Fauna
Plant

Glossy Bottlebrush

Greyia sutherlandii

Also known as Natal Bottlebrush, Sutherland Bottlebrush, Beacon Tree

Clinging to rocky krantzes and high-altitude slopes across southern Africa, this striking small tree produces dense cylindrical racemes of brilliant scarlet flowers in late winter and early spring. The blooms open while the branches are largely leafless, creating an eye-catching beacon against rugged sandstone cliffs. A prolific nectar producer, it serves as a critical early-season sustenance station for nectar-feeding birds such as sunbirds and sugarbirds across the Drakensberg montane grasslands.

MontaneFloweringDeciduous
Glossy Bottlebrush reference1 / 7
(c) Charles Stirton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Charles Stirton · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Atmospheric carbon dioxide
Predators
  • Mountain reedbuck
  • Eland
  • Stem-boring beetles
ThreatsFrequent out-of-season wildfires, habitat degradation, and invasive alien plants
HabitatsMontane grasslands, rocky ridges, boulder screes, cliff edges, and forest margins
Life span30–70 years
Classification
  1. FamilyFrancoaceae
  2. SpeciesGreyia sutherlandii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Timing: Look for peak scarlet blooms between August and November before the leaves emerge.
  • Birdwatching: Stake out blooming trees at sunrise to spot feeding sunbirds and sugarbirds.
  • Habitat: Scan steep sandstone crags and rocky ridgelines where fire cannot easily penetrate.
Related species
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