Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Aspalathus

Species:

Aspalathus erythrodes

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, other pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Requires fire for germination

Fire Notes:

Like many fynbos legumes, germination is triggered by smoke and heat from fire. The species resprouts from rootstock after fire and shows enhanced seedling recruitment in post-fire conditions.

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Smoke treatment or smoke water significantly improves germination rates, as with many fynbos species. Seeds have hard coats requiring scarification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI