Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Aspalathus

Species:

Aspalathus excelsa

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

200 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:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Adapted to fynbos fire regime, resprouts from rootstock after fire. Benefits from periodic burning which reduces competition and stimulates growth.

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds have hard coats and benefit from scarification or hot water treatment. Smoke treatment may enhance germination as with many fynbos species.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI