common brunia

Brunia noduliflora

Scientific name

Brunia noduliflora is an evergreen rounded shrub that grows 0.6-1.5 m tall, coppicing from a fire-resistant, woody base. The branches are covered with minute hairs and are closely covered with many small, 2-3 mm long, needle-like leaves lying flat against the branch. The flowers are in dense globose heads 10 mm across, like fluffy pom-poms, white and fragrant, loosely or heavily clustered in corymbs (± flat-topped inflorescences in which the branches arise at different points). They are made fluffy by their long stamens, and age to an attractive brown-pink. Flowering time is mainly autumn to winter (March to June), the flowers opening soon after the first rains.

After flowering and fertilisation, the flowers fall off leaving the large, knobby, greyish-brown fruiting heads that stay on the bush for several years. New buds appear soon after the flowers, but these do not open until the following winter and are thus carried on the bush throughout the summer.

Propagation instructions

By seed

Sow seed in autumn. Treat the seeds with Kirstenbosch Instant Smoke Plus Seed Primer to enhance germination. Harvest the seeds from the previous year's fruiting heads. Use a well-drained, acidic medium, cover the seeds lightly, water gently and keep moist but not wet. Germination should take about four to six weeks. Place the seedlings in good light but not in direct sun.

By cutting

B. noduliflora can be propagated vegetatively by cuttings taken in autumn or spring from new growth on healthy plants. Use semi-mature side shoots. Heel cuttings and tip cuttings can be taken if the side shoot is long. Remove the lower leaves and dip in rooting hormone for hardwood cuttings. Cuttings should not be longer than 50 mm. They should start rooting after about 4-5 weeks. Hardening off should take about 3 weeks. Pot the plant in acidic, well-drained soil.