The Thicket Bushwillow occurs in the lowlands of tropical and south-eastern Africa. They grow in a range of habitats from muddy riverbanks to dry rocky hillsides. The mostly opposite oval leaves are carried on long slender branches. The trees or shrubs flower in profusion in mid-summer and the 4-winged fruits reach maturity from late summer to mid winter.

Mature plants, though large, don't assume a true tree shape as their drooping branches are adapted to merge or intertwine with surrounding grass and shrubs for support. Combretums with a comparable growth habit are C. celastroides (Jesse), C. edwardsii

Combretum edwardsii

The Natal combretum or Forest Climbing Bushwillow is an uncommon forest plant, endemic to the mistbelt region of eastern South Africa. It has a climbing habit and the stems may often lie prostrate on the forest floor or on cliff tops. As with some other Combretum species the leaves assume autumn...

, C. mossambicense

Combretum mossambicense

Combretum mossambicense is a climbing shrub occurring in Eastern Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique....

, and C. paniculatum.