Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Melolobium

Species:

Melolobium aethiopicum

USDA Symbol:

MEAE3

Growth Characteristics

Height:

60 cm

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

aug,sep,oct,nov

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Native to South African fynbos and renosterveld; resprouts after fire from woody rootstock.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid regions, prefers open sunny areas

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Notes:

As a legume, seeds likely benefit from scarification to break hard seed coat.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI