Wild Camphor- - a superpower in struis
You have to meet one of our indigenous friends we planted recently. Our wild camphor hedge is part of our passion for all things natural that will benefit our guests to not only have a wonderful holiday, but also to have healing and medicinal properties.
Although the Wild Camphor’s Latin name - Tarchonanthus camphoratus – sounds like distant aunt of the T-Rex dino, it is all but a bad guy. This T-Cam is one of the best things you need to look out for find when you visit Landsedge.
Firstly, it is supe happy to grow in the Struisbaai sea and sand conditions,as it is a native to South Africa. It is known for its fragrant, lemon-scented leaves, which have been used for centuries to ward off insects, to scent linens and clothing, and for its medicinal properties. Here at Landsedge, we planted it as an eco-friendly hedge, because it creates a peaceful, healthy and natural environment for our guests.
One of the most remarkable benefits of our Wild Camphor hedge is its medicinal properties. The plant is used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including headaches, colds, coughs, and digestive problems. The leaves and twigs of the plant contain camphor and eucalyptus oil, which are both natural decongestants and expectorants. When the leaves are crushed, they release these oils, providing a natural remedy for respiratory problems and helping to clear the airways.
In addition to its medicinal properties, the Wild Camphor is also known for its health benefits. The plant produces a natural insecticide that helps to ward off harmful insects and prevent the spread of disease. It is also an excellent air purifier, removing harmful pollutants and allergens from the air, and improving air quality.
Another benefit of the Wild Camphor is its fast-growing habit, which makes it an excellent choice for hedging and screening. The plant grows quickly and forms a dense, evergreen hedge that provides privacy and noise reduction, making it ideal for us here at Landsedge. The hedge also provides a natural barrier between the lodge and the surrounding landscape, helping to create a more secluded and peaceful environment for guests.
Wild camphor is also a low-maintenance plant, giving us so much more time to make our guests happy. It’s not only low-maintenance, it also needs very little water, and once established, it thrives with little to no care. We planted our hedge in October 2022, and want to invite you to visit us yearly to see how it has grown.
In addition to its eco-friendliness, our Wild Camphor is a very attractive plant. In the plant world, it would definitely be close to a Mona Lisa painting. The plant has a lush, full appearance, with shiny green leaves that are fragrant and lemon-scented. In May, it gives us small, white flowers that are fragrant and attractive to pollinators.
We want to give a big shoutout to our landscaper, Dylan Gill from Element Ecosystems, for his careful selection of our Wild Camphor shrubs to make sure we create a natural and inviting environment.
After singing all its praises, we have more. Finally, the Wild Camphor is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of ways. The plant can be planted as a standalone hedge, or it can be used as a background plant, providing a lush and green backdrop for other plants and trees. It can also be trimmed and shaped to create a formal or informal hedge, depending on the desired look.
To get the last word in edgeways, our Wild Camphor (Tarchonanthus camphoratus) is an excellent choice for our eco-friendly Landsedge lodge that is looking to create a peaceful, healthy, and natural environment for our guests. We hope you will be so inspired, you will plant some at your home, and remember us every time you smell the wonderful fragrance.
