Heterolepis aliena is a sprawling to rounded shrublet that grows to 60 cm from a woody rootstock. The leaves may just about be covered in big yellow flowerheads at the end of spring or early summer when all goes well on a fynbos slope.

Not (yet) having found its way into many gardens, the plant has much to offer. It thrives in full sun and is comfortable with low watering. It can be grown either from seed or from cuttings. How to do this is explained in www.plantzafrica.com.