Description and biology
''Passerina ericoides'' is a shrub typically up to 1 metre high, with narrow, slightly succulent, leaves some two to three mm long, its flowers are greenish-yellow to reddish, and are subtended by leaflike bracts. Unlike most species of ''Passerina'', the plant bears fleshy orange or red berries. They taste nasty, but are harmless and look very attractive.Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962 Tortoises eat them and presumably spread their seed in their droppings. For that reason one of the common names is "skilpadbessie" ( Afrikaans for "tortoise berry", a name shared with various other plants such as '' Nylandtia'' and '' Chironia baccifera''.)Uses
''Passerina ericoides'' is an excellent plant for stabilising mobile sand dunes. Its strong, extensive roots bind the sand, and send up shoots elsewhere to do likewise. It also is a rewarding, "water wise" plant for coastal gardens. It can be propagated by seed or by cuttings.References
Thymelaeoideae Endemic flora of South Africa Flora of the Cape Provinces Fynbos Natural history of Cape Town Vulnerable flora of Africa {{Thymelaeaceae-stub