It is only in Africa where one can find this stunning, hardy, deciduous
shrublet that produces brilliant scarlet flowers in late spring-local
is a strange plant-most of it is underground! It is a very low growing,
deciduous, suffruticose (woody stem only extends a few inches above
ground) shrublet not reaching more than 300-600 mm in height. Shoots
form every year from the underground stems and die down in winter.
This plant has an enormous underground rootstock in which it stores
food. The large leaves are compound, with three leaflets, and covered
with large, recurved prickles on the midrib and larger side veins.
They are light green and covered by rough hairs. The leaves are
long-stalked and increase in size as the summer progresses.
It produces showy scarlet flowers forming upright inflorescences
on long stalks over several weeks in summer (October to January).
The fruit is a smooth black pod with a few orange-red seeds. Immature
seeds are often attacked by insects.
It occurs in grassland, but more frequently in moist vleis with
clay soils, sometimes in sandy soils throughout the old Transvaal
except in the north (the North-West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga), the
Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. Plants are normally found
The name Erythrina is derived from the Greek word erythros,
red, and the Latin part, -inus, indicating possession, in
this case, of colour. The flowers and seeds in both cases are red
in colour, and zeyheri is named after Carl Zeyher, a German
naturalist that collected plants in South Africa many years ago
The common name refers to the large tuberous rootstock which damages
the ploughs that farmers use to prepare their lands.
Erythrinas are normally pollinated by insects and sunbirds. The
large rootstock has probably evolved to allow the plant to survive
the frequent veld fires that sweep the grasslands and to store food
and water in times of drought. The prickles on the leaves probably
deter grazing animals.
Uses and cultural aspects
In the colonial days, asthma sufferers smoked the underground portion
of this plant.
Growing Erythrina zeyheri
This shrublet is only propagated from seeds that have been immersed
in boiling water overnight and soaked. Once the seeds have been
soaked they are ready for sowing. Sow the seeds in 5 mm diameter
seedling trays or pans. Use a sifted loam and bark mixture. The
seeds should be covered with the mixture not more than 1mm thick;
otherwise the seeds will not germinate easily. The soil medium should
be keep moist at all times, but do not over-water. Use a mist or
fine spray for watering.
When you water, water gently,otherwise the seeds will be washed
out. Spring (late August to September) is the best time to sow the
seed, because the soil is warm and it is the growing season.
The plants are not affected by the cold, as the above ground parts
die down for the winter period. It is a wonderful plant for a small
garden or town house, but very difficult to dig out as the rootstock
becomes enormous. Select a site where it can expand without causing
problems in your garden.
The plant will need excellent drainage if it is to thrive in areas
with heavy winter rains (Mediterranean climates). You could try
it in a large pot, where it would make a most unusual specimen plant.
- Dyer, R. A. 1947 Erythrina Zeyheri. Flowering Plants of Africa.
- Germishuizen, G. 1982. Transvaal wild flowers. Macmillan,
- Hennessy, E.F. 1972. South African erythrinas. Natal
Branch of Wild Protection and Conservation Society of South Africa,
- Lucas, A. 1987. Wild flowers of the Witwatersrand. Struik,
- Pienaar, K. 1992. The South African what flower is that?
Struik, Cape Town.
- Pooley, E. 1998. A field guide to wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal
and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
- Van Wyk, B. & Malan, S. 1988. Field guide to the wild
flowers of the Witwatersrand and Pretoria region. Struik,
Elliot Lithudzha and K Behr
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
With additions by Yvonne Reynolds