifolium.

Wildfires may burn the leaf litter but only spread to the crown canopy of forest trees if the fire is very intense.

The foliage may not burn but the trees may be scorched, however they have great regenerative ability and readily sprout from the blackened branches.