About Passerina ericoides L.
Passerina ericoides is a shrub that usually grows up to 1 metre tall. It has narrow, slightly succulent leaves that are roughly 2 to 3 millimetres long. Its flowers range from greenish-yellow to reddish, and are borne below leaf-like bracts. Unlike most species in the genus Passerina, this plant produces fleshy orange or red berries. While the berries have an unpleasant taste, they are not harmful and are visually very attractive. Tortoises eat these berries, and are thought to spread the plant's seeds through their droppings. This fact gives the species one of its common names, "skilpadbessie", which is Afrikaans for "tortoise berry". This common name is shared with multiple other plant species, including species in the genus Nylandtia and Chironia baccifera. Passerina ericoides is an excellent species for stabilizing mobile sand dunes. Its strong, widespread roots hold sand in place, and produce new shoots in other areas to continue stabilizing sand. It is also a satisfying water-wise plant suited for coastal gardens. It can be propagated from either seed or cuttings.
