Cliffortia ferruginea L.f.
glossy cliffortia · glastee, pypsteelbos (Afr.)
Photo: AVNPlants
Easy, glossy green groundcover that carpets banks and trails over walls.
What’s in the name: Cliffortia: honours George Clifford, the Dutch banker who was a patron of Linnaeus; ferruginea: "rust-coloured".
“a green thought in a green shade”
— Andrew Marvell, The Garden – Palgrave, The Golden Treasury (1861), Project Gutenberg
Available from AVNPlants: see the availability list.
Family
Rosaceae
Conservation status
Least Concern, SANBI Red List of South African Plants
Natural distribution & habitat
Cape Peninsula to Port Elizabeth, on low slopes and flats, generally close to water.
Size & form
Fast, spreading groundcover forming a dense mat 30–50 cm high.
Flowering
November to July: tiny white to pink flowers (male and female separate).
Uses in landscaping
- Groundcover for slopes and banks
- Trailing over retaining walls; pots and hanging baskets
- Waterwise, coastal and low-maintenance gardens
Care notes
Best in full sun (tighter mat), also semi-shade; well-drained soil, but adapts to most. Needs little water. Cuttings root in 2–3 weeks in spring and autumn, or lift rooted runners. Feed young plants and pinch tips for bushiness.
Wildlife value
Wind-pollinated.
Find out more
Facts checked against: SANBI PlantZAfrica species page 'Cliffortia ferruginea'; SANBI Red List of South African Plants, Cliffortia ferruginea L.f. (assessment 2005/06/30).