This is a very impressive indigenous shrub or tree, especially when in
flower or fruit. Alberta magna is not only treasured by tree collectors
and gardeners for its beauty, but also because it is a protected tree
in the family Rubiaceae.
maturity Alberta magna has grey, rough bark on the stems, the branches
are green or brown. The crown of shiny, evergreen foliage makes a foil
for the large sprays of brilliant red, tubular flowers which form at the
end of the branches in late summer/autumn (February-June). Individual
flowers are about 2.5 cm long and are bright red with a hairy calyx. They
are followed by small, ribbed fruit with large scarlet "wings"
formed from the elongated calyx lobes. These remain colourful for a long
Leaves are simple and oppositely arranged. They are 7.5-13 cm long and
up to about 5 cm broad, oblong or oval. The leaf margins are untoothed
and rolled inwards. The leaves are glossy dark green above and paler below,
with a yellowish midrib. Lateral veins are sometimes conspicuous on the
underside of the leaf.
Alberta magna comes from forests, kloofs and valleys of the former
Transkei in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Alberta magna grows
very well at the coast to altitudes of 1 800 m, and can form a medium-size
tree of 13 m high.
The bark of this tree is used in traditional medicine, but the wood of
Alberta magna is almost useless. It breaks readily, hence the common
Alberta magna was named by Ernst Heinrich Meyer, who was a lecturer
in medicine at the University of Gottingen and an associate professor
of botany in Koningsberg. He named the genus Alberta and one species,
magna in honour of Albertus Magnus, whose real name was Graf von
Bollstädt, a famous German philosopher or theologian who lived between
the 12th and 13th century and wrote De vegetabilus, a botanical
work in seven volumes.
Alberta is a small genus of few species centred mainly in Madagascar
with 1 species occurring in the moist warm parts of South Africa. Many
species in the family Rubiaceae are cultivated for their showy and sometimes
sweetly scented flowers, particularly those in the genera Gardenia,
Pavetta and Rothmannia. Other plants of economic value in
this family include Cinchona, the tree from which quinine (used
to treat malaria) is derived.
Growing Alberta magna
its glossy leaves and brilliant flowers and fruits, this is an aristocrat
in the garden. But like some aristocrats, it can be difficult to please.
It grows best in areas with moist climates and it does not like dry heat
and cold. It is suited to coastal areas, with good specimens found in
Cape Town and Port Elizabeth gardens, as well as in the Wildflower Garden
at Paarl Rock. Inland gardeners may find it difficult to cultivate. Young
shrubs sometimes die back after a few years for no apparent reason, even
in coastal gardens.
Alberta magna is grown from seed and cuttings, but is not an
easy tree to propagate, and even under good conditions it is usually slow
growing, but it does flower while still small.
Various methods have been proposed to aid seed germination. Seed is often
damaged by insects and not viable. Unless viability is checked, it is
best to sow heavily. In nature the seeds normally stay on the tree for
at least a year before being shed. One school of thought is that seeds
require this period of ripening on the tree for at least one year in order
to reach full maturity. They will not germinate without this period of
Others prefer to sow seed densely soon after it ripens and let after-ripening
take place underground.
Some people have had success by refrigerating fresh seed for two to three
weeks before sowing.
Another method advocates cleaning the fresh seed and soaking it in a weak
solution of 1% sulphuric acid for 24 hours before planting.
Seed does best if planted in a porous, absorbent medium e.g. a river
sand/ bark/ vermiculite mix. Some form of scarification or excision of
the pericarp (seed coat) aids germination. Seedlings have a long juvenile
period and should not be transplanted until well developed.
Trees can also be propagated from cuttings (from mature wood) and by
- BEN-JAACOV, J. et al. 1991. Vegetative propagation of Alberta magna
by tissue culture and grafting. Hortscience 26,1: 74.
- COATES PALGRAVE, K. 1983. Trees of southern Africa. Struik Publishers,
- FARNSWORTH, K. 1993. Further Alberta magna (demystified). Plantlife
- JEPPE, B. 1975. Natal wild flowers. Purnell, Cape Town.
- MATTHAEL, G. 1996. Meeting Albertus magna. Veld & Flora 82: 124.
- MENNE, W. 1992. Alberta magna de-mystified. Plantlife 7: 19.
- PALMER, E. & PITMAN, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa. Balkema,
- POOLEY, E. 1993. Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei. Natal Flora
- VAN STADEN, J. et al. 1990. Dormancy and germination of Alberta magna.
South African Botanical Journal 56: 542-545.
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
with additions by Yvonne Reynolds