Aja Pendergrast, Auckland Zoo
Like a bursting flame, the flowers of our Alberta Magna are in full bloom, throwing off their beautiful red and scarlet tones.
Located along the boardwalk of our African precinct, just before you greet our serval Moholo and Shani, this compact evergreen really packs a punch. Also known as the 'Natal flame bush', after its wild home of KwaZulu-Natal – the garden province of South Africa, this indigenous plant holds a protected status.
The vulnerability of this species to grassland fires and habitat disturbances is one of the reasons why their numbers have dwindled. The wood is brittle and easily broken, which is why it’s known colloquially in Afrikaans as breekhout meaning ‘break wood’.
The outer surface of the trunk is partially encircled with ring-grooves, which makes for interesting and unique patterns. Bark from trees like Alberta Magna are still sourced to make traditional medicines throughout South Africa despite their protected status, and those stripped of their bark invariably die.
Auckland ZooBark from trees like Alberta Magna are still sourced to make traditional medicines throughout South Africa despite their protected status, and those stripped of their bark invariably die.
Part of the flowering plant family Rubiaceae, the Natal flame bush is found near rivers and streams in South Africa. Each branch is covered with glossy green leaves and bunches of orange and scarlet tubular flowers, once the flowers fall away they expose rounded red fruits with long papery wings - that can often be confused for blooms.
As a plant for the home garden, Alberta Magna is slow-growing but you will be rewarded with an amazing feature plant with striking flowers that can be cut and displayed indoors. You’ll also be helping out our pollinating insects as this plant is also very attractive to bees and butterflies!
Stay tuned for the next blog in this series and if you have any recommendations on plants we should cover or questions for our horticulture experts, flick us an email!
