Dovyalis caffra, commonly known as Kei Apple, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa, where it thrives in bushveld and thicket vegetation. It typically grows to 6 meters tall in dry woodland but can reach up to 8–9 meters in moister open woodland. The tree has a spiny, dense growth habit, making it an effective barrier or hedge. Its inconspicuous flowers are solitary or clustered, lacking petals, and the plant is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Some female plants can produce fruit without pollination (parthenogenetic). The edible fruit is a bright yellow or orange berry, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, with a uniform color throughout the skin and flesh, containing several small seeds. The fruit is known for its juiciness, tastiness, and high acidity, often weighing down the branches during the summer.

The Kei Apple is valued for its copious fruit production and its use as an impenetrable hedge due to its spiny branches. It is also appreciated for its salt and drought tolerance, making it suitable for coastal landscaping in dry regions. Despite its subtropical origins, it can withstand temperatures as low as −6 °C. For fruit production, gardeners need a female plant, and for optimal fruit set, both a fertile female and a fertile male plant are recommended. Kei apples are propagated by seed and can be invasive outside their native range; therefore, potential growers should check local regulations before planting. It requires full sun to light shade and well-drained soil.CC BY-SA 4.0