Natal bottle brush, South African bottlebrush, Beaconwood
Greyia sutherlandii
Family: Melianthaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It can be 3-11 m tall. The trunk is rough and dark. The leaves turn red and fall during the year. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaves are almost heart-shaped and with a flat base. They are 8-13 cm across. They are green above and pale below. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are bright red. They occur at the ends of branches. They form bottle brush like clusters of bell shaped flowers. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule. It is about 2 cm long and becomes pale grey when mature. The sections split open to release the seeds.
There are 3 Greyia species. They were in the Greyiaceae. They grow in South Africa.
Where it is found
It is native to South Africa. It grows up to 1800 m altitude in South Africa. It can tolerate some frost. They suit warm dry climates. It does well in Mediterranean climates. It will grow in the cooler subtropics. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Australia, South Africa, Southern Africa
How it is used for food
The nectar of the flowers is used to make beer.
Edible parts
Sap, nectar
How it is grown
They can be grown from seed or cuttings.
It is fairly fast growing.