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Wild currant
Searsia tomentosa
Animal-friendly
Tolerances & suitability
Growth features
Social features
Flowering
- cream
- yellow
Searsia tomentosa, the real wild currant (English), umhlakoti (Zulu) or korentebos (Afrikaans), is a small, bushy, evergreen tree. It is native to South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. It occurs in fynbos and coastal shrub in South Africa, where it is naturally most common in forest margins.
The sprays of small greenish flowers emit an unpleasant smell that attracts flies. However it is also an attractive shrub and is grown internationally in botanical gardens for its multi-coloured foliage.
Searsia tomentosa, the real wild currant (English), umhlakoti (Zulu) or korentebos (Afrikaans), is a small, bushy, evergreen tree. It is native to South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. It occurs in fynbos and coastal shrub in South Africa, where it is naturally most common in forest margins.
The sprays of small greenish flowers emit an unpleasant smell that attracts flies. However it is also an attractive shrub and is grown internationally in botanical gardens for its multi-coloured foliage.
References
Van Wyk, Braam; Van Wyk, Piet (1997). Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik. ISBN 978-1-86825-922-9.