PlantFiles: Mickey Mouse Plant, Bird's Eye Bush
Ochna serrulata

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This lovely Ochna serrulata is one of our indigenous shrubs It's early spring foliage is beautiful--pinkish bronze,turning to glossy green later. It comes from the east of South Africa, and is a good"bird" shrub. It likes fairly moist soil and throws lots of babies--lovely gifts for friends, as it can do well in tubs.Needs light pruning when young to achieve a good shape
A root decoction is traditionally used by the Zulus to treat children with bone diseases

A fun plant to collect -- provide almost all seasons' interest. I keep the plant in pot and bring it indoor in late Fall, returned the plant to outdoor environment in early Spring. The seeds- 1st appear greenish, then turn jet black when ripe and sepals first were green then turned scarlet red -- during the summer (before birds discover them) are almost more fun to watch than the bright yellow flowers appeared in late Winter, early Spring.

It is true that this plant could become invasive in central Florida, I always have people asking me for them. They are not difficult to pull up out of flower beds if you don't want them.

The flowers are about 1" in diameter with many stamens. I'm sending in a photo of the flowers for you to see. The new leaves emerge along with the flowers about the end of February or first half of March. When the petals fall, the green sepals begin to turn red and turn back, looking almost like red flower petals. The seeds develop at the same time. Green at first, they then turn black. You must collect them as soon as they turn black, otherwise the mockingbirds and catbirds will beat you to them. New plants start by themselves in my yard, but they have never become a pest. They are very showy during the time of inflorescence.

A slow growing plant in North Port, Florida. Had a hard time propagating this plant. I finally placed a net plastic bag around the end of flowered branches just after the seeds formed. This kept the birds and squirrels from eating the seed. After the seeds turned completely black and started to drop off the branches, I placed all seeds in a germination seed mix and just covered. I had close to 100% germination yield. I then transplanted seedlings to separate pots after second set of leaves developed.

Have just bought a "Mickey Mouse Plant" today here in Durban and will take it home with me to Johannesburg when my holiday is over. Am worried about the frost in Johannesburg this coming winter. Also the dry cold we are subjected to there every winter. Let's wait and see.