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| Scientific name: Muraltia spinosa Family: Polygalaceae Common name: tortoise berry |
Purple tiny flowers cover a beautiful Muraltia spinosa shrub when in season.
Plant Description
Muraltia spinosa is a thorny shrub with spike-like side branchlets and stiff branches. The shrub can grow up to 1, 2m tall and has small oblong leaves. Purple, pink and white flowers appear from July to August and resemble dainty sweetpeas flowers. During summer, fleshy fruits are borne which are red and edible. The berries are a favourite among children, fruit-eating birds and tortoises.
Growing Muraltia spinosa
Tortoise berry is best suited for coastal, water-wise gardens. Thrives in sunny, well-drained soil and can tolerate both sunny positions and frost. Commonly, used for controlling sand on the coast. Plant it in a border to attract birds and enjoy its beauty when flowering. Add compost and water well to nourish this plant; however, it has low water requirements.
Propagate by seeds sown in spring or early summer and by cuttings.
Seeds
- Sow seeds in spring or early summer.
- Wash and remove the fleshy covering of the fruit until only the seed remains.
- Sow the seeds in a well-drained medium.
- Cover seeds lightly with soil and keep moist.
- A sufficient amount of light is required until seed germination occurs.
- It takes three to four weeks for the seeds to germinate.
Cuttings
- The cuttings root with difficulties.
- Spring and summer are ideal times for taking cuttings.
- Collect cutting early hours of the day.
- Take heel cuttings from healthy new growth.
- Remove the leaves from the lower third of the cutting.
- Dip cuttings into a rooting hormone and place them into a tray filled with super fine bark and polystyrene.
- Rooting usually takes four weeks or longer.
- Hardening off for two weeks before potting.
- Joffe, P. 2003. Easy guide to indigenous shrubs. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
- http://pza.sanbi.org/muraltia-spinosa
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