| Botanical Name |
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| Family |
Acanthaceae - The acanthus family. |
| Pronunciation |
thun-BER-jee-ah ah-LAY-tah |
| Common Name(s) |
English: Black-eyed susan
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| Plant Group |
- Climber / Creeper Climber: a plant that climbs using tendrils or if given support.
Creeper: a plant running along the ground, often rooting as it goes.
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| Plant Size |
- Small to Medium
| Tree | 8m to 15m |
| Shrub | 75cm to 1m |
| Perennial/ground cover | 20cm to 40cm |
| Bulb | 30cm to 40cm |
| Succulent | 20cm to 40cm |
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| 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.
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| 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.
- Drought Tolerance: Moderate The plant is moderately adapted to arid conditions and can survive short periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
- Evergreen to semi-deciduous The plant is evergreen in warmer, wetter parts of the country, but may lose some of its leaves during winter in colder, drier situations.
- Frost: Half-hardy The plant is able to survive low temperatures and some frost but requires protection against severe frost.
- Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
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| Specific Information |
Treat Thunbergia alata as an annual in cold areas. It grew well in my Johannesburg garden, self seeded then died off with the first frost. In spring the seedlings grew vigorously and the plant kept self-propagating for many years. The plant can tolerate a little frost but needs protection. In the Eastern Cape, after a berg wind or when it is particularly dry, my Black-eyed Susans wilt and begin to turn yellow, but a quick watering revives them quite miraculously. On a hot summer's day the dried gourd- or bird's bill- shaped seed pods will pop open with an audible crack, shooting the four black seeds in all directions.
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| Flowers |
| Description |
slightly trumpet shaped with a dark centre
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| Season |
- All Year Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
- Summer Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
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| Colour |
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| Growth Rate |
- Very 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.
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| Plant Uses |
- Attracts bees, butterflies or other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
- 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.
- Container Trees, shrubs and ornamental species that can adapt to growing in a restricted environment.
- Ground Cover Low-lying plants that spread fast, require minimal maintenance, and cover large expanses or bare areas between bulbs or shrubs. They provide protection from erosion and drought and improve the visual appearance of the garden.
- Hedge Suitable trees or shrubs planted relatively close together so that the branches intertwine to create a barrier. This can be formal – the plants are regularly trimmed to produce a neat shape, or informal – the plants are left to themselves to create a natural hedgerow.
- Retaining Walls Shallow rooted plants for cascading over dry stone walls or planting in hollow spots in retaining blocks.
- 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.
- Screen A tall hedge of suitable plants planted closely together and used as a windbreak, to block a bad view, to separate parts of the garden or as a backdrop.
- 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.
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| Distribution and Habitat |
from the Eastern Cape, through KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the eastern Limpopo Province, and north through tropical Africa, along forest margins and less often in open, dryer areas
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| Planting Suggestions |
Plant in well-drained, composted soil or soil to which rich compost has been added. Water frequently until well established and then moderately all year but especially in summer. Add compost to the mulch at planting time and again a couple of times during summer.
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| Medicinal Uses |
The plant can be used to teat Gall sickness and some ear problems in cattle, as well as for skin problems, piles and rectal cancer, back and joint pains and eye inflammation.
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