Family ACANTHACEAE
Genus Adenia
Species digitata
SA Plant Number
Basionym Adenia digitata

Adenia digitata is a drought hardy but frost sensitive, deciduous herbaceous climber with bluish, deeply lobed leaves that sprout from a woody rootstock. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PARTS OF THIS PLANT ARE HIGHLY POISONOUS. Creamy yellow flowers appear in early summer, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants.  These are followed by very attractive but poisonous orange to red berries. It scrambles up vegetation or a trellis with the aid of tendrils.

It makes a very attractive addition to a small garden, the plant being cultivated worldwide as an ornamental even although it is so poisonous. Can be grown as an interesting container plant.

Plant in sun or semi-shade, in well drained, loamy soil.

Size up to 3m

Landscaping: Although highly toxic, this plant is widely grown around the world as an interesting ornamental, with its swollen tuber and attractive but poisonous fruit. An interesting climber for small gardens.

Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZuluNatal midlands

Natural Habitat Savannah,bushland, dry rocky or grassy localities, on termite mounds and along forest fringes, on stony, sandy, or clayish soils at elevations

Growth Rate: Moderate, Evergreen or Deciduous: Deciduous , Hardiness - Frost: Delicate, Hardiness - Frost: Fairly Hardy, Plant Type: Climbers, Position: Semi-shade, Position: Sun - Full, Soil: Loamy - Compost rich Soil, Soil: Well-drained, Garden Uses: Container Plant, Garden Uses: Small Gardens, Garden Uses: Specimen, Hardiness - Drought: Drought Hardy, Flower colour: White - Cream, Flower colour: Yellow shades, Garden type: Arid garden, Garden type: Bushveld, Garden type: Rainwater Harvesting Garden,

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