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Agathosma spp.
buchus
Southern Africa (Western Cape fynbos)
Overview
Agathosma spp. is a genus of about 140 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs in the citrus family Rutaceae, native to southern Africa and concentrated in the fynbos of South Africa's Western Cape. Known as buchu, the plants form rounded or upright shrubs 1 to 7 feet (0.3 to 2 m) tall, densely set with small, narrow, heath-like leaves that are gland-dotted and release a strong scent, often likened to blackcurrant or mint, when bruised. In late winter and spring the bushes carry masses of small, five-petalled star-shaped flowers in white, pink, or mauve, which draw bees and other insects. The genus grows on sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soils in a winter-rainfall, summer-dry climate, and tolerates drought, wind, and coastal exposure but not hard frost or rich, wet ground. A. betulina and A. crenulata, the medicinal buchus, are harvested for their aromatic oil, used to flavor foods and in herbal products. Plants are short-lived and resent root disturbance and heavy feeding. The aromatic foliage and long flowering make several species garden shrubs in Mediterranean and frost-free climates.
Native Range
Agathosma spp. is native to southern Africa, with the great majority of species in the fynbos of the Western Cape of South Africa, and a few reaching into neighboring regions. Plants grow on sandy, acidic mountain and coastal soils in a winter-rainfall climate.Suggested Uses
Agathosma spp. is grown in Mediterranean, coastal, and fynbos-style gardens for its aromatic foliage and spring flowers, and in containers where soil or climate are unsuitable. Sprigs are also cut for their scent, and A. betulina is grown as the herb buchu.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 7'
Width/Spread1' - 5'
Bloom Information
Agathosma spp. flowers mainly from late winter into spring, roughly August to November in its native southern-hemisphere range and late winter to spring where grown in the north. The small star flowers smother the bushes for several weeks and attract bees. Light rebloom can follow in cooler weather.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
White, pink, or mauveFoliage Description
Deep green, aromaticGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Agathosma spp. grows in full sun and sandy, sharply drained, acidic soil low in nutrients, matching the fynbos conditions it comes from. Plants tolerate drought, wind, and salt air once established but fail in heavy, wet, or limey soil and are damaged by hard frost. Watering is moderate while plants settle and sparse afterward, since the genus is adapted to dry summers. Feeding is kept very light, as fynbos plants are sensitive to phosphorus and rich soils. Most species are short-lived, lasting several years, and are renewed from cuttings or seed. Light trimming after flowering keeps plants bushy.Pruning
Agathosma spp. is trimmed lightly after flowering to keep a dense, rounded shape and to remove spent blooms. Cutting back hard into bare old wood is unproductive, since the shrubs are slow to resprout from it. Regular light shaping extends the life of these short-lived plants.Pruning Schedule
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springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons