Common Name:

General Information

Protea caffra is an evergreen shrub or small tree. In areas subject to frequent burning it remains a shrub, growing 1.5 - 3 metres tall, but in other areas it can become a small tree with a somewhat rounded crown that can be 8 metres tall with a bole up to 40cm in diameter[]. The thick bark has a chunky, corky texture which protects the mature plant from the fires that happen so commonly in the grassland where it grows.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Eastern Africa - Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, eastern DR Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, S. Africa.

Habitat

Found in a wide range of habitats from humid, tropical coastlines to grassland and high ridges; on a variety of geological formations, favouring poor, sandy or quartzite soils, acid in nature, but also sometimes even on alkaline dolomite[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Birds, Bees, Beetles
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics to the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,100 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 25°c, but can tolerate 10 - 30°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 400 - 900mm, but tolerates 300 - 1,000mm[].
The cultivation of this species has proved to be very difficult. The plant is very sensitive to root disturbance, it is best to avoid any cultivation around the base of the plant[]. Requires a sunny position[]. Grows best in a well-drained, sandy to loamy soil of low fertility[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
Plants can succeed in areas where there are regular bush fires[].
The flowers are a very rich source of nectar[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is used medicinally[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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