Cape Birdwood Plant Care
Berchemia zeyheri (Sond.) Grubov
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Pink ivory, also called red ivory, purple ivory, unnini or umgoloti, is an African hardwood used to make a variety of products. The pink ivory tree grows predominantly in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Northern Botswana and South Africa.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Cape Birdwood?
Cape Birdwood grows best in full sun to partial shade.
What Is the Cape Birdwood?
Cape Birdwood (Berchemia zeyheri) belongs to the Rhamnaceae family within the Berchemia genus.
Cape Birdwood displays a vining, climbing shrub growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Cape Birdwood produces small clusters of inconspicuous flowers.
What Light Does the Cape Birdwood Need?
Cape Birdwood thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Cape Birdwood?
Well-draining sandy soil with organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Cape Birdwood to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Cape Birdwood?
Repot every 2-3 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 Cape Birdwood?
Cape Birdwood can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to chinese raisin tree plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Cape Birdwood Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Cape Birdwood, 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 Cape Birdwood?
Cape Birdwood is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. 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.
Keep exploring plants
Cape Birdwood 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 Berchemia genus — compare its care with other Berchemia species on PlantoScan.
Berchemia is part of the Rhamnaceae plant family — browse all Rhamnaceae genera and species.
Cape Birdwood thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Berchemia zeyheri (Sond.) Grubov, family Rhamnaceae (first published in Trudy Bot. Inst. Akad. Nauk S.S.S.R., Ser. 1, Fl. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 8: 374 (1949)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Cape Birdwood, 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.
- 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.
Identify Plants Like the
Cape Birdwood Instantly
Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.
Free
to download
iOS & Android
platforms
Light & dark
mode
100,000+
species