Myrsine africana (African Boxwood, Cape Myrtle)
Botanical Information
| Family | Myrsinaceae |
| Genus | Myrsine |
| Species | africana |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to South Africa. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 8-11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 9 |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c-H5 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-12.2) - 10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 10-50 |
| Height | 1-2 m |
| Spread | 1-1.5 m |
| Growth | Slow |
| Flowering Period | May |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Dense, upright shrub. |
| Propagation | Propagate by seed sown in late winter to early spring in a warm greenhouse. |
| Cultivation | Best grown in well drained, moist soils in full sun to partial shade. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Upland forest edges, open grasslands, stony hillsides, and sometimes ravines on sandy soils. |
| Bark/Stem Description | New stems are red but they turn grey as they mature. |
| Leaf Description | Thick, dark green, round leaves grow in an overlapping fashion. |
| Flower Description | In the spring, the small white flowers grow at the base of the leaves. |
Photographs
Myrsine africana, form. Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Myrsine africana, leaf. Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.