Cassinopsis ilicifolia Seeds - Lemon-thorn or Lemoentjiedoring - Indigenous Shrub - NEW

Cassinopsis ilicifolia commonly known as the lemon thorn in English and lemoendoring or lemoentjiedoring in Afrikaans is an evergreen, scrambling flowering shrub that can grow up to four meters high and four meters wide.

The bright, glossy, green foliage, orange fruits and the drooping habit of the stems make this a very attractive plant which can be utilised as a specimen plant in the middle of a lawn or in a small townhouse garden. The plant can also be trained to form a neat compact hedge. It can effectively be used as a decorative outdoor pot plant. It does not have an aggressive root system and can be used close to paved areas, buildings and other structures without causing any damage. The lemon thorn is often utilised in shrubberies and on the borders of gardens and forests. Its dense growth habit makes it an ideal plant to use as a screen (e.g. to screen wind, provide privacy, screen objectionable views). It can also be used to direct traffic when planted on either side of a pathway or drive. Due to the sharp spines and dense growth habit this plant would make an excellent security barrier or hedge to keep unwanted people or animals out of a particular area.

The young stems are a shiny green while the older branches are brownish to light grey in color. Branches are slender, have a sprawling habit and grow in a zigzag pattern. Razor-sharp, tapered, green spines occur on the stems. The leaves are shiny, bright green above and dull green below. Small, star-shaped, white to cream colored flowers occur from spring to early summer. The flowers are followed by edible fruits that are fleshy and bright orange. 

Cassinopsis is a genus of Afrotropical plants, generally placed in the family Icacinaceae. They are lanky, evergreen shrubs or small trees that favour well-watered areas. They may carry spines and the leaves have an opposite arrangement. The genus name suggests its resemblance to the genus Cassine.