10 Freylinia lanceolata Seeds - Honeybells - Indigenous Perennial Flowering Shrub

Freylinia lanceolata Seeds

Honeybells, Honeybell Bush; Heuningklokkiesbos

The genus Freylinia is placed in the Scrophulariaceae family. It was named after Count L. de Freylino who owned a famous garden in Buttigliera near Marengo in Italy in the early 19th century. Freylinia lanceolata commonly known as Honeybells or Honeybell Bush in English and Heuningklokkiesbos in Afrikaans is a South African endemic small tree with a charm all of its own, and attracts hosts of butterflies and other pollinators. Golden-yellow, honey scented bells appear rather incongruous on this sometimes untidy, evergreen shrub (4.5 x 4.5 m). Flowering is mainly from June (winter) to August (early spring), but can occur sporadically throughout the year. Freylinia lanceolata has long, arching, drooping branches of willow-like foliage. Usually multi-stemmed, it occasionally develops into a single-stemmed, weeping tree. The grey bark is smooth. Fruits are small brown capsules produced all year. This plant occurs in moist areas, along streams or on the edge of marshes/'vleis'in the southwestern Cape, northwards to Calvinia and eastwards to Uitenhage. The flowers attract a variety of insects, which become food for insectivorous (insect-eating) birds such as blackheaded oriole, pied and crested barbets, Cape robin and thrushes. According to a note on a herbarium specimen, the wood is not strong enough to be of use, but the plant is attractive and has horticultural potential. It is synonymously known as Buddleja glaberrima, Capraria lanceolata, Capraria salicifolia, Cestrum aurantiacum, Freylinia cestroides and Freylinia oppositifolia.