Searsia chirindensis



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Botanical Name
Searsia chirindensis
Family
Anacardiaceae - The mango family.
Pronunciation
SEER-zee-a chir-in-DEN-sis
Common Name(s)
English: Red currant
Afrikaans: Bos-taaibos
IsiXhosa: intlokotshane enkulu; umhlakothi
Sesotho sa Leboa: Motha-thaa
Tshivenda: muvhadela-phanga
Plant Group
  • Tree A woody, self-supporting perennial plant usually with a single main stem and generally growing more than 6 meters tall.
Plant Size
  • Small to Medium
    Tree8m to 15m
    Shrub75cm to 1m
    Perennial/ground cover20cm to 40cm
    Bulb30cm to 40cm
    Succulent20cm to 40cm
Position
  • Canopy Shade Canopy shade is found below closely grown trees where some light filters through. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
  • Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
  • Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
  • Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.
General Information
  • Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
  • Deciduous to Semi-deciduous In warmer areas a deciduous plant may not lose its leaves during winter at all, or may lose its leaves for a very brief period, or may only lose part of its foliage.
  • Drought Tolerance: High The plant is well adapted to arid conditions; it can survive long periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
  • Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
  • Roots Non-invasive Safe to plant near pools, paving, walls or buildings.
  • Water Wise Plant species originating from low rainfall regions that require less water to survive and thrive than other plant species.
  • Wind Tolerant Plants able to withstand the effect of strong winds.
Specific Information

Searsia chirindensis has a neat, dense, rounded crown of glossy green leaves and is particularly attractive when the shiny, reddish-brown fruits ripen, often weighing down the branches. Although the mature tree is spineless, young growth is sometimes spiny. In cooler areas it develops reddish autumn foliage. The Red currant responds well to pruning, so decide on the shape you require and prune accordingly from a young age: you could develop a single-stemmed tree by keeping the main trunk clear of growth, create a dense shrub by regular light pruning, or leave it alone to grow according to its natural inclination.

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Flowers
Description

minute, but profuse in misty heads at the end of branches

Season
  • Spring to Autumn Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
Colour
  • greenish white
Growth Rate
  • Fast Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
Plant Uses
  • Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
  • Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
  • Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
  • Pioneer for new gardens A very fast growing plant, able to withstand hardship, that can be used to populate land that has recently been cleared of natural vegetation. These plants pave the way for slower-growing species by adding nutrients to the soil and creating leaf litter.
  • Provides light / dappled shade A tree with an open to sparse canopy, through which varying degrees of sunlight can penetrate.
  • Rock Garden An area constructed of larger rocks, arranged naturally, to emphasise the use of stones as a main element. Generally plants used do not need a lot of care.
  • Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
  • Windbreak Trees planted in a row to form protection from prevailing winds by breaking the force of the wind, thereby reducing wind damage.
Distribution and Habitat

from Swellendam in Western Cape along the coast through the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, into Mpumalanga and Limpopo in a wide variety of habitats: forests, riverine bush, scrub forests, rocky hillsides and along forest margins

Planting Suggestions

Plant in well-drained, composted soil. Mulch well, water regularly and feed with high nitrogen fertiliser for faster growth.

The old method of digging a deep hole and filling it with soil and compost has resulted in many trees failing to thrive, dying, rotting at the base or worse still, falling over in later years due to poor root development.  Refer to the following sites for the best method of planting trees:

Treehelp.com: Planting a tree

International Society of Arboriculture: New Tree Planting

Tree People: Plant the right way

For those of you who have a clay problem try:

Rod's Garden: Planting in clay soil

Medicinal Uses

The sap of this tree is used for treating heart complaints. The bark is used to give strength to the body, to increase circulation, for mental disorders and for the treatment of rheumatism.

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