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Tree Fuchsia

Halleria lucida

SA tree no: 670

English: Tree Fuchsia, White Olive, Soap Bush

Afrikaans: Notsung, Ouhout, Witolienhout, Witolyfhout

Xhosa: umBinza, umGqeba

Zulu: umBinza, umNqaziza

Ndebele: umBinza

N. Sotho: Mohlohlokwe

Sesotho: Mohlohlokwe, Mohlohlotsana

Swati: umBinza

Tsonga: Nhlokwe

Tswana: Motlhokolo

Venda: Mutshiwana

Synonyms: Halleria elliptica, Halleria laevigata, Halleria parviflora, Halleria tetragona, Halleria torulosa, Halleria wrightii, Solmsia calophylla

Halleria lucida, commonly known as Tree Fuchsia or Notsung, is a truly special and versatile evergreen tree or large shrub. It's famous for its beautiful, shiny, dark green leaves and its unique, tubular, orange-red flowers that grow directly on the old wood of the stems and trunk, making it a spectacular sight. These flowers produce lots of nectar, making it a magnet for sunbirds, which are its main pollinators, and are followed by small, purplish-black, edible berries that attract other birds.

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Distinguishing features:

Evergreen tree or large shrub.
Glossy, dark green leaves with serrated (toothed) margins.
Distinctive, tubular, orange-red flowers growing directly on the old wood (trunk and stems).
Flowers are rich in nectar.
Produces small, round, purplish-black, edible berries.
Bark is pale and smooth, becoming fissured with age.

Overall appearance:

Halleria lucida is a beautiful evergreen plant, ranging from a large shrub to a medium-sized tree, with a dense, rounded crown. Its lush, glossy foliage provides year-round appeal, while its unique flowers and attractive berries make it a standout specimen.

Height:

Typically 2 m to 10 m tall, but can reach up to 15 m in ideal conditions.

Leaves:

Simple, opposite arrangement.
Ovate (oval) to elliptic (elliptical) shape.
Up to 100 mm long and 50 mm wide.
Glossy, dark green on the upper surface.
Margins are serrated (toothed).
Petioles (leaf stalks) are short.

Flowers:

Tubular, bell-shaped.
Colour is typically orange-red, but can also be yellowish or reddish-brown.
About 25-40 mm long.
Grow in dense clusters directly on the old wood of the trunk and branches (a characteristic called cauliflory).
Rich in nectar.

Flowering season:

Can flower almost all year round, but primarily from winter to spring (June to December), especially June to September.

Fruits:

Small, round, berry-like drupes.
Purplish-black when ripe.
About 5-10 mm in diameter.
Edible, with a sweet taste, but sometimes slightly bitter.
Ripen from summer to autumn (January to May).

Seeds:

Small, enclosed within the fruit.
Cleaned seeds should be sown in spring. Germination can be slow and erratic.

Bark:

Pale grey to light brown.
Smooth when young, becoming fissured (cracked) and rougher with age.
Sometimes has corky patches.

Stems:

Young stems may be reddish.
Flowers emerge directly from older stems and trunk.

Wood:

Hard, heavy, and pale.

Roots:

Non-invasive, making it suitable for planting closer to structures.

Soil type:

Prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil. Adaptable to various soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils.

Aspect:

Prefers full sun to semi-shade. Tolerates coastal conditions and light frost once established.

Edibility:

The berries are edible, with a sweet taste, but can sometimes be slightly bitter.

Uses:

Horticultural: Excellent ornamental tree or large shrub for gardens. Ideal for informal hedging, screens, specimen planting, or container growing. Its non-invasive roots make it suitable near paving.
Wildlife attraction: Highly attractive to sunbirds, which feed on the nectar, and various fruit-eating birds (like loeries, bulbuls, starlings, doves) and even monkeys, which feed on the berries. Attracts insects for pollination.
Traditional: Wood is used for bows, spear shafts, and other implements. Leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine for various ailments, including skin conditions, earaches, and stomach problems. The leaves can also be pounded and mixed with water to create a lather for washing (hence "Soap Bush").

Ecology:

Pollination: Primarily pollinated by sunbirds due to its nectar-rich, tubular flowers, which are perfectly adapted to their long beaks. Also visited by insects.
Seed dispersal: Birds and monkeys disperse the seeds by eating the fruit.
Habitat: Widely distributed and adaptable. Found in diverse habitats including evergreen forests, forest margins, bushveld, along streams, and in coastal areas. Often seen in rocky places.

Distribution and habitat:

Not endemic to South Africa. Widespread in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique.
In South Africa, it is found in all nine provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape.
Grows in evergreen forests, forest margins, bushveld, riverine fringes, rocky outcrops, and coastal areas, from sea level up to 1 800 m altitude.

Derivation of name:

The genus name Halleria honours Albrect von Haller (1708–1777), a Swiss botanist, physiologist, and poet.
The species name lucida is Latin for 'shining' or 'bright', referring to its glossy, dark green leaves.
Common names like "Tree Fuchsia" refer to the resemblance of its flowers to the popular Fuchsia genus. "Notsung" is an indigenous name. "White Olive" refers to its pale wood, though it's not related to the olive. "Soap Bush" comes from the use of its leaves to make a lather.

Historical aspects:

The Tree Fuchsia has long been used in traditional medicine and for its timber. Its beauty has made it a popular garden subject for centuries.

Interesting facts:

The Tree Fuchsia is a bit of a show-off! Its orange-red flowers don't just grow on branches, they pop right out of the old wood of the trunk and main stems – a super unique way to bloom!
If you want to attract sunbirds to your garden, this is the tree for you! Its tubular flowers are packed with nectar, making it a favourite feeding spot for these beautiful birds with their long, curved beaks.
Not only are the flowers pretty, but the purplish-black berries are edible and sweet! Just be quick, as birds and even monkeys love them too.
Its leaves can actually be used to make a lather like soap when pounded with water – hence one of its other cool names, "Soap Bush"!

Growing tips:

Planting location: Halleria lucida is a versatile plant perfect for gardens, whether you want a single specimen tree, an informal hedge, or a screen. Its non-invasive roots mean you can plant it closer to paving or structures. It's a great choice for a bird-friendly garden.
Soil and watering: It prefers moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil but is very adaptable to various soil types. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to ensure lush growth and abundant flowers.
Aspect: Thrives in full sun to semi-shade. It's quite hardy, tolerating coastal conditions and light frost once established.
Maintenance: Generally low maintenance. Can be pruned to shape it as a tree or to maintain it as a dense shrub or hedge.
Propagation: Easily grown from seed or cuttings. Seeds: Collect ripe berries, clean the seeds, and sow them in spring. Germination can be slow and irregular, so be patient. Cuttings: Take semi-hardwood cuttings in summer; they root well with rooting hormone and bottom heat.

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