Wild Rosemary

Eriocephalus africanus

Our Wild Rosemary, known in Afrikaans as Kapokbos (“snow bush”) because of its appearance when covered by masses of fluffy white seeds mid-winter, is an evergreen shrub that grows to about 1m tall and wide. The fragrant leaves can be used in perfume or to freshen rooms in homes, though it also taints the milk of goats that feed on it. It can be used in cooking instead of traditional rosemary and a tea made of it can be used to treat cold symptoms and stomach ailments. It can even be used to wash your hair! The Wild Rosemary is a beautiful and easy to care for addition to indigenous gardens. Naturally it grows best in rocky soil in the drier parts of our Eastern, Western and Northern Cape Provinces.