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Needle Bush
Azima tetracantha
SA tree no: 622.1
English: Needle Bush, Bee‑sting Bush, Four‑Thorns, Stink Bush
Afrikaans: Byangelbos, Groendoring, Spelddoring, Naaldebos, Naaibos, Stinkbos
Xhosa: Igcegceleya, Igceya
Zulu: Umgeza, Ingungumela, Isikhumukele
Setswana: Ribaba
Historical botanical names: Azima nova, Azima sarmentosa, Azima spinosissima, Azima tetracantha var. laxior, Azima tetracantha var. pubescens, Fagonia montana, Kandena spinosa, Monetia barlerioides, Monetia tetracantha
Azima tetracantha, commonly called the Needle Bush or Bee‑sting Bush, is a dense evergreen scrambler or shrub with glossy oval leaves and clusters of four long sharp spines at each node. It bears tiny greenish‑yellow flowers in summer, followed by translucent white berries that attract birds and goats.
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Distinguishing features:
Four slender sharp spines (28–50 mm long) in each leaf axil, arranged in a whorl of four
Tetragonal (four‑sided) branches, initially pubescent later glabrous
Glossy mid‑ to light‑green oval pungent leaves
Tiny greenish‑yellow flowers solitary or in short spikes in summer
Translucent white berries when ripe
Overall appearance:
Dense, evergreen shrub or scrambler reaching 2–3 m tall
Height:
2–3 m
Leaves:
Simple, oval, glossy mid‑ to light‑green and pungent
Flowers:
Tiny, greenish to yellow, solitary or in spikes 2–5 mm long, in leaf axils
Flowering season:
October to February
Fruits:
White berries, translucent when ripe
Bark:
Light brown and rough
Stems:
Branches are four‑angled (tetragonal), pubescent when young and later glabrous
Wood:
Soft white wood
Thorns:
Slender sharp spines, two per axil leading to a whorl of four at each node, 28–50 mm long
Soil type:
Sandy or loam soils
Aspect:
Prefers full sun
Edibility:
Berries are eaten by goats and birds; they give a strong flavour to goat’s milk and butter
Toxicity:
Smoke from burned wood is poisonous; wood should not be used as fuel
Uses:
Folk medicine: root, root‑bark sap and leaves used internally and externally for rheumatism, dropsy, indigestion, diarrhoea, coughs, ear‑ache, tooth pain, snake‑bite, uterine tonic postpartum
Hedge or security barrier due to dense spines
Ornamental plant
Ecology:
Birds eat berries
Goats and other stock eat berries and impart flavour to milk and butter
Distribution and habitat:
South African provinces: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu‑Natal, Mpumalanga
Habitat: lowland scrub, coastal bushland, dunes, near mangrove edges, not far from high‑water mark
Derivation of name:
Genus name Azima from Arabic meaning ‘defender’
Species name tetracantha from Greek tetra (‘four’) and akantha (‘thorns’) referring to four‑thorns per node
Common name bee‑sting bush refers to painful sting from its sharp spines
Historical aspects:
There is only one Azima species in central, eastern and southern Africa. The genus name and species name emphasize the defence by spines.
Interesting facts:
The name bee‑sting bush isn’t because bees live in it – its spines sting like a bee if you brush past them!
Its branches are literally four‑angled and each node sports four long thorns – nature’s own security fence.
Berries eaten by goats flavour their milk and butter – so goats essentially “season” their produce!
Although it’s called stink bush in Afrikaans or English, it doesn’t smell bad – the name refers to its pungent leaves.
Growing tips:
Sow seeds or plant cuttings at any time of year
Use a sandy or perlite mix; keep moist but not waterlogged until germination
After establishment, feed at least once a year; repot or transplant annually if grown in pots
Plant in full sun for best growth
Use as a security hedge; beware of spider mites
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Evergreen, shrub or scrambler
Plant family:
Plant family (derivation)