OCHNACEAE Ochna Serrulta / Mickey Mouse Bush

0495 OCHNACEAE / Ochna Serrulta/ Mickey Mouse Bush

Ochna serrulata (commonly known as the small-leaved plane, carnival ochna, bird's eye bush, Mickey mouse plant or Mickey Mouse bush due to the plant's ripe blackfruit, which upside down resembles the ears of Mickey Mouse, and bright-red sepals, which resembles his trousers) is an ornamental garden plant in the family Ochnaceae which is indigenous to South Africa. It is planted in southern African gardens and is an invasive species in Australia and New Zealand. IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN AT: Berowra Valley National Park DATE: 8 November 2020

0573 OCHNACEAE/ Ochna serrulta/ Mickey Mouse Bush

The plant is native to the forest areas of South Africa. It occurs throughout the country, from Cape Town in the south, along the east coast as far as Kwazulu-Natal, and inland through Eswatini and Gauteng. This tough, adaptable shrub grows in sunny, open positions as well as in the shade of deep forest. IMAGE BY: Hazel Hogarth TAKEN AT: Berowra Valley National Park DATE: 8 November 2020