Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Aspalathus

Species:

Aspalathus elliptica

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

150 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct,nov

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Evergreen Shrub:

Yes

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, native insects

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously after fire from rootstock. Part of fire-prone fynbos ecosystem with regular burn cycles promoting regeneration.

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–45 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from smoke treatment or scarification to break seed coat dormancy. Typical of fynbos legumes adapted to fire cycles.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI