Page 6 - Issue 2 2019 Cornwall Hill

Garden maTTers

There’s this versatile little miracle plant called a

spekboom, perhaps you have heard of it?

ith all the concerns around ‘global climate
change,’ this seemingly humble succulent,
found predominantly in the Eastern Cape and
Win the Karoo, seems like the God-given answer
to the planet’s environmental problems. But there’s so much
more to this incredible plant it’s no wonder we are hearing
so much about it lately and why it has become extremely
trendy to plant one, hashtag it, ‘share’ and ‘like’ all that is
spekboom.
Why the name ‘Spekboom’?

Its scientific name is Portulacaria afra but it is affectionately

known as 'spekboom' which is literally translated from
Afrikaans as 'bacon tree.' Other names include ‘Dwarf Jade,'
'Pork Bush' and 'Elephant Bush' mostly because wild game,
especially elephants, love to feed on spekboom leaves and
this shrub forms an integral part of their diet.

Edible, Nutritious and Medicinal benefits South Africa’s miracle plant and enjoying unprecedented
Not just for elephants, sucking on the leaf of a spekboom plant popularity in the press and on social media, is its ability
can quench thirst, treat exhaustion, dehydration and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improve
heatstroke - something to remember if you ever happen the quality of the air we breathe at an astonishing rate.

to find yourself lost in the bush. Its delicious citrus flavour

makes for a fresh and exciting addition to salads, stews and It has been established that this superior succulent can
roasts, there are even cake recipes to try out! Juiced leaves absorb between four to ten tonnes of carbon per hectare to

can be used as an effective antiseptic to soothe anything make plant tissue and produce oxygen, even after the sun
from mouth infections, sore throats, pimples, rashes, sets. The plant stores solar energy to perform photosynthesis
stings and sunburn. It is said that breastfeeding mothers in at night, making a spekboom thicket ten times more
Mozambique apparently eat spekboom leaves to increase effective per hectare at carbon fixing than a tropical

their milk supply. rainforest! If you put this into perspective, it is truly amazing.
Water-wise and eco-friendly #Spekboomchallenge
Spekboom is a highly versatile plant that can grow almost The hashtag: ‘spekboomchallenge’, which is a movement
anywhere, even in dry, rocky conditions and requires very started by Boplaas Family Vineyards in Calitzdorp, urges
little water to thrive. Spekboom plants are easily propagated people to plant a spekboom, take a photo and to post to
from segments and are very water-wise and resilient, making social media (Instagram, Facebook or Twitter) in order to
them excellent for drought-stricken areas, needing only raise awareness of this miracle plant, an effort which even

as little as 250-350 mm of water per year. The pretty, pink an eco-shaming millennial such as Greta Thunberg should
spekboom flowers which appear late winter to early spring, appreciate!

are nectar-rich and attract endangered bees, which is highly
beneficial for a healthy, balanced ecosystem, stimulating The wine farm’s aim is to plant one million spekboom plants

biodiversity. by 2025 in the fight against climate change, and many other

environmentalists and eco-entrepreneurs are also jumping
the REAL deal about spekboom on the bandwagon to promote this proudly South African

All items listed above are fantastic reasons to love this plant, wonder plant, all in the name of the fight against global
but the main reason as to why the spekboom is heralded as climate change.

GiveaWaY

This month, the Directors
of the HOA, in collaboration
with Amelia Wolmarans,
aka 'The Garden Lady' from
Melia’s Garden Service,
are giving each stand a
spekboom plant in a recycled
tin as a gift! Plant your
spekboom in a beautiful pot
or in your garden and watch
how quickly it will grow.

6 Cornwall View • Issue 2 2020