At the UN Environmental Assembly held in Nairobi, Kenya the South African spekboom plant was announced as a global eco-system restoration winner!
It’s called Spekboom (Afrikaans for “bacon tree”) because its fleshy, water-filled leaves are plump (“spek” meaning fat/bacon), edible, and tart, making it a favorite food for elephants and livestock, and even a salad addition for humans.
One of South Africa’s most biodiverse yet neglected ecosystems is the native subtropical thicket. Thicket Restoration in South Africa unites over 60 initiatives across the country’s Eastern Cape by building on best practices, connecting the public and private sectors to bolster restoration. Made through Portulacaria afra (spekboom) planting, this restoration flagship aims at a transformational rehabilitation of 800,000 ha by 2030.
Restoring thicket makes the soil more resilient, stores carbon and serves as fodder storage for large livestock and other large mammals during droughts, a high priority for a region that experienced its worst drought in 100 years in 2023 and 2024.
For many years across the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Dioceses have been planting the spekboom known as the miracle plant. Bishops give cuttings to confirmation candidates and it is handed out at Conferences and other events
Known as the miracle plant it has many benefits!
#1 It Helps to Fight Climate Change and Air Pollution
This plant helps to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by acting like a carbon sponge, improving the quality of air we breathe. More specifically, spekboom can absorb between four to ten tonnes of carbon per hectare.
#2 This Proudly South African Plant is Easy to Grow
It is also one of the easiest plants to grow because it doesn’t need formal planting. Simply break a piece off and stick it in the ground in an area that gets lots of sun. Spekboom also responds well to pruning and grows densely, making it an excellent, hardy hedge. In late winter and spring, this plant flowers bloom in beautiful pink. The flowers are rich in nectar, bringing beautiful birds to your garden.
#3 It is Water-wise and Super Resilient
The low-maintenance plant can survive on as little as 250 – 350mm of water per year! Spekboom has a photosynthetic mechanism which allows it to adapt to all weather conditions so it can survive extreme conditions – from drought to frost. It is also an excellent soil binding plant that prevents soil erosion.
#4 SpekboomCan Live Up to 200 Years Old!
This plant propagates easily. A broken branch tossed onto the ground by a grazing elephant will grow roots and create a whole new plant. It can sprout up to five metres tall. It also stimulates biodiversity, enabling other plants to grow and live in its mini biome.
#5 It is High in Basic Nutrients
This plant is edible and high in nutrients, especially Vitamin C, and a perfect addition to a salad. It also has medicinal qualities- Sucking a leaf to quench thirst, treat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke. Crushed leaves can be used to provide relief for blisters. Chewing leaves can treat a sore throat and mouth infections. Juiced leaves are used as an antiseptic and to soothe skin ailments such as pimples, rashes, insect stings and sunburn.
So let us keep on growing and sharing spekboom and help to heal the #lungsoftheearth!
