Woody shrubs 2013

These are a tremendous resource for the gardener as together with trees they
provide the real long-term substance and texture of the garden. Note that many of
these shrubs can actually serve as trees in smaller gardens.

Acacia ataxacantha Flame Thorn Thorny scrambler 3-4m, cream flower-spikes, red
pods, use as barrier plant
Acokanthera oblongifolia Dune Poison-bush Attractive coastal shrub, sun/semi. Large leathery
leaves, scented white flowers
Acokanthera oppositifolia Common Poison-bush Hardy sparse shrub, dry areas, sun/semi. Narrow
leaves, scented white flowers
Anastrabe integerrima Pambati Tree Small bushy tree with braille-like markings on trunk;
yellow orchid-like flowers
Azima tetracantha Needle-bush 3m, thorny multi-stemmed, sun, forms thicket, good
barrier plant. Butterflies
Bauhinia galpinii Pride-of-De-Kaap Large scrambling shrub, sun, 3m, profuse red-orange
flowers, woody pods
Bauhinia natalensis Natal Bauhinia Delicate shrub, 2-3m, sun/semi. Pretty, white
flowers throughout the year
Bauhinia tomentosa Yellow Bauhinia Untidy shrub, 3m, sun, yellow flowers all year. Good
filler for shrub screen
Bowkeria citrina Yellow Shell-flower 3m woody shrub, sun/semi-shade in moist soil,
yellow flowers, scented leaves
Bowkeria verticillata Natal Shell-flower Attractive large upright cold-hardy shrub, sun;
scented white waxy flowers
Brachylaena elliptica Bitter-leaf 4m small compact hardy tree, sun, cream flowers,
attractive bi-coloured leaves
Buddleja auriculata Weeping Sage 2m straggly shrub, soft foliage, sun, lovely scented
cream flowers, butterflies
Buddleja glomerata Miesbos 4m silver-grey bushy shrub, full sun, cream-yellow
flowers, attracts butterflies
Buddleja loricata Mountain Sage 1m bushy bicolour shrub , profuse cream flowers with
sweet scent, cold hardy
Buddleja salvifolia Sagewood 3-4m soft sprawling shrub, sun, honey-scented pink-
cream sprays of flowers
Burchellia bubalina Wild Pomegranate 3m bushy shrub/tree, sun/semi-shade, clusters
orange flowers, attracts birds
Buxus macowanii Cape Box 2-3m small bushy tree/shrub, small pale green
leaves, good container plant
Buxus natalensis Natal Box 3-4m upright leafy shrub in coastal forest, neat
angular shape, good pot plant
Calpurnia aurea Natal Laburnum Small sparse tree, sun/semi-shade; hanging bunches
of pretty yellow flowers
Carissa bispinosa Forest Carissa Spiny erect shrub in shade, scented white flowers and
red fruits eaten by birds
Carissa edulis Simple-spine Carissa 3-5m thorny shrub, sun, heads of fragrant white
flowers, edible purple-black fruit
Carissa macrocarpa umThungulu 2-4m evergreen thorny bushy shrub, good hedge;
white flowers, edible red fruit
Carissa tetramera Sand Forest Carissa 1-2m prickly shrub, sun. Scented small white flowers,
edible black berries. Birds
Cassinopsis illicifolia Lemon Thorn 2-5m bushy shrub, shiny leaves, sun/shade, orange
fruit, cold hardy spiny hedge
Catunaregam spinosa
Cephalanthus natalensis
Clerodendrum myricoides
Coddia rudis
Coffea racemosa
Crotalaria capensis
Croton pseudopulchellus
Dais cotinifolia
Deinbolia oblongifolia
Dichrostachys cinerea
Diospyros scabrida
Dodonaea angustifolia
Dombeya burgessiae
Dombeya cymosa
Dovyalis rhamnoides
Drypetes arguta
Ehretia rigida
Erythrina humeana
Eugenia capensis
Eugenia verdoorniae
Ficus burtt-davyi
Flueggea verrucosa (virosa)
Freylinia lanceolata
Freylinia tropica 'B'
Freylinia tropica 'W'
Freylinia tropica 'purple'
Gardenia cornuta
Gardenia thunbergia
Thorny Bone-apple Upright spiny shrub, sun/shade, scented cream to
yellow flowers, barrier plant
Strawberry Bush Scrambling shrub or small tree, sun, cold hardy,
pompon-like inflorescences
Blue-flowered 2m large branched shrub, prefers semi-shade, lovely
Tinderwood blue and green flowers
Small Bone-apple 1.5m shrub, sun/semi-shade, small hanging white
flowers, birds. Container plant
Mozambique Coffee 2m shrub for shade with glossy leaves and lovely
white-pink scented flowers
Cape Rattle Pod 2-4m shrub-small tree with profuse yellow flowers,
attracts birds and butterflies
Small Lavender Croton Large shrub, beautiful silvery reversed foliage and
shape. Prefers light shade
Pompon Tree Small multi-stemmed deciduous specimen tree,
sun; profuse pink flowers.
Dune Soapberry Small coastal forest understorey tree, shade/semi;
insects; fruits attract wildlife
Sickle Bush Thorny shrub or small tree with colourful pink and
yellow flowers, curled pods
Coastal Bladder-nut Multi-stemmed shrub, sun, attractive leaves and
fruits; good hedge or bonsai
Sand Olive Large shrub/small bushy tree, sun, screen, holds soil,
pink-beige winged seeds
Pink Wild Pear 2-5m, soft leafy shrub decorative clusters of scented
white and pink flowers
Natal Wild Pear 2-5m multistemmed shrub, has decorative clusters of
scented white flowers
Common Sourberry 2-3m large shrub/small tree, sun/semi. Tasty red
fruits; good barrier plant
Water Ironplum Smallish neat forest understorey tree, scented
flowers, fruits attracts birds
Puzzle Bush 2-4m, bushy shrub, tangled branches. Lovely
white/lilac/blue flowers. Birds
Dwarf Coral Tree 2-3m deciduous thorny shrub, sun, spectacular
scarlet flowers, sunbirds
Dune Eugenia Lovely looking small bushy tree, hardy to salty
coastal winds, black fruit, birds
Small-leaved Myrtle Medium shrub with beautiful red spring leaves. Cream
flowers, red fruit. Rare
Veld Fig Bushy shrub/tree. Hardy barrier for coastal wind. Bird
magnet. Pot plant/bonsai
Fishes eyes 1-3m, sun, much branched bushy shrub in dry areas,
white berries for birds
Honey-bell Bush Soft upright shrub 2m, moist sun/semi, profuse
delicate cream-yellow flowers
Blue Freylinia Upright sprawling shrub 2m, sun/semi, profuse small
delicate pale blue flowers
White Freylinia Upright sprawling shrub 2m, sun/semi, profuse small
delicate white flowers
Purple Freylinia Soft foliage sprawling shrub 2m, sun/semi, delicate
small dark blue flowers.
Natal Gardenia Decorative small angular tree, sun, large scented
white flowers, yellow fruits
White Gardenia Small angular forest tree, sun/semi. Large, scented
white flowers, grey fruits
Gardenia volkensii
Grewia flava
Grewia occidentalis
Grewia pondoensis
Greyia sutherlandii
Gymnosporia arenicola
Gymnosporia bachmannii
Gymnosporia mossambicense
Gymnosporia nemorosa
Halleria elliptica
Heteromorpha trifoliata
Hyperacanthus amoenus
Hypericum revolutum
Indigofera jucunda
Kraussia floribunda
Lagynias lasiantha
Leucodendron pondoense
Leucosidea sericea
Maytenus procumbens
Mitriostigma axillare
Morella serrata [was Myrica
serrata]
Mundulea sericea
Myrsine africana
Ochna arborea
Ochna chilversii
Ochna natalitia
Ochna serrulata
Ochna serrulata
Savanna Gardenia Large woody shrub, sun, profuse large scented white
flowers fading to yellow
Velvet Raisin Woody small shrub 1-2m, sun, bicolour foliage,
yellow star-flowers. Edible fruit
Cross-berry Fast-growing straggly shrub, sun, pretty pink star-
flowers; birds eat edible fruits
Pondo Cross-berry Shrub with scrambling habit, sun, pretty pink-mauve
star flowers; birds eat fruits
Natal Bottlebrush Small sparse tree, full sun, lovely red flowers, birds.
Good for Kloof and inland.
Spikethorn 2-4m thorny tree, sun/semi; good barrier plant.
White flowers; fruit for birds
Pondo Spikethorn 2-4m small drooping tree, sun; Pondoland endemic.
White flowers; red fruit
Forest Spikethorn 2-4m thorny tree, semi-shade; good barrier plant.
White flowers; fruit for birds
White-spot Forest 5m thorny tree, sun/semi-shade; good barrier plant.
Spikethorn White flowers; fruit for birds
Cape Wild Fuchsia 1m delicate upright shrub, sun, drooping tubular
orange-red flowers; birds
Parsley Tree 3-5m sparse tree, small crown, shiny copper stems,
yellow to red autumn leaves
Spiny Gardenia 2-3m dense spiny large shrub with pretty pink-white
scented flowers. Sun/semi
Curry Bush 3m bushy shrub, sun, moist soil; pretty yellow
flowers; does well Kloof and inland
River Indigo 2-4m upright large shrub/small tree, sun. Profuse
heads of pinkand white flowers
Rhino-coffee 2-3m woody shrub, forest margins / part shade, birds
enjoy the sweet black fruits
Natal Medlar Small semi-deciduous understorey tree, 2-3m,
intricate yellow flowers, edible fruit
Pondoland Conebush Attractive woody shrub with yellowish foliage 1m,
sun, in moist grassland, rare
Ouhout Small silvery-foliaged gnarled tree, 2-6m, cream
flower-spikes, does well in cold
Dune Koko Tree 2-3m bushy evergreen shrub, sun/semi, orange
seeds, birds. Takes seawinds
Small False Loquat 1m woody small shrub, sun/shade, scented white
flowers. Orange fruit for birds
Lance-leaved Waxberry 2m neat woody shrub/small tree, damp soil, boiled
fruit used for candles/soap
Mundulea Small decorative leguminous tree, 2-3 m, corky bark,
pretty mauve pea flowers
Cape Myrtle 1m small woody plant in semi-shade. Tiny leaves.
Forest margins in cold areas
Mottled-bark Ochna Medium woody shrub/small tree with attractive bark,
yellow flowers, new foliage
Pondoland Ochna Medium bushy shrub with large yellow flowers,
attractive bronze new foliage
Forest Ochna 2-4m large woody shrub with showy yellow flowers
and attractive new foliage
Carnival Bush Delightful small neat shrub, sun-semi. Profuse small
yellow flowers; red calyxes
Carnival Bush Delightful small neat shrub, sun-semi. Profuse small
yellow flowers; red calyxes
Olea capensis ssp. enervis Bushveld Ironwood Small evergreen tree, attractive shape and dark,
glossy foliage, fruit for birds
Pancovia golungensis False Soap-berry 2m small shrubby tree, sun/semi, striking new
leaves, pretty white flowers, birds
Pavetta lanceolata Weeping Bride's Bush 2-4m bushy shrub, sun/semi, profuse pretty white
scented flowers, birds eat fruit
Portulacaria afra Spekboom 2-3m bushy succulent shrub for dry areas, edible
leaves, sprays of tiny pink flowers
Protea cynaroides King Protea Low-spreading evergreen woody shrub, sun, silvery
foliage, large pink flowers
Protea subvestita Lipflower Sugarbush Perennial woody shrub/tree, 2-5m, cold areas, lovely
cream typical flowerheads
Psychotria capensis Black Bird-berry Large bushy shrub for sun or shade, yellow flowers,
birds. Good container plant
Putterlickia verrucosa False Forest Spike- 2-3m scrambling thorny shrub, sun-semi, warty bark
thorn and scented white flowers
Rhamnus prinoides Dogwood 2-4m straggly shrub, sun/light shade, glossy foliage,
small berries for birds
Rinorea angustifolia White Violet-bush 2-7m small sparse understorey tree, shade, sprays of
scented white teardrops
Rothmannia globosa September Bells Shrub-small tree 2-4m, sun-semi, profuse beautiful
scented cream bell-flowers
Schotia afra Karroo Boer-bean 2-4m small woody tree, sun, decorative, striking red
flowers, attracts sunbirds
Schrebera alata Jasmine Tree Large branching shrub for sun/semi-shade with lovely
scented white-pink flowers
Sclerochiton harveyanus Blue Lips 2m scrambling shrub, semi-shade, smallish leaves
and bright blue 'lip' flowers
Sclerochiton odoratissimus White Lips 2m scrambling shrub, semi-shade, smallish leaves
and white 'lip' flowers
Scutia myrtina Cat-thorn 2-3m vigorous scrambler, hooked thorns, good
barrier plant, berries for birds
Searsia (Rhus) crenata Dune Crow-berry 3-4m dense shrubby coastal dune tree, sun, hardy,
dark bluish fruit for birds
Searsia (Rhus) dentata Nana-berry 3m low-branching deciduous shrubby tree, sun, red-
brown fruit for birds
Searsia (Rhus) pallens Ribbed Currant Much-branched shrubby plant 3m, sun/semi; new
leaves red; fruit for birds
Smodingium argutum Rainbow-leaf Small drooping tree, attractive leaves, cream flowers.
Toxic sap - barrier plant
Standards assorted Shrub standard Suitable single-stem shrubs shaped into 'lollipops' for
a so-called 'formal garden'
Suregada zanzibariensis Sand Canary-berry Small decorative upright tree, sand forest light shade,
small orange fruits, birds
Syzygium pondoense Pondo Waterwood Attractive small bushy tree, prefers sunny position, in
wet soil, fruits attract birds.
Tarchonanthus camphoratus Wild Camphor Bush Large bushy shrub 2-5m, drought and cold hardy,
fluffy fruits look like snow
Tecomaria capensis 'gold' Golden Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, yellow-orange flower
Honeysuckle clusters. Good screener
Tecomaria capensis 'mixed' Yellow Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, yellow flower clusters,
Honeysuckle birds. Good screening plant
Tecomaria capensis orange Orange Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, orange flower clusters,
Honeysuckle birds. Good screening plant
Tecomaria capensis 'peach' Peach Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, peach-pink flower
Honeysuckle clusters, birds. Screening plant
Tecomaria capensis 'shrimp'
Tecomaria capensis 'yellow'
Thespesia acutiloba
Tricalysia capensis
Trichocladus ellipticus
Trimeria grandifolia
Turraea obtusifolia
Vangueria infausta
Xylotheca kraussiana
Shrimp Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, pink flower clusters,
Honeysuckle birds. Good screening plant
Yellow Cape Scandent bushy shrub, sun, yellow flower clusters,
Honeysuckle birds. Good screener
Tulip Tree Small drooping tree with yellow to orange Hibiscus-
like flowers, Ivy-like leaves
Forest Jackal-coffee Woody evergreen shrub to 5m, sun/shade, white
scented flowers, fruit for birds
White Hazel 3 - 7m upright shrub, forest shade, goldish flowers
with unusual spherical shape
Wild Mulberry 2-4m small forest understorey tree with attractive
round leaves, seeds in tassle
Honeysuckle Bush Small woody shrub 1m, beautiful but unscented white
flowers, fruits attract birds
Natal Wild Medlar Chunky small deciduous tree with nutritious edible
fruit, brings insects & birds
African Dog-rose Small bushy tree, sun-semi, large white flowers, good
for birds and butterflies