CULTIVATION
Buchu is a collective name for the fragrant fynbos plant species that are classified under the genus Agathosma. The word Agathosma is derived from the Greek words, “Agathos”, meaning pleasant and “osme”, meaning fragrance. The genus Agathosma belongs to the family Rutaceae which interestingly includes all citrus species. There are around 150 Agathosma species, which are all endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom. The two species currently cultivated for commercial use are Agathosma betulina (also known as round leaf Buchu) and Agathosma crenulata (also known as oval leaf Buchu). The preferred species used for medicinal and ingestible applications is Agathosma betulina, which we use in our research and product development.
Buchu is a medicinal plant of the Fynbos vegetation type which forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
The Cape Floral Kingdom is by far the smallest, yet most diverse in species of only six floral kingdoms on earth and it is also the only one contained in its entirety in one country. For example, the species density of the Cape Floral Kingdom is ca. 1300 species /10 000 km², whereas the floral kingdom that is second richest in species, the Neotropical Floral Kingdom, has a species density of only some 400 species /10 000 km². Quite astonishing to view the geographical layout of the world’s 6 floral kingdoms on a map! So significant and unique is the plant species in the Western Cape of South Africa, that it validated ascribing an entire floral kingdom to this tiny region of the world.
Buchu is a perennial shrub which is endemic and unique to South Africa (it grows nowhere else in the world). South Africa is therefore also the sole producer of Buchu extracts including Buchu oil, buchu dried leaf and buchu powder extract.
Buchu grows both wild and is cultivated sustainably in a relatively small area which ranges between Paarl and Clanwilliam in the Western Cape.
Growing Buchu presents many challenges, as the plant requires specific soil, altitude and climatic conditions. Seeds are expelled from the plant but collecting viable seeds is tricky as the plant flowers over an extended period from September to February. Buchu seed is therefore difficult to gather and rooting of cuttings has not yet been a successful technique. Seed germination also presents its own set of challenges.
It takes 2 – 3 years from planting seedlings for Buchu plants to mature to a harvestable stage. Buchu has few natural pests and performs well unaided by any pesticides. The leaves are typically harvested by hand with sickles from October through to May. For optimal oil yield, the leaves are immediately steam distilled after they are picked.
In order to ensure delivery of the finest Buchu extracts for our products, our cultivation premise is audited on a yearly basis in compliance with international Global GAP production standards. Our cultivation and production plant also complies to the BRC standard which specifies and audits safety, quality and operational criteria for food producers and suppliers who deliver to a global retail market.