Mackaya bella

 

Common name: mackaya
Family: Acanthaceae
Origin: South Africa

Plant description: a small evergreen tree with slender branches bearing glossy, dark green leaves. It grows up to 2 - 4 m tall. In spring and early summer it bears showy white to purple trumpet-shaped flowers. 

Use: as an indoor plant or as a small tree in semi-shaded area. It can also be used as hedge or screening plant.

Light and position: prefers shade area, morning sun (semi shade), afternoon (semi-shade).

Water requirements: it requires moderate water.

Special care: requires frequently pruning around autumn/winter to keep the plant bushy. It must be protected in cold regions.

Pest and diseases: aphids and caterpillars.

Propagation: sow seeds during spring or early summer. Semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken in spring or autumn.

Colour in the garden

 

Propagating Searsia lucida

Searsia lucida is an excellent low maintenance shrub to plant in full sun that prefers sandy, well-drained soil and moderate watering. It is an ideal shrub for coastal and water-wise gardens.

Searsia lucida

Scientific name: Searsia lucida (L.) F.A. Barkley 

Family: ANACARDIACEAE 

Common name: glossy crowberry

Plant Description

Searsia lucida is an evergreen shrub or much-branched small tree that grows up to 2 – 5 m tall. It has very glossy, dark green leaves that are alternately-arranged with each leaf having three leaflets (trifoliate). Leaves turn an orange-yellow colour before being shed. The spray of pale creamy-white flowers in sparse heads in the angle between the leaf and stem, bloom from August to February. The round, fleshy, green fruits (berries) appear from October to June. Berries turn shiny brown as they mature. 

The genus Searsia is named after Paul B. Sears (1891-1990) who was head of the Yale School of Botany. Lucida is originating from the Latin word lucidus meaning shiny, clear, referring to the glossy leaves. 

Growing and maintenance of Searsia lucida

Searsia lucida is an excellent low maintenance shrub to plant in full sun that prefers sandy, well-drained soil and moderate watering. It is an ideal shrub for coastal and water-wise gardens. It is also drought and wind-resistant. Searsia can also be grown as small tree. It attracts birds, honeybees in the garden and butterflies breed on the shrub. The larvae use the leaves as food. 

Propagate from cuttings in spring and early summer:

• Take semi-hardwood cuttings. 
• Take 7cm long cuttings in cool hours of the day and,
• Remove one third of the foliage at the base of the cutting.
• Dip into rooting hormone to stimulate root growth.
• Plant in a well-drained rooting medium.
• Cuttings must be kept moist and be placed in a warm place with enough light.

Sow seeds in autumn (March)

• Soak the berries till the flesh of the fruits rubs off, before sowing seeds.
• Sow seeds in a seedling tray using well-drained seedling medium.
• Cover seed lightly with soil and keep moist.
• Seeds should start germinating from about 28 days after sowing.

Limited stock of Searsia lucida is available at our nursery UWC Cape Flats Nursery.

References

Jackson, W. 1990. Origins and Meanings of Names Of South African Plant Genera. Rondebosch: University of Cape Town. 

Joffe, P. 2007. Creative gardening with indigenous plants: A South African Guide. Briza Publications, Pretoria 

Manning, J. 2007, Field Guide to Fynbos, Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town 

Low, A.B. 1983, Flowering Plants of the Cape Flats Nature Reserve, University of Western Cape, Bellville 

Powrie, F. 1998. Grow South African Plants. A gardener’s companion to indigenous plants. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town 

Grimley, A. 2005. Australian National Botanic Gardens Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2005/eucryphia-lucida.html.Accessed 28/10/2020 

Viljoen, C. 2015, PlantZAfrica.com. http://pza.sanbi.org/searsia-lucida. Accessed 27/10/2020