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Greyia sutherlandii

Natal bottlebrush

Plant photo of: Greyia sutherlandii
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Information by: Jerry Sortomme Editor        Photographer:

 

Description

Greyia sutherlandii is a large shrub or small tree, 10-20 ft high. It is deciduous and in late autumn the leaves turn shades of bright red. Young trees are compact and old trees do not grow tall but they spread and have rough, dark trunks. The leaves are simple, alternate, rather leathery, slightly lobed and coarsely toothed. The leaf surface is hairless and minutely glandular. The leaf veins radiate from the base. The leaf stalk is long and straight. The beautiful flowers are red, with oblong petals and long protruding stamens. The showy flowers open in closely packed racemes at the tips of the branches and bloom at the end of winter and early spring. The fruit is a pale brown, cone-shaped, cylindrical capsule, of 20 mm long. It splits in 4 or 5 parts when ripe to release seeds from October to December. The wood is pale pink and generally light and soft.

 

Plant Type

Tree, Shrub

Height Range

6-12', 12-25'

Width Range

3-6', 6-12'

Flower Color

Red

Flower Season

Winter, Intermittent

Leaf Color

Green

Bark Color

Brown

Fruit Color

Brown

Fruit Season

Intermittent

Sun

Full

Water

Low

Growth Rate

Fast

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape

Accenting Features

Multi-trunk Tree, Showy Flowers

Seasonal Interest

n/a

Location Uses

Shrub Border, Raised Planter, With Rocks

Special Uses

Hedge, Screen

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds

Water Saving Tip:

Water high water-use plants separately from low water-use plants.

Low water-use plants can grow with one-half the water needed by high water-use plants, and can be easily damaged from over watering.