Grewia is a large genus of mainly subtropical trees and shrubs. The one in the picture below is
Grewia occidentalis, seen as a large shrub in Cindy Evans's marvellous garden on Mallorca at the MGS meeting last week. Though it comes from South Africa, it is like others of the genus there a plant of the summer-rainfall areas, and in a mediterranean climate needs summer watering, perhaps twice a week. The reward is a succession of its striking and unusual flowers over several months, each about 3 cm across, and the evergreen foliage is a bonus (it may lose leaves in a light frost, and even be cut to the ground in sharper frosts). It grows in a distinctive way, sending out strong shoots at varying angles, so is a good structural plant.
In South Africa where it is a popular garden plant it's called Kruisbessie or Four Corners, after the seed pods shaped like four balls forming a cross.
For another species click
here.
