Barleria obtusa (Bush violet)

Botanical name: Barleria obtusa
Common name(s): Bush violet
Categories: Shrubs and Perennials

Plant description:

This medium to large-sized indigenous shrub with a scrambling growth habit is ideal for the warmer parts of the country. The dark green foliage is covered in fine hairs. It bears a mass of mauve-blue flowers in April, May and June. It is relatively fast growing and spreads by suckering and seeding and needs severe winter pruning. Excellent for planting on banks and in dry areas in the warmer parts of the country.

Family: Acanthaceae

Botanical Pronunciation: bar-LEH-ree-uh ob-TOO-sah.

Barleria obtusa requirements and features

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Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

Botanical name	Barleria obtusa
Plant Care	Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. Half Sun Half Sun – Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day. Semi Frost Hardy Semi Frost Hardy – Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures. Low Watering Low Watering – Requires Little Water. Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned. Indigenous Indigenous – Originates in South Africa.
Size	1 m * 1.5 m
Categories	Shrubs and Perennials
Flowers	May June This plant bears a mass of blue mauve, purple or pink flowers during May and June.
Common name(s)	Bush violet
Origin	Southern Africa
Uses in landscape design	Garden Design Types: Indigenous gardening. Excellent for planting on banks or slopes and warmer dry areas.
Drought tolerance	High
Planting instructions	Planting: Dig a hole 60cm square and deep. Mix two thirds of topsoil with one third compost, add one cup of bone meal or superphosphate and mix well. Watering and feeding: Does not need a lot of attention, but will benefit from watering during dry weather, as well as occasional feeding with a general fertiliser for flowering plants. Pruning: It needs severe winter pruning after flowering.
Maintenance	Needs severe winter pruning.
Propagation	It spreads by suckering and seeding.
Recommended varieties	B. repens ‘Tickled Pink’ has lovely pink flowers and shiny foliage. It does not grow as high as the bush violet.

May June
This plant bears a mass of blue mauve, purple or pink flowers during May and June.

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Barleria obtusa (Bush violet)