Spicy bachu
This is a small evergreen shrub from Western Cape in South Africa growing between one and three feet tall which is tender and not frost hardy. In the conservatory or greenhouse it can make an attractive and unusual feature as it develops into a small mound which can be covered in flowers. In fact it tends to flower right through the year with a peak in winter and spring.
Agathosma capensis is a new introduction to Burncoose and it put on a splendid display in early April as you can see below. The flowers on our plants are mauve but this is a variable species where the flowers can, instead, be pink to white. The flowers are crowded on stalks in rounded heads and each tiny individual flower has five petals.
As it matures this plant will produce small woody stems but the younger stems are softer and covered with alternate small needle-like green leaves. The leaves give off an attractive liquorice-honey or spice scent when crushed and contain aromatic oils.
