Sutherlandia frutescens is an indigenous shrub known as the Cancer Bush, Balloon Pea, Blaasbossie or Hoenderbelletjie. It occurs naturally throughout the dry parts of South Africa.
This evergreen shrub has greyish-green leaflets which give the bush a silvery appearance. The leaves have a bitter taste. Sutherlandia is fast growing shrub, it enjoys the full sun and tolerates all soil types. It needs average water and is tough, hardy and quite drought tolerant.
Orange-red pea-like flowers appear on the tips of the branches from spring to mid-summer. Sunbirds pollinate these bright flowers.
The fruit is a large bladder-like papery inflated pod which is almost transparent. The pod dries well and can be used to create interest in dried flower arrangements. The lightweight papery inflated pods enable the seed to be easily dispersed by wind. Although Sutherlandia does not have a long lifespan it easily re seeds itself in a garden.
The Cancer Bush is a multi-purpose medicinal plant. The parts of the plant most commonly used are the dried twigs and leaves. It is said to improve appetite and weight gain in cancer patients and is an immune booster in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
It is also said to be a gentle tranquiliser that decreases anxiety and irritability. As a good general medicinal plant it is used to help stomach ailments, diabetes, rheumatism, eye infections and much more. Do plant a Sutherlandia, it is an attractive shrub in the garden and its contrasting bright orange flowers make a eye catching point of interest.
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Floradale Nursery – East London
Red Leaf Nursery – Port Alfred
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Harrismith Kwekery – Harrismith
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
4 Seasons Nursery – Heidelberg
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Brandmullers
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
GardenShop Broadacres
GardenShop Bryanston
GardenShop Flora Farm
GardenShop Menlo Park
GardenShop Parktown North
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Montrose Nursery – Morningside
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
Garden Pavilion – Montana
Garden Pavilion – White River
North West Stockists:
Clarks Tuinsentrum – Lichtenburg
Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
