Spekboom (*Portulacaria afra)
South African tree no.: 104
Names:
Spekboom (Afrikaans)
Elephant’s Food, Dwarf Jade Plant, Pork Bush (English)
iGqwanitsha (Xhosa)
Isidondwane (Zulu) (Kirsten, 2011: 125)
Origin:
Grows wild in dry, warm areas of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Transvaal, Mozambique and temperate climate areas of northern Southern Africa (Pienaar & Smith, 2011: 283).
Habitat:
Warm, dry, rocky slopes and river valleys in subtropical thicket and bushveld biomes (Venter & Venter, 2002: 242).
Properties:
It is an evergreen tree or shrub with a medium growth rate. An abundance of pink flowers can be seen between September and February (warmer, dryer months in the Western Cape) which is followed by little fruits.
Small, round and fleshy leaves can be seen on reddish branches (Pienaar & Smith, 2011: 283)
Why (plant) Spekboom?
- Water wise.
- Drought, wind and fire resistant.
- Most effective plant in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (carbon sequestration).
- Suitable for hedging.
- Excellent bonsai candidate (Pienaar & Smith, 2011: 283).
- Can be grown in containers.
Carbon sequestration and Spekboom
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Noun. Carbon sequestration is a natural or artificial process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in solid or liquid form.
“The plant uses a form of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) to absorb inorganic carbon (CO2) from the air and convert it into organic compounds. This CO2 enters through the stomata of the plant during the night. CAM is a form of carbon fixation that occurs in arid regions where a plant adapts to the hot, unfavourable conditions of the day. The plant closes its stomata in the leaves during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but opens at night to collect carbon.
The Spekboom is a highly specialised CAM plant that is able to absorb up to 100 times more carbon than a pine tree of similar size. Awareness around the importance of reducing carbon emissions and the necessity of creating carbon sinks came about with the Kyoto Protocol.” (Dennis, 2017: para. 3)
Planting out
Tools:
- Shovel
- Scissors
- Watering can
- Compost
- Bone meal
- Mulch
”Treat all succulent plants by applying an organic fungicide to any damaged parts before replanting and do not water them immediately after transplanting as rot can invade the roots.” (van Jaarsveld, 2010: 32)
1. Make a hole twice the size of the container.
2. Add a bit of compost and bone meal to the hole.
3. Cut open the plastic bag and remove the plant.
4. Place the Spekboom in the hole and fill up with soil with good draining capabilities. Water the surrounding soil thoroughly.
5. Cover the soil around the stem with a 2-4cm mulching layer such as tree bark chips or compost.
Care instructions:
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• Full sun.
• Do not over-water.
• Use well-draining soil.
• Only use organic fertilizer such as compost and bone meal.
References:
1. Dennis, B., 2017, A South African conservation project: Offsetting carbon emissions through the use of spekboom plants. Available from: http://lifeinbalance.co.za/a-south-african-conservation-project-offsetting-carbon-emissions-through-the-use-of-spekboom-plants/
2. Kirsten, K., 2011, Maak tuin saam met Keith Kirsten, Struik Lifestyle Publishers, Cape Town.
3. Pienaar, K. & Smith, G. F., 2011, Die Suider-Afrikaanse watter blom is dit?: ‘n Onontbeerlike gids tot tuinplante, Struik Lifestyle Publishers, Cape Town.
4. van Jaarsveld, E., 2010, Waterwise gardening in South Africa and Namibia, Struik Lifestyle Publishers, Cape Town.
5. Venter, F. & Venter, J-A., 2002, Benut ons inheemse bome, rev. edn., Briza Publications, Pretoria.
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