Page 23 - Issue 3 2020 - Kyalami Connect

GARDENING
Kyalami Estates
Brand Manual

ith all the concerns around The REAL deal about Spekboom
‘global climate change,’ this All items listed here are fantastic
seemingly humble succulent, reasons to love this plant, but the main
Wfound predominantly in the reason why the Spekboom is heralded
Eastern Cape and in the Karoo, seems as South Africa’s miracle plant, enjoying
like the God-given answer to the planet’s unprecedented plant popularity in the
environmental problems. But there’s so press and on social media, is its ability
much more to this incredible plant it’s no to remove carbon dioxide from the
wonder we are hearing such a lot about it atmosphere and improve the quality of
lately and why it has become extremely the air we breathe at an astonishing
trendy to plant one, hashtag it, ‘share’ and rate. It has been established that this
‘like’ all that is Spekboom. superior succulent can absorb between
four to ten tonnes of carbon per hectare
Why the name ‘Spekboom’? to make plant tissue and produce oxygen,
Its scientific name is Portulacaria even after the sun sets. The plant stores
afra but it is affectionately known as solar energy to perform photosynthesis
'Spekboom' which is literally translated at night, making a Spekboom thicket ten
from Afrikaans as 'Bacon Tree'. Other times more effective at carbon fixing per
names include ‘Dwarf Jade', 'Pork Bush' hectare than a tropical rainforest! Excess
and ‘Elephant Bush' mostly because wild carbon in the atmosphere is responsible
game, especially elephants, love to feed on for global warming, so the more carbon
Spekboom leaves and this shrub forms an we can remove from the air and return to
integral part of their diet. the ground, the better. If you put this into
perspective, it is truly amazing.
Edible, Nutritious, with Medicinal
Benefits
However, this plant is not just for MORE INTERESTING FACTS:
elephants - sucking on the leaf of a
Spekboom can quench your thirst, treat • Spekboom plants are said to be able to live around 200 years and can grow up to five
exhaustion, and alleviate heatstroke metres tall.
- something to remember if you ever
happen to find yourself lost in the bush. • The taste of the leaves can change depending on the time of day as the sun rises and
Its delicious citrus flavour makes for a sets.
fresh and exciting addition to salads,
stews and roasts, there are even cake • The creators of The Great Labyrinth of Africa in Klapmuts aim to establish a Spekboom
recipes to try out! Juiced leaves can plantation so large that it can be seen from outer space.
be used as an effective antiseptic to
soothe anything from mouth infections, • A man with the name Abraham Enzo van Vuuren, an environmental activist who cycles
sore throats, pimples, rashes, stings and all over the country to raise environmental awareness, carries a baby Spekboom in a vial
sunburn. What’s more, rumour has it that around his neck.
breastfeeding mothers in Mozambique
(apparently) eat Spekboom leaves to • A Spekboom plant is a very easy-to-grow plant. It enjoys plenty of sunlight and can
increase their milk supply. thrive equally as a bonsai tree, in a pretty pot, or in the ground as part of a hedge.
Water-wise and Eco-friendly • With all its amazing medicinal properties, one wonders if there shouldn’t be some
Hardy throughout all seasons and research into the Spekboom plant in the global challenge of finding a cure or a therapy
weather conditions, Spekboom has a for the COVID-19 virus! Some food for thought!
photosynthetic mechanism which allows
it to adapt to both rainforest-like settings Source: Garden & Home, with input from Michelle Burger
and drought-stricken, arid environments,
making it suitable for almost any garden.
It is very resilient, as it only needs as
little as 250 - 350mm of water per year to
thrive. The pretty, pink Spekboom flowers
that appear late winter to early spring are
nectar-rich and attract endangered bees,
which is highly beneficial for a healthy,
balanced ecosystem, thus stimulating
biodiversity.

Easy to grow
Spekboom is easily propagated, which
is great news for budget gardeners.
Simply cut or break off a segment of a
Spekboom, let it dry out for one or two
days and then stick it in the ground.
Give it a little water* every few days and
you’ll soon have a new Spekboom plant
of your own. (*Make sure you don’t give
it too much water or it will rot.)

Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2020 21