plant ID
 

hi all. was hoping someone could ID this plant for me:
http://www.yeknom.karoo.net/plant%20011.jpg

sorry the picture is so large, but i thought it would aid identification to
have as much detail as possible.

i have one of these in the garden i work in. there, it has the habit/growth
pattern of a 'small tree', although it may have been pruned to do so. on a
recent trip to the southwest of france i saw the same plant, although with a
more bushy/shrublike habit.

many thanks for any help!

ps. the buds in the picture will produce pink/purple blooms (eventually)