Flueggea virosa

Common Names

White Berry Bush (english)witbessiesbos (afrikaans)Muhlakaume (sesotho)Mpfalambati (tsonga)Mutangahuma (venda)

Taxonomy

Genus Flueggea
Species virosa
SA Plant Number
Basionym Flueggea virosa

Description

Flueggia virosa is a hardy, deciduous, much branched, multi-stemmed shrub with thin, round, soft, blue-green leaves. The small greenish, sweetly scented flowers appear from Oct. to Dec and attract a whole host of pollinating insects. This is the host plant of one of the beautiful Charaxes butterflies. Male and female flowers on separate plants. The small, fleshy, sweet tasting white berries are edible and attract birds to the garden.

Can be used effectively in a mixed planting or for a hedge in sun or semi-shade. A great addition to a bird garden.

Size 2 to 4m

Wildlife

Fruit for birds: Birds relish the white, fleshy berries and feed on the insects that are attracted by the flowers

Uses

Landscaping: Can be used as a hedging plant or as part of a mixed medium to tall backdrop planting. Also good as part of the ed of a bushclump.

Distribution

KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga

Natural Habitat Deciduous woodland, forest margins, along rivers and in rocky areas

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