Bushman's Toilet Paper
Brachyglottis repanda

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae

What it is like

Brachyglottis repanda is an evergreen Shrub growing to 6 m (19ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 6

Where it is found

Coastal to montane forest and scrub.

New Zealand.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

A gum is obtained from the plant and is used for chewing. It should not be swallowed, however, and in light of the warning on toxicity at the top of the page, perhaps it should not even be chewed.

Gum: can be chewed as a chewing gum or can often be used as a sweetener or thickening agent in foods.

Medicine

Rating: 1

A gum obtained from the plant is chewed to sweeten the breath.

Antihalitosis: Treats bad breath

Miscellany: Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.

Other

Rating:

The plant has large sage-green leaves with a white, hairy underside. They are used as a substitute for toilet paper.

Gum: Gums have a wide range of uses, especially as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickening agents, adhesives etc.

Miscellany: A rag-bag of items that are difficult to categorise.

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Requires a good well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position or partial shade. Plants are quite frost-tender and only succeed outdoors in Britain in the mildest areas of the country. Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value. The flowers emit the sweet scent of mignonette, this is most pronounced at eventide.

Propagating it: Seed - we have no information on this species but the seed is probably best sown on the surface of a freely draining compost in the greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed can be surface sown in the greenhouse in early spring. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, November in a frame. Very easy.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 8-11

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cineraria repanda. Senecio forsteri. S. georgii.