Brunia albiflora¿- Coffee bush, Fonteinbossie (10 Seeds)

Brunia albiflora

Common Name: Coffee bush, Cofee scented brunia, White-flowered brunia, (Afr) Fonteinbossie, Stompies
Synonyms:
Plant Family: Bruniaceae

Plant Type: shrub, evergreen, scented or aromatic

Growth habit: bushy
Growth Rate: medium, mature size: 3m. high x 2m. wide

 

Colour: leaf- dark green, flower- white, fruit- brown and green, stem- brown

Season of interest: All Year
Position: full sun
Soil: dry, moist, sandy, pH preference - Acid, pH tolerance - Neutral-Acid
Hardiness: frost tender, , minimum 0°C, USDA zone 10 to 11
Origin: Africa, South

Description:
Tall, well branched shrub. Long slender stems are densely covered with the dark green, soft needle-like foliage. Curious and distinctive inflorescences of rounded, knob-like heads, first covered with silvery scale-like leaves, then becoming crowded with tiny white flowers that open up progressively from the outside towards the middles. Fully open flowers have protruding yellow stamens, they have a coffee like scent. In the wild, seeds are released when subjected to fire.

Cultivation:
Very well drained, neutral to acid soil. Needs a warm position to thrive, quite tender but may survive short periods just below freezing.

Propagation:
From seed sown in autumn. Germination rate is usually low but can be improved by smoke treatment. Also by cutting, preferably with a heel.

Design and Other Uses:
Useful for flower arranging.

Other Notes:
Native to the Western Cape of South Africa.