Barleria holubii

< Back to search results Go to Plants of the Week Advanced Search

Barleria holubii C.B. Clarke

Family: Acanthaceae

Common names: bushveld joy

View other plants in this family View other plants in this genus

Introduction

If you are an indigenous plant lover and you need an attractive, fast-growing, hardy plant for the rocky areas in your garden, Barleria holubii is the answer to your problem.

Barleria holubii flowers and leaves

Description

Barleria holubii is a dwarf, thorny shrub up to 800 mm high. The leaves are ovate to obovate (egg-shaped) and the leaf tips are armed with a sharp thorn. The stem is covered with thorns, especially at the leaf axils (the angle between the stem and leaf stalk). The small orange flowers have a long, narrow tube. It flowers almost the whole year except for June and July. The small seed capsule, present in most members of the Acanthaceae, bursts open when ripe to distribute the seeds. It is a fast-growing plant, reaching maturity in two years.

Barleria holubii flowers and leaves

Conservation Status

Status

None.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

Barleria holubii grows in well-drained soil and in full sun in woodlands and hills in Mpumalanga, Limpopo Province and Zimbabwe. It is a water-wise plant but does well in wetter conditions. It can withstand mild frost quite well.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus name Barleria is derived from the name of a Dominican monk and French botanist, Jacques Barrelier. The genus Barleria is found throughout Asia, Africa and America. It contains about 250 species with about 60 species in Africa. The genus includes species such as the white-flowered B. albostellata, mauve, blue or pink-flowered B. obtusa, and the rose-pink B. repens. Barleria holubii was named after Emil Holub, a 19th century European naturalist and explorer in Africa.

Ecology

Barleria holubii is pollinated by insects and attracts various species of butterflies. The fruit capsule explodes to distribute the ripe seeds.

Uses

Use

Barleria species are ideally suitable to stabilize soil erosion, because of their fast growth rate and seed distribution methods.

Barleria holubii shrub

Growing Barleria holubii

Grow

Propagation of Barleria holubii takes place either by seed or cuttings.

Collect the seeds as the capsules begin to turn brown. The seeds should be planted in a mixture of two parts good soil and one part clean river sand. Place the seed tray in a shady spot in the garden and water once a week. Germination of the seeds take place after a week. Transplanting the seedlings into bags should be done when the seedlings are more or less 100 mm high.

Take cuttings of 120 mm in summer and make use of plant material of the previous year's growth. Treat with a hormone powder and plant in a mixture of even parts good soil and river sand. Put the cuttings in a shady place and water twice a week. Transplant the rooted cuttings after about three months into a good soil mixture.

References

Little, J.R. & Jones, C.E. 1980. A dictionary of botany. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, Cincinnatti, Toronto & Melbourne.
Retief, E. & Herman, P.P.J. 1997. Plants of the northern provinces of South Africa: keys and diagnostic characters. Strelitzia 6. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
website: http://backyardgardener.com/gardendictionary/holubi.html.

Credits

Willem Froneman
Lowveld National Botanical Garden
February 2009

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Perennial

SA Distribution: Limpopo, Mpumalanga

Soil type: Sandy, Loam

Flowering season: Late Summer, Autumn

PH: Neutral

Flower colour: Orange

Aspect: Full Sun

Gardening skill: Easy

Special Features:

Attracts butterflies

Drought resistant

Useful plant

Barleria holubii