Get your ‘miracle plant’ from Sonrise Christian School
Spekboom is 10 times more effective than the Amazon rain forest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Learners at Sonrise Christian School are selling spekboom saplings after discovering this South African miracle plant.
While doing research for a project on climate change, learners in the senior grades at Sonrise Christian School discovered that this plant removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than the Amazon.
The South African spekboom, (Portulacaria Afra), is a drought-tolerant phenomenal carbon sponge and an excellent soil-bonding flora that prevents soil erosion.
This lush, emerald coloured succulent with its highly nutritious edible leaves (also used to flavour that gin nightcap), needs very little water – none in winter – is suitable as a fire break hedge as it does not burn, is an attractive addition to any garden and lives for some 200 years.
Its real power, however, lies in its ability to tackle and reduce carbon emissions. Hectare for hectare, spekboom is 10 times more effective than the Amazon rain forest at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
One hectare of spekboom can sequester between four and 10 tonnes of carbon each year and can do so throughout its 200-year lifespan.
Spekboom can be grown almost anywhere in South Africa. All it needs is sunlight, any type of dry soil, a light watering every four or five days and a mild to zero frost climate.
Everyone can do their bit to make the earth a healthier planet for generations to come. Saplings are available at R15 each from the Sonrise School secretaries (011 394 0384).
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