Barleria albostellata

Barleria albostellata is a large shrub with white flowers in spring and summer. The velvety grey leaves add to the plant’s allure. It has become common in cultivation, while its habitat is in the northern subtropical woodlands of South Africa and also to the north in Zimbabwe. It can grow in moderately cold climates, but is likely to shed its leaves in winter in the cold.

The white corolla of the flower emerges above an unusual structure of four large hairy and purple spotted bracts. Like many other members of the Acanthaceae family the seed capsule is dehiscent, breaking open to release the seed (www.plantzafrica.com).