Spekboom in South Africa

Here’s some info I found on Spekboom’s distribution in South Africa.

Addo Elephant National Park

Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra) grows in abundance in the drier parts of the Eastern Cape, especially on the high plateau Karoo hill slopes or flats (c. 400 to 1,060 meters above sea level) and is particularly prominent in the Addo bush to the south where there is significant summer heat. A vast section of Spekboom grows in the Addo Elephant National Park, situated in the Eastern Cape Province, near Port Elizabeth. The park was created to protect the once numerous Eastern Cape elephants. It consists of 12,126 hectares (30,315 acres) of bushveld, dominated mostly by Spekboom, which covers approximately 80% of the park’s area. Some 500 species of plants are to be found in the park. Elephants eat P. Afra from the top downwards allowing the plant to spread itself vegetatively by spreading [...]

Get wild with garlic!

I have just started looking at possibilities for a small garden in my flat and found that there is already a wild garlic plant growing…

We have already discussed its varied uses but it seems to have a few more….

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Essential Amathole

“Located in the scenic Amathole region of the Eastern Cape in South Africa, Essential Amathole has been established to produce a range of organic essential oils and medicinal plant extracts for the global market”.

Still and nursery in Hogsback

As many of you know, I keep returning to Hogsback, and Essential Amathole is one of the reasons. This initiative follows an incredible approach to sustainable rural economic development in 4 ways. Firstly, it is based on a public-private-community partnership. [...]

Roadside Aloe

I have posted these elsewhere and Niall also posted some pics but I thought I should share these beautiful Aloes we came across on the side of the road in the Eastern Cape. Happy Monday!

Beautiful Aloe 1

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Paintbrush Lily

We have already had an introduction to the Paintbrush or Blood Lily… Here is a bit more about this unique flower as well as some pics of it in the wild…

Scadoxus puniceus, commonly known as the Paintbrush Lily, is a Southern African species of Amaryllidaceae, which is also found in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Its preferred habitat is cool, moist leaf litter and it is found in shady places, such as ravines and forests. The plant’s bright red, round fruits are about 10mm in diameter and each produces a single seed. Since the eighteenth century this species has been popular in Europe, partly because of its easy cultivation and high germination rate.

paintbrush 1

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