Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Shrubs

Eriocephalus africanus

kapok bush

An aromatic, evergreen shrub, to 1m tall, with arching branches clothed with narrow, grey-green, slightly-succulent, leaves. Small, purple-eyed, white flowers are produced in winter, followed by fluffy, white seedheads

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Eriocephalus are evergreen shrubs with small, simple, aromatic leaves and white or pink flowers in spring or autumn, followed by fluffy seedheads
Name status: Correct
Plant range: South Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Needs well-drained soil in a sunny position. In cold areas grow in a container and take under glass for winter protection

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown into gritty compost in spring, or take softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 9

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.