Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Aspalathus

Species:

Aspalathus pycnantha

Growth Characteristics

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Shrub

Height:

150 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Evergreen Shrub:

Yes

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Requires fire for germination

Fire Notes:

Like many fynbos legumes, seeds germinate readily after fire, with smoke chemicals breaking seed dormancy. Plants resprout vigorously from rootstock after fire events.

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–30 days

Notes:

Seeds typically require smoke treatment or heat scarification for optimal germination, mimicking natural fire conditions in fynbos habitat.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI