Description

This plant was previously known as Rhus crenata.

If you live near the coast and need a plant that can serve as a windbreaker, is drought tolerant and able to bind soil effectively, then Searsia crenata is the ideal plant for you. It is easy to maintain, enjoys full sun and is semi-frost hardy.

Searsia crenata is a member of the Anacardiaceae, the mango family. This evergreen shrub or small tree can reach a height of 3-5m; trees are without spines. The leaves are alternately arranged and are trifoliolate (each leaf has three leaflets). The petiole (leafstalk) is very short and the leaflets are sessile (attached to the stalk). Leaflets are 10-20mm long, leathery, narrowly obovate to rounded and bluntly pointed at the apex. Leaflets are dark green above and lighter in colour below; they appear to be hairless. The top third of the leaflet margin is scalloped.

The flowers are insignificant, white to almost cream and appear in small clusters at the tip of branchlets from autumn to April. The fruits are small round red-brown to pale black berries.

This plant grows well on sandy dune soils and is a good sand binder, therefore a useful plant for coastal gardens. It can be pruned to make an effective and attractive hedge. It serves as an ideal windbreaker and can be successfully used as a subject for bonsai.