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Puzzle Bush
Ehretia rigida
SA tree no: 657
English: Puzzle Bush
Afrikaans: Deurmekaarbos, Deurmekaar-bos, Boesmanstee, Kraalbos
Xhosa: iBotshane, Umkleza, Umxelelwa, Umgalagala, Isanqawe, Umhlaka-mpunzi
Zulu: umHlele, Umkleza, Umqabaza, Isanqawe
N. Sotho: Morobe, Mohlohlomela
Swati: Umkleza
Tsonga: Nsalala
Tswana: Motlhohlo, Motlepe
Venda: Mutepe, Mutanzwa
Ehretia rigida, commonly known as the Puzzle Bush or Deurmekaarbos (Afrikaans for 'confused bush'), is a fascinating indigenous evergreen or semi-deciduous shrub or small tree native to diverse regions of South Africa. This plant is renowned for its dense, tangled growth habit, attractive clusters of small, fragrant purple flowers, and bright orange, edible berries that are a favourite food for birds.
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Distinguishing features
Characterised by its dense, rigid, and often tangled or "puzzling" branch structure.
Bears stiff, roughly textured leaves that are often held at right angles to the stems.
Produces abundant clusters of small, fragrant, pale mauve to purple, bell-shaped flowers.
Develops bright orange, round, edible berries that are highly attractive to birds.
Exhibits a tough, adaptable, and drought-resistant nature.
Overall appearance:
Ehretia rigida is a multi-stemmed, rigid, and often intricately branched shrub or small tree. Its common name "Puzzle Bush" perfectly describes its dense, somewhat tangled appearance, especially when unpruned. It can be evergreen, semi-deciduous, or deciduous depending on the climate and water availability.
Height:
Typically grows between 2 and 5 metres tall, but can sometimes reach up to 8 metres in favourable conditions.
Width:
Can spread widely, forming a dense bush up to several metres in diameter, especially when unpruned, making it excellent for screening.
Leaves:
Simple, alternate (but often appear clustered), obovate to broadly elliptic, and typically small, measuring 2–8 cm long.
They are stiff, leathery, and have a rough, sandpaper-like texture due to short, bristly hairs on both surfaces.
The margins are usually entire (smooth), and the leaves are often held rigidly at right angles to the stems.
Colour is dull to dark green.
Flowers:
Small, delicate, bell-shaped flowers, approximately 5 mm in diameter, borne in dense, rounded clusters (cymes) at the ends of short side branches.
They are fragrant and typically range in colour from pale mauve to purple, sometimes almost white.
The plant is hermaphroditic (flowers have both male and female parts) and is not dioecious.
Flowering season:
Flowers profusely in spring, generally from August to October, creating a beautiful display.
Fruits:
Small, round, fleshy berries (drupes), about 4–6 mm in diameter.
They ripen to a striking bright orange or reddish-orange colour.
Each fruit contains 2–4 hard seeds.
They are edible, slightly sweet and sticky, and are produced in abundance from late spring to autumn (October to April).
Seeds:
Small, hard, contained within the fleshy fruit. Propagation is possible from fresh seeds, but germination can be erratic.
Bark:
Smooth and greyish-brown on younger stems, becoming somewhat rougher, fissured, and darker with age.
Stems:
Rigid, multi-branched, and often intertwined, giving the plant its "puzzle" like appearance. Young stems are often reddish-brown and covered in fine hairs.
Wood:
The wood is hard and durable, traditionally used for small implements and as firewood.
Thorns:
This plant is typically thornless.
Roots:
Possesses a strong, fibrous root system that helps anchor the plant and contributes to its drought resistance. It is not considered invasive.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable, tolerating a wide range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Prefers well-drained conditions.
Aspect:
Thrives in full sun, but can tolerate semi-shade. It is exceptionally hardy, drought-resistant, and can withstand moderate frost once established. Young plants may need protection from severe frost.
Edibility:
The ripe orange berries are edible and have a slightly sweet, sticky flavour. They are often enjoyed fresh by children and are a significant food source for birds.
Uses:
Hedge & Screening: Its dense, rigid growth makes it an excellent choice for formal or informal hedges, windbreaks, and privacy screens. It can be pruned into various shapes.
Ornamental: Highly valued in gardens for its attractive flowers and decorative berries, as well as its interesting form.
Wildlife Garden: Attracts a wide array of birds, especially during fruiting season, and provides good nesting sites and shelter.
Traditional Uses: Historically, the wood was used for making small implements, and the berries were sometimes used to make a type of beer. Indigenous communities also traditionally used parts of the plant for various medicinal purposes, including treating chest complaints and as a blood purifier.
Bonsai: Its interesting growth habit and small leaves make it a good candidate for bonsai.
Ecology:
Birds: The bright orange fruits are a major food source for numerous bird species, including louries, bulbuls, mousebirds, starlings, and francolins, which are key dispersers of its seeds.
Insects: The fragrant flowers attract a variety of pollinating insects, including bees and butterflies.
Habitat: Provides dense cover and shelter for small animals due to its bushy nature.
Distribution and habitat:
Ehretia rigida is one of the most widespread trees in South Africa, occurring in all nine provinces. Its distribution extends into Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
South African Provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, Western Cape.
Habitat: Found in a diverse range of habitats including bushveld, woodlands, thickets, coastal dune scrub, rocky outcrops, and disturbed areas. It is particularly common in drier regions.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Ehretia honours Georg Dionysius Ehret (1708–1770), a celebrated German botanical artist.
The species epithet rigida is Latin for "stiff" or "rigid," referring to the plant's stiff, hard branches and leaves.
The common Afrikaans name "Deurmekaarbos" translates to "confused bush," aptly describing its tangled branching habit.
Historical aspects:
Ehretia rigida has been a significant plant in Southern African ecosystems and human cultures for centuries. Its edible fruits were a traditional food source, and its hard wood was utilised for various purposes. Indigenous traditional healers used parts of the plant for a range of ailments, highlighting its long-standing cultural and medicinal importance.
Interesting facts
This bush is so tangled, it's literally called the "Puzzle Bush" or "Deurmekaarbos" in Afrikaans – try untangling its branches if you dare!
Don't be fooled by its tough looks; in spring, it bursts into a cloud of beautiful, fragrant purple flowers that smell amazing.
Its bright orange berries are like a sweet treat for birds, so if you plant one, your garden might become a popular bird hangout!
Growing tips
Propagation: Can be propagated from fresh seeds, though germination can be slow and erratic. For better success, treat seeds with boiling water (pour boiling water over seeds, let cool, and soak overnight). Cuttings (semi-hardwood) can also be rooted, especially with rooting hormone.
Planting: Plant in full sun for best flowering and fruiting, though it tolerates some shade. It's very hardy once established.
Soil: Adapts to most well-drained soil types.
Watering: Drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal watering. Water regularly when young to help it establish.
Maintenance: Responds very well to pruning, allowing it to be shaped into a formal hedge, screen, or kept as a smaller shrub or tree. Pruning after fruiting encourages new growth.
Frost: Tolerates moderate frost, but protect young plants if severe frost is expected.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Semi-deciduous, deciduous, evergreen, tree or shrub
Plant family:
Boraginaceae (hairy clothes, possibly (the leaves)) - Order: Boraginales