Description
Grewia occidentalis. 3.7L coir pot.
This small deciduous shrub, native to Southern Africa, is a great plant for helping to attract birds and butterflies into the garden.
The plant enjoys a full sun position in fertile, free-draining soil and it should grow to around 3m high by 4m wide.
Purple, star-shaped flowers usually appear in summer, followed by four-lobed fruits (hence the name crossberry), which will turn red-brown to light purple when ripe. The fruits can be dried or boiled in milk to make a milkshake or they can be used to make beer.
The plant has a long use in traditional medicine. It has been used to treat wounds, sterility, impotence and to help during childbirth. The bark can be used as a shampoo that is traditionally believed to help stop hair from turning grey.
It has a non-aggressive root system, making it ideal for planting near paving, buildings and walls.
