26 responses

1. Hi Shane

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   It sounds like your Grewia occidentalis may have galls which are abnormal growths caused insects like wasps and aphids which use the plant as a host on which they lay their eggs within the plant leaves, stems or flowers. The crusty surface protects the eggs and provides a safe environment for the development of these insects. This is a natural relationship and usually does not affect the health of the host plants.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

2. Great and informative site, thank you. My cross berry has been infested with something or other. Groups of braches are covered in little growths or crusts (interconnected mounds) covering the whole branch. Any idea what it is / causes it. I live in Cape Town.

3. Hi Jason

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   The degree of pruning for any plant will depend on the age of the plant and its general health.

   I’ve never dealt with a Grewia occidentalis standard so can only recommend that you do a gradual prune of select branches in order to minimise the plant’s stress.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

4. Hi. I have 3 that have been trained into standards but all 3 are too top heavy and growing out of shape. Can we hard prune them to re create balance and shape or will we risk them not regenerating new growth if we cut past the green shoots?

5. Hi Tracy

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Grewia occidentalis is rewarding with a long flowering period. The flowers last for 1-2 days and die back so you could be seeing a cylce of new flowers appearing.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

6. I just found a lavender star flower tree and planted in my garden. I’m trying to learn more about it, as it is not a plant I am familiar with. It seems to me that the flowers close up at night and re-open when in full sun. Is this actually what I’m seeing? Or do the flowers only last a day or two, and what I’m seeing are new flowers?

7. Hi Karen

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook which has connected us with a fascinating diversity of people.

   You’ve a wonderful site and role in connecting people with nature. Most of our city dwellers are not keen on wild edibles despite the fact that several species are growing in many suburban gardens.

   You’re welcome to use the Grewia occidentalis image.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

8. Hello Glenice

   I came across your website while researching crossberries. I tried to email you but it would not work.

   I am a wild food educator in Canada; however, many visitors to my website are international. Every so often I like to add a wild edible to my site that is not here to help some of my visitors.

   I was able to get some crossberry images from iStock but would like an image of the bark.

   With your permission (and a link back to your site) may I use the bark image on this page?

   Thank you for your time.

9. Hi Sabine

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Grewia occidentalis is the larval host plant to two species of butterfly in Southern Africa so it could be that one of your local butterflies or moths has discovered your plants and is using them for this purpose. If this is indeed the case, then the plants are likely to recover without any intervention.

   The choice of pot material is personal. I prefer sandstone over plastic because they look more natural. There are pros and cons to either option, so you’d need to research what works best for your environment.

   For the yellowing leaves, visit your local nursery to get a supplement to help boost your plants foliage. Being in in planter, they require regular feeding as the available nutrients are limited in a contained space.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

10. Hi

    I live in southern Arizona where the summers are very hot, I have two grewia occidentalis, in pots, they had no problem but for 3 months the upper leaves, especially , have been eaten , so I cut the branches with gnawed leaves, but the new leaves are gnawed too… I tried Seem oil without success, maybe I watered too much this summer but with the heat it was difficult not to do so
    I’m going to try Sevin, but I still wanted to ask you what you think of it

    Also which pot is preferable? plastic or sandstone, I really like these two plants and I see them eaten away more and more, I don’t know what to do, also the leaves are not very green, rather pale, maybe too the hot summer was hard on them
    Thanks for your advices

11. Hi Jimmy

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    It sounds like your Grewia occidentalis may have mealy bugs. To confirm this, take a cutting with the insects or a photograph to your local nursery who will be able to advise on a suitable treatment.

    Mealy bug are often found in cases where there is over-watering so perhaps also check that your plant is in well-drained soil that is allowed to dry out between watering periods.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

12. Hi Candi
    My Crossberry tree has a type of whitish aphid on some of the branches that is killing the tree. What can I do or spray on the tree?
    Regards
    Jimmy Kotze
    Water.sprite@iafrica.com
    0828291455

13. Hi Ross

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    It’s not necessary to remove the flesh. Germination is most successful when fresh seed is planted so that will be in the fruiting season – January – May.

    The germination rate is usually 70-80%, depending on your growing conditions. The growth rate will also depend on your site conditions.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

14. Advice on germinating. Should the seeds be removed from the berry fruit or can entire pod be planted? When is best time to germinate seeds and approx how long until they shoot?

15. Hi Pearl

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Yes, the Grewia occidentalis will provide a fast-growing screen. They can be planted 2m from the Ptaeroxylon obliquum in order to give both adequate rooting space.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

16. Hi Glenice

    I have a small garden in Johannesburg and have tried to create a woodland/screening effect in an east facing 2.5m longish bed. I’ve planted three Ptaeroxylon Obliquum Sneezemwood trees in this bed. Would a few Grevia be suitable for screening behind/between the Sneezewoods? I know that they are fast growing – are they easy to control and if recommended, how far from the Sneezewoods should they be planted?

    Thanks

    Pearl

17. Hi Maria

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    When a plant produces flowers without fruit it is generally a sign that pollination is not taking place. Grewia is generally pollinated by insects, so by making your garden more attractive to bees and other insect pollinators, you will increase the chances of your plant producing fruit. Planting a variety of different plant species will help attract beneficial insects to your garden for longer periods in the year. Also remember to avoid the use of chemical pesticides in your garden.

    Here are some of our top bee plants that you could consider adding
    – Aptenia cordifolia (Aptenia)
    – Bulbine frutescens (Stalked bulbine)
    – Anisodontea ‘Classic Cerise (Pink mallows)

    Flourish!
    Glenice

18. I had this plant for years and I’ve never seen the fruits. It has a lot of nice purple flowers thoug.what do u think is the problem?

19. Hi Dee

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Yes, Grewia occidentalis can be grown as an informal hedge. I’m not sure about how palatable the shrub is to horses but livestock are known to nibble on it without causing severe damage.

    They prefer full sun or semi-shade (at least 3 hours of sunshine).

    Flourish!
    Glenice

20. Would the crossberry be any good as a type of boundary or hedge around a horse paddock? Not sure if they will eat the bush. Can they grow in shade?

21. Hi Bronwyn

    Thanks for visiting our site.

    Grewia grows fairly easily from fresh seed with a 70-80% germination rate.

    Sow seeds in a mixture of river sand and compost (5:1 ratio). When the seedlings reach about 5-10cm, transplant to individual pots filled with a potting medium.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

22. I have some seeds of the Grewia Occidentalis Crossberry. Please can you give me some advice on planting these seeds.
    Thank you.

23. Hi Tracy

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Yes, the Crossberry should be able to tolerate clay soil. Also consider Diospyros lycioides (Bluebush).

    Flourish!
    Glenice

24. Hi,

    Please can you let me know if the Crossberry will thrive in a high clay soil. Looking for a tree/shrub to provide a privacy screen but our soil really sucks!
    Tracy

25. Hi Candi

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Grewia occidentalis (Crossberry) makes a lovely focal point. It tends to form a multi-stemmed shrub, so you’ll need to train younger specimens to get your desired effect.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

26. Good day! Great and informative site thank you. Please can you advise if the Crossberry is suitable as a focal point in a small garden (3 of them in a row)? We would like to shape them into trees (more than shrubs) if possible? We also have indigenous Lavendar and a Pompom tree in the garden.

    Thanks,

    Candi.