African Shield Plant Plant Care
Afrosciadium lynesii (C.Norman) P.J.D.Winter
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Native to South Africa, this plant is known for its striking glossy, dark green leaves with vibrant red veins that create a unique and eye-catching display. Plant collectors are drawn to Afrosciadium lynesii for its unusual foliage and its ability to thrive in a variety of lighting conditions, making it a versatile addition to any collection.
Every 7–10 days
Partial shade to full sun
60–75°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for African Shield Plant?
Water African Shield Plant every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it partial shade to full sun. It prefers temperatures of 60–75°F (16–24°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the African Shield Plant Native To?
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
What Is the African Shield Plant?
African Shield Plant (Afrosciadium lynesii) belongs to the Apiaceae family within the Afrosciadium genus. African Shield Plant is native to southern tropical Africa. African Shield Plant is also known as Lynesii's Afrosciadium.
African Shield Plant displays a clumping herbaceous perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. African Shield Plant produces small clusters of white or pink flowers in umbels.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a African Shield Plant?
Afrosciadium lynesii requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the African Shield Plant Need?
African Shield Plant thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the African Shield Plant Prefer?
Afrosciadium lynesii grows best at temperatures of 60–75°F. African Shield Plant prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–75°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a African Shield Plant?
Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for African Shield Plant to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a African Shield Plant?
Feed African Shield Plant every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a African Shield Plant?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a African Shield Plant?
African Shield Plant can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to african hosta plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the African Shield Plant Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list African Shield Plant, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the African Shield Plant?
African Shield Plant is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the African Shield Plant Need?
African Shield Plant grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. African Shield Plant is native to southern tropical Africa. In cooler regions, grow African Shield Plant as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
African Shield Plant is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Afrosciadium genus — compare its care with other Afrosciadium species on PlantoScan.
Afrosciadium is part of the Apiaceae plant family — browse all Apiaceae genera and species.
African Shield Plant thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Afrosciadium Species
Other Afrosciadium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Afrosciadium lynesii (C.Norman) P.J.D.Winter, family Apiaceae (first published in Taxon 57: 360 (2008)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list African Shield Plant, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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