Grewia caffra

cross berry
Versatile fast growing shrub. Prune to shape: treelike, screen, hedge or thin espalier. Abundant purple-pink star flowers in summer. Attracts butterflies. Non invasive roots.
Grewia caffra
height 6–12ft
width 5–9ft
tolerates Coast, Cool Summers, Fog, Pots, Salt, Wind
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 Being from South Africa, this plant is well adapted to our Mediterranean climate. Water it plant regularly, when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. If you establish this pattern over several years, then you can cut back to watering every week or two in dry weather. Use drippers, emitters, or a slow stream of water so that it does not run off; allow the water to trickle all the way down through the deepest layers of soil. In a pot slowly water the entire surface until water comes out of the bottom of your pot. In habitat this plant will defoliate during the dry seas (called estivation) so be careful pushing it too dry.
hardy
to		 20F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Planting Mix, In Pots: Potting Soil, Tolerates Heavy Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin South Africa
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 8, 9, 12–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

The usefulness of this plant as a thin, flat element can’t be overstated. One grower we know has pruned his completely into a thin living railing. It branches in one dimension, making it very easy to espalier or keep on a single plane.
Orange fall berries loved by birds. Curiously each individual berry is grown together in clusters of four berries, giving this plant its common name - cross berry.
This plant makes excellent bonsai candidate (see linked photo below).

Special Interest

In South Africa the fruits of this plant are used in various ways, from drying and eating, to frothing in milk, or even brewing a bush beer!