Agathosma crenulata can be used as an accent plant in your garden or as a filler plant in a mixed fynbos bed with companion plants such as Protea, Restio, Pelargonium and buchu. It can also be used as a container plant placed in a sunny spot on your stoep or patio.

Planted in your garden this species requires full sun, soil that is acid, well drained and composted. Plant out in groups of 3 to 5 with enough space to grow. Add a layer of mulch to keep the soil and roots cool in summer, retain soil moisture and reduce weeds. Buchus are best planted out during the winter -spring season. Plants require good watering in winter and moderate watering in summer. Do not allow plants to dry out. Once established in your garden they will survive long periods of drought and will withstand a fair amount of frost.

Agathosma crenulata is easily grown from seed. Propagating vegetatively from cuttings takes a bit longer and is difficult. The formation of calluses responsible for the development of roots is slow and cuttings tend to drop their foliage.

Fresh seed is collected when ripe and stored for sowing in autumn. Seed is cleaned and sown on a prepared medium of sand and compost in equal parts in a seed tray. Cover seed with a thin layer of bark and water. Place seed trays in a covered area with good light and ventilation. Keep seed trays damp and germination will take place within 1 to 2 months. Seedlings are pricked out when 4 true leaves have developed. The growing tips of seedlings are pinched out to encourage bushy growth. Feed buchus regularly with a balanced nutrient. The yellowing of leaves can be treated with an application of iron chelate.

Cuttings have the advantage of producing a larger flowering plant quicker than seedlings. Tip cuttings, 50-70 mm, are taken from the current year's growth. Prepare cuttings by making a clean cut below the node and remove the third of the foliage. Dip the base of the cutting in a rooting hormone. Firmly place the cuttings in a medium of 50% bark and 50 % polystyrene. Ideally these cuttings should now be placed in an well-aerated propagation unit with a bottom heat of 24º C. Ideally rooting occurs in 9 to 11 weeks. Carefully pot the rooted cuttings using a well-drained, humus-rich, fynbos potting medium (2 parts leaf mould, 1 part coarse sand). Plants will be ready for planting in 7 to 8 months. Feed regularly with a well-balanced nutrient.

Commercially grown buchus

Agathosma crenulata and A. betulina are commercially grown for their oil. The oil is extracted and used in the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps, food colorants and medicinally for the treatment of renal disorders and chest complaints. Isomenthone and disphenol are the major oil compounds in the essential oils of A. betulina. The essential oils are used for their antiseptic and diuretic properties. Used in the food industry, the sulphur-containing compounds are responsible for the characteristic blackcurrant smell and flavour of buchu oil. A. crenulata is less desirable owing to high levels of pulegone, a compound considered to be toxic.

Agathosma betulina is commonly referred to as the round-leaf buchu, rondeblaarboegoe (Afr.) It is a fragrant shrub growing to a height of 2 m. The leaves are rounded, about 20 mm long with a rounded apex curving backwards; they are rounder than the oval, more linear leaves of A. crenulata. Oil glands are prominent along the margins of the leaves. The flowers are star-shaped, white to pale pink in colour and flowers bloom from June to November. It is easily grown from seed.

Agathosma betulina has a restricted natural distribution area in the Western Cape. It is found on mountain slopes near Niewoudtville, Piketberg and Tulbagh and in the Cederberg Mountains.