Rooibos Tea – 10 Seeds

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), is a member of the plant family Fabaceae that grows in South Africa’s fynbos. The leaves are used to make a tea that is called by the names: rooibos, bush tea, red tea, or redbush tea. The leaves and small stems are harvested, cut into small pieces, bruised and fermented before drying. It takes 12- 18 months before the shrubs are ready to be harvested. The plants are harvested once each year, from December through April. They are harvested up to period of five years and then pulled out and new plants are planted.

It is an erect to spreading, highly variable shrub or shrublet up to 2 m high. Its young branches are often reddish. The leaves are green and needle-like, 15-60 mm long and up to about 1 mm thick. The yellow flowers, which appear in spring to early summer, are solitary or arranged in dense groups at the tips of branches. The fruit is a small lance-shaped pod usually containing one or two hard seeds.

Growing Rooibos Tea Shrub

Indoor Sowing: Autumn.

Direct Sowing: Spring and Late Summer.

• The plant prefers deep coarse acidic sandy soil.
• Rooibos seed can be sown in Spring or late Summer or else you can start the seeds indoors first during Autumn.
• Soak the seeds warm water for 24 hours before planting.
• Plant the seeds in a seed tray containing a 50% mixture of potting compost and sand or perlite.
• Keep the soil damp but not soaking and place the tray in a warm area.
• Transfer the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle.
• Plant in an acidic, peat-based compost mixed with 50%  sand.
• Place the pots in a bright, warm place with some direct sunshine.
• Plant outdoors after the seedlings have been growing for a year.
• Choose a site with acidic, well-drained soil and full sun.
• Do not fertilize the plant, as it thrives in poor soils.