Coral Creeper
Barleria Repens
Coral Creeper
Barleria Repens
Barleria repens, commonly known as small bush violet or coral creeper, is a fast-growing evergreen plant in the acanthus family. Native to forests and woodlands across tropical and southern Africa, it has become popular in warm regions for its attractive foliage and bright, showy flowers.
This plant grows as a low, spreading groundcover or a scrambling shrub, with stems that root wherever they touch the soil. This growth habit allows it to quickly form dense mats or climb up supports, sometimes reaching up to two metres in height. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and oval in shape, creating a lush backdrop for its tubular flowers. These blooms appear mainly in late summer to autumn and range in colour from red and salmon to pink or purplish tones, making the plant especially attractive to butterflies.
Barleria repens grows best in full sun but can tolerate light shade, particularly in hot climates. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Because it spreads easily and grows quickly, it is often used as groundcover, in hanging baskets, containers, or for erosion control, though in some areas it may become invasive if not managed.
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Barleria
Species: B. repens
Binomial name: Barleria repens
Barleria Repens
Barleria repens, commonly known as small bush violet or coral creeper, is a fast-growing evergreen plant in the acanthus family. Native to forests and woodlands across tropical and southern Africa, it has become popular in warm regions for its attractive foliage and bright, showy flowers.
This plant grows as a low, spreading groundcover or a scrambling shrub, with stems that root wherever they touch the soil. This growth habit allows it to quickly form dense mats or climb up supports, sometimes reaching up to two metres in height. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and oval in shape, creating a lush backdrop for its tubular flowers. These blooms appear mainly in late summer to autumn and range in colour from red and salmon to pink or purplish tones, making the plant especially attractive to butterflies.
Barleria repens grows best in full sun but can tolerate light shade, particularly in hot climates. It prefers sandy, well-drained soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Because it spreads easily and grows quickly, it is often used as groundcover, in hanging baskets, containers, or for erosion control, though in some areas it may become invasive if not managed.
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Barleria
Species: B. repens
Binomial name: Barleria repens
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