Cancer bush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cancer bush
Scientific classification

Sutherlandia frutescens is a special plant from southern Africa. It's often called the cancer bush, balloon pea, or simply sutherlandia. In some local languages, it has cool names like phetola (meaning "it changes" in seTswana) and insiswa ("the one that drives away the darkness" in isiZulu). This plant is a type of legume, which means it belongs to the pea family. It grows as a small shrub with leaves that taste bitter and smell nice. In spring and summer, you can see its beautiful red-orange flowers.

Growing the Sutherlandia Plant

Sutherlandia frutescens is a small bush. It usually grows up to about 1 meter (3 feet) tall. This plant is native to the dry areas of southern Africa. It loves lots of sunshine but can grow in many different types of soil.

How Tough is This Plant?

The sutherlandia plant is very tough and hardy. It grows quickly and can handle dry weather well. However, it doesn't live for a very long time. It's a great choice for gardens in dry climates because it doesn't need much water once it's grown.

Starting from Seeds

You can easily grow sutherlandia from its seeds. The seeds usually sprout in about two to three weeks. Once the plants are established, they often drop their own seeds. This means new plants can start growing by themselves!

Keeping Plants Healthy

Young sutherlandia plants, called seedlings, can sometimes be delicate. They might be affected by something called "damping off." This is a problem where young plants suddenly wilt and die. But if the plant is in soil that drains water well, it usually grows strong. It's also not very bothered by common garden pests.

More Information

• In Spanish: Sutherlandia frutescens for kids