4 Pavetta cooperi Seeds - Christmas Bush or Pompon Bride's Bush - Indigenous Shrub or Small Tree

Pavetta cooperi Seeds

Christmas Bush, Pompon Bride's Bush; Pomponbruidsbos, Kers(mis)bos

Pavetta cooperi commonly known as Christmas Bush or Pompon Bride's Bush in English and Pomponbruidsbos or Kers(mis)bos in Afrikaans grows into a lovely shrub that is stunning in full flower, covered with pom-pom clusters of starry-white sweetly scented flowers that resemble small bridal bouquets. It grows into a rounded multi-stemmed shrub or small tree up to 2–5 m high. Slow-growing, with creamy-brown smooth bark and thin, oval, pale green, opposite, hairy leaves. Masses of white round flower heads cover the plant; they are fragrant and are borne in early summer, followed by clusters of green pea-shaped berries that turn black and shiny when ripe. The sweetly scented flowers attract many pollinators such as birds, bees, wasps, beetles, ants and moths. Birds and monkeys enjoy the fruits and so assist in their dispersal. Something special to note is that the leaves have bacterial nodules, which look like evenly spaced black dots or lines all over the surface of the leaf, that are an example of symbiosis as the bacteria enjoy a safe home while transforming atmospheric nitrogen into a form that the plant can utilize, much like bacteria in nodules on the roots of legumes that fix nitrogen from the soil. The flowers of some species might be used in traditional African wedding ceremonies. This is a lovely shrub with great horticultural potential. The flowering stems can be used in flower arranging.