Xylotheca kraussiana is a hardy, evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. It has attractive foliage but the spectacular feature is its flowers. The brilliant white flowers with a mass of bright yellow anthers in the centre can be up to 70mm in diameter. It flowers en masse in spring and summer with a few flowers all year found. These are followed by oval woody pods which split into a star shape with black and red seeds - another beautiful feature of this plant.
It is a great butterfly host plant, including being the host plant for the Blood-red Acraea (Acraea petraea) and attracts many birds who relish the seeds as well as insects to the flowers.
Use as a feature plant, in a mixed bed in a forest garden or even as component of a bush clump. It also makes a beautiful container plant.
Grow in semi-shade, dappled shade or in a sunny spot that does not get too hot.
Size: 1 to 5m