Fynbos Corridor Collaboration

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Wild currant

Searsia tomentosa

Animal-friendly

Supports bees Supports bees

Tolerances & suitability

Good potplant Good potplant

Growth features

Social features

Useful Useful
Medicinal Medicinal
Edible Edible
Attractive Attractive
Fragrant Fragrant

Aspect

Sun Sun
Semi-shade Semi-shade

Plant types

Shrub Shrub
Tree Tree

Flowering

  • cream
  • yellow
Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

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.

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