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Waterfall Gardening


















             THE REAL




             dEAL



             ABOuT



             spEKBOOm






             There’s this versatile little miracle
             plant called spekboom, perhaps you’ve
             heard of it?



            W           ith all the concerns    Bush’ mostly because wild game,     breastfeeding mothers in Mozambique

                                                                                    (apparently) eat spekboom leaves
                        around ‘global climate
                                                especially elephants, love to feed
                        change,’ this seemingly
                                                forms an integral part of their diet.
                        humble succulent,       on spekboom leaves and this shrub   to increase their milk supply.
             found predominantly in the Eastern                                     Water-wise and Eco-friendly
             Cape and in the karoo, seems       Edible, nutritious, with            suitable for all seasons and weather

             like the God-given answer to the   Medicinal Benefits                   conditions, spekboom has a
             planet’s environmental problems.   However, this plant is not just for   photosynthetic mechanism which
             But there’s so much more to this   elephants - sucking on the leaf of a   allows it to adapt to both rainforest-
             incredible plant it’s no wonder we   spekboom can quench your thirst,   like settings and drought-stricken, arid
             are hearing such a lot about it lately   treat exhaustion, and alleviate   environments, making it suitable for
             and why it has become extremely    heatstroke - something to remember   almost any garden. It is very resilient, as
             trendy to plant one, hashtag it, ‘share’   if you ever happen to find yourself   it only needs as little as 250 - 350mm

             and ‘like’ all that is spekboom.   lost in the bush. Its delicious citrus   of water per year to thrive. The pretty,
                                                flavour makes for a fresh and exciting   pink spekboom flowers that appear late


             Why the name ‘spekboom’?           addition to salads, stews and roasts,   winter to early spring are nectar-rich
             Its scientific name is portulacaria   there are even cake recipes to try   and attract endangered bees, which is



             afra but it is affectionately known   out! Juiced leaves can be used as an   highly beneficial for a healthy, balanced

             as ‘spekboom’ which is literally   effective antiseptic to soothe anything   ecosystem, thus stimulating biodiversity.
             translated from Afrikaans as ‘Bacon   from mouth infections, sore throats,
             Tree’. Other names include ‘Dwarf   pimples, rashes, stings and sunburn.   Easy to grow
             Jade’, ‘Pork Bush’ and ‘Elephant   What’s more, rumour has it that     spekboom is easily propagated,
                                                                                    which is great news for budget

                                                                                    gardeners. simply cut or break off a
               A water-wise plant that’s ideal for low maintenance gardens.         segment of a spekboom, let it dry
                                                                                    out for one or two days and then

             26  Waterfall Issue 7   2020
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