Botanical Name: Acokanthera oppositifolia
Common Name: Bushman's poison
Type of Plant: dicot: shrub
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape upright, stiffly branched, forms a dense, rounded to oval canopy, with stiff spiny foliage
Height 3-6'
Spread 3-6'
Growth Rate slow
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun
Soil tolerates most
Hardiness tender (zones 21, 23, 24)
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, opposite, elliptic-ovate, 3-4" long, nearly 2" wide, dark green, some purplish tinge, leathery
Flowers small, whitish-pink star shaped flowers in axillary clusters – very fragrant
Fruit oval, blackish berry, 1" long, very poisonous
 
Propagation:
seed, semihardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
excellent filler, hedge, good for dense form, attractive foliage – can be espaliered – attractive in tropical or subtropical landscapes, good barrier
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular preferred, tolerates occasional
Fertilizing balanced in spring
Pruning occasionally head back slightly to maintain full, dense form
Pests/Diseases relatively free Special Condition
 
Origin: South Africa
Family: Apocynaceae

Notes:
 
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