Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Aspalathus

Species:

Aspalathus acanthophylla

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

100 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Evergreen Shrub:

Yes

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Native Range

ZAF

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, other pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously after fire from lignotuber. Common in fire-prone fynbos ecosystems with natural fire return intervals of 10-15 years.

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from smoke treatment or scarification. Soaking in hot water may improve germination rates.

Propagation data sourced from Claude AI