Acmadenia alternifolia

Acmadenia alternifolia is a South African bush that is still very confidential, as rare in cultivation as it is endangered in its native lands, where it anchors itself in the sunny coastal cliffs of the Cape Province. Passionate gardeners of dry terrain southern plants will find that it somewhat resembles its cousin, Coleonema pulchrum, but with less flexibility, with its heath-like appearance, pink flowers, and delicate aromatic foliage. It is a plant related to citrus trees, comfortable in well-draining sandy or loamy soils. As it performs quite well in pots, gardeners in more continental climates can admire it on the terrace throughout the summer and bring it indoors in winter, protected in a minimally heated greenhouse or conservatory.

Acmadenia alternifolia is a bush of the Rutaceae family endemic to South Africa, specifically the western region of the Cape. It is part of a particular vegetation formation called fynbos, dominated by 3 major plant families: Proteaceae, heaths, and restios. Like our garrigues and maquis, fynbos is subject to the recurrence of natural fires that characterize its ecological cycle. Many species common in Mediterranean gardens come from the Cape region: Gazania, Euryops, Pelargonium, Myrsine... Its species name, alternifolia, refers to its small leaves arranged alternately towards the end of the branches. With moderate growth, this bush with a bushy habit, well-branched from the base, reaches an average height of 85cm (33.5in) with a spread of 60cm. Its slightly stiff branches bear narrow and pointed leaves, light and vibrant green, filled with essential oil glands that release a pleasant aroma when crushed. The flowering, abundant, occurs in May-June. A multitude of small flowers appear at the end of the branches, grouped in globose clusters. They bloom one after the other or in pairs or threes, for several weeks. They are small 5-petalled stars, 1cm (0.4in) in diameter, in a candy pink colour. The fruit is a 5-lobed capsule, each ending with a spur, containing black seeds.

Acmadenia alternifolia is a wild plant so rarely cultivated in gardens, even in South Africa, that it is difficult to assert with certainty what its optimal growing conditions are. It is therefore up to amateur gardeners to acclimate it in their gardens. Hardy enough for our coastal regions, sun-loving and low water requirement, it should thrive in a large rockery or a dry garden, in rocky or light, even poor soil. For example, it can be associated with lavender, rosemary, Cistus, Galvezia speciosa, Callirhoe involucrata, or the western heath Erica erigena... Outside the mildest coastal regions, it seems preferable to cultivate it in a pot, where the substrate and wintering conditions can be controlled.