isiXhosa: Imphepho

Afrikaans: Kooigoed

Everlasting


Everlasting

Helichrysum petiolare

Scientific name

It is cultivated for its foliage effect and as groundcover. This plant prefers sun to part-shade with well-drained soil, being susceptible to root rot. The foliage has a faint licorice aroma.

The Helichrysum species are used as Imphepho grow abundantly in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho but especially around coastal areas apart from the largely arid Northern Cape province. The plants grow abundantly in gardens and in the wild, for this reason most Imphepho is wild harvested and commercial cultivation in South Africa is unknown. Helichrysum species used as Imphepho are hardy and adaptable, they can grow in a wide variety of soil types, are drought resistant, wind resistant and can survive light frost.

Leaves, flowers, stems, and sometimes roots used traditionally to induce relaxation and lucid dreaming, and during prayer to bring the ancestors closer. (Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation. 2015. The Wild Harvesting of Plant Medicines in Cape Town)

References and further reading

PlantZAfrica profile »

Wikipedia page »

We currently have no seeds of this species in our seedbanks. Do you have any seeds or do you know where we can get some? Get in touch!
Nursery Quantity
Marlise's Nursery 2
Mother Nursery 30
Nadine´s nursery 5
Total 37

This table below shows how many plants we are trying to obtain for this species.

Site Area Quantity
Site #1 Delft 4
Site #4 Delft 5
Site #5 Delft 3
Site #10 Delft 5
Total 17

Important characteristics

This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.

It provides medicinal value

It provides food for:

Honeybees/flies

This species is not very suitable to be grown in bare terrain. However, if other vegetation is already established then it makes a good addition. After a year of care, little watering will be necessary.

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