''Searsia crenata'', previously known as ''Rhus crenata'', ("dune crow-berry"), is a species of '' Searsia'' that is native to South Africa, where it grows in

frost Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere coming in contact with a solid surface whose temperature is below freezing, and resulting in a phase change from water vapor (a gas) ...

-free and light frost areas, especially on beach sand dunes.

Description

It is a multibranched evergreen

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

or small tree, reaching a height of 3 metres and a similar spread. The leaf stalks (petioles) are about 2 mm in length. Each leaflet is obovate-cuneate with three distinct bumps at the broad tip (tricrenate). The small flowers are produced in autumn, and are followed by dark blue fruit eaten by birds.

Distribution

This species is found along the southern coast of South Africa, from Cape Town as far east as the Kei river. Its favoured habitat is stabilised sand dunes.

Cultivation

The tree is a good subject for

bonsai Bonsai ( ja, 盆栽, , tray planting, ) is the Japanese art of growing and training miniature trees in pots, developed from the traditional Chinese art form of ''penjing''. Unlike ''penjing'', which utilizes traditional techniques to produce ...

, and can easily be pruned into a very neat hedge. It enjoys full sun and is semi frost hardy.

References

crenata Endemic flora of South Africa Flora of the Cape Provinces Fynbos Garden plants of Southern Africa {{Anacardiaceae-stub