Fynbos Corridor Collaboration

Data sources
Abu Shawka (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Podalyria_sericea_-_South_African_shrub_-_Cape_Town_2.jpg)

Satin bush

Podalyria sericea

Animal-friendly

Supports bees Supports bees

Growth features

Easy to grow Easy to grow

Social features

Attractive Attractive

Aspect

Sun Sun

Plant types

Shrub Shrub

Soils

Soil: loam
Soil: sandy

Flowering

  • pink
Sep Oct Nov Dec

This small silvery, rounded shrub has attractive, soft shiny leaves and small, pretty pink flowers in winter which are followed by unusual swollen seed pods.

Flowers are visited by carpenter bees and many other insects.

Propagation by seed

It is best grown from seed sown in autumn or spring. Seeds germinate easily. Soaking seeds in hot water and treating with a fungicide that combats pre-and post-emergence damping off will increase the success of germination. Sow 1-2 mm deep in sandy, well-drained potting soil. Seed germinates in approximately two weeks. After germination, the seedlings should be potted up into individual bags/pots as soon as the first pair of true leaves appears, taking care to minimize root disturbance. Protect young plants from frost.

Propagation by cutting

As with most Fabaceae, growing Podalyria sericea is quite difficult from cuttings.

Sources and references

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