Apocynaceae FAMILY
Fockea edulis
Fockea edulis
Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
A latex in the plant is poisonous.
Cultivation Details
HabitPerennial Climber
Growth—
A plant mainly of the dry subtropics, just entering into the tropics in northern S. Africa. Plants cannot tolerate more than occasional light frosts with temperatures dropping as low as -2°c[1]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade in a well-drained soil[2]. Requires ample moisture in the growing season[3]. The plant tends to grow faster if the swollen base of the stem (the caudex) is buried just under the soil surface[1]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.
Propagation
Seed - Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Fockea+edulis>
Pollinators
Flies
References
- [1]Desert Tropicals — http://www.desert-tropicals.com/ ↩︎The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
- [2]Bihrmann's Caudiciforms — http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/ ↩︎An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
- [3]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [4]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
- [5]Flora Capensis — Hiern. W.P.; Brown N.E. · 1909 · http://www.aluka.org/action/doBrowse?sa=1&st=662543&execbr=&sls= ↩︎Rather dated, and many of the botanical names have been changed since it was written, but contains a wealth of information about plants of southern Africa. It can be downloaded or viewed online.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎