strawberry spiderhead

Serruria foeniculacea.

Scientific name

We don't have a description available yet.

Propagation instructions

By seed

Seed is collected as it is released from the flower head. Premature removal of seed will result in failure. Seed is sown in late summer or early autumn to harness the positive effects of higher variance between day and night temperatures. Seed exposed to a short period of high temperature followed by rapid cooling in water has been known to germinate very well. The seed should be protected from fungal pathogens by application of a fungicide designed to treat pre- and post-emergence damping off.

Plants should be kept in a well-ventilated and lit area and preferably watered in the morning. Plants that are consistently wet at night will develop fungal infection. They may be fed every week with an organic seaweed-based fertilizer.

Young plants should be planted in autumn or during the cooler months for them to become established before the onset of summer. Plant in full sunlight and ensure that the soil is well drained. Mulching with wood chips or compost will keep the soil cool and help feed the plants.

By cutting

Serruria aemula is easily reproduced from tip or heel cuttings taken in spring or autumn. Successful rooting depends upon having good propagation houses with mist benches and under-floor heating. Cuttings are rooted in a 50:50 mixture of 6 mm milled pine bark and polystyrene balls. Applying a rooting hormone for semi-hardwood cuttings will stimulate rooting. Rooting takes place from six weeks onwards. Rooted cuttings are removed from the mist benches and hardened off for a few weeks before planting. The hardened-off cuttings are planted out into a potting medium made up for fynbos plants. A suitable mixture consists of a mixture of acid river sand, composted pine bark in equal parts and 205 loam/topsoil by volume.