SafePlants

Ochna serrulata: Bird's Eye Bush or Mickey Mouse Plant

Ochna serrulata, a member of the Ochnaceae family, is an ornamental plant known for its distinctive fruit that resembles Mickey Mouse, giving it the common names Bird's Eye Bush or Mickey Mouse Plant (or Mickey Mouse Bush).

Considerations for Pets

• Ochna serrulata is a shrub that produces berries, which may attract attention from pets.

Considerations for Children

• The plant is commonly known as the Mickey Mouse Plant because after the yellow flowers bloom, they are followed by black berries suspended from bright red sepals giving the resemblance to Mickey Mouse. The berries may be attractive to children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Ochna serrulata (Hochst.) Walp.
• Synonym: Diporidium serrulatum Hochst.
• Family: Ochnaceae
• Genus: Ochna (comprising 86 species)
• Common Names: Bird's Eye Bush, Mickey Mouse Plant (or Mickey Mouse Bush), mall-leaved plane, carnival ochna.
• Other Species: Ochna multiflora, Ochna atropurpurea, Ochna thomasiana, Ochna mossambicensis, Ochna kirkii, Ochna jabotapita

Distribution and Habitat

• Ochna serrulata is indigenous to South Africa.
• The genus Ochna is native to tropical woodlands of Africa, the Mascarenes, and Asia.

Morphological Characteristics

• Ochna serrulata is a small semi-evergreen shrub, typically growing to a height of 3 to 7 feet, but can occasionally become a small tree.
• It features narrow-elliptic glossy evergreen leaves and yellow flowers with leathery petaloid sepals.
• The plant produces black berries suspended from bright red sepals.

Quirky Facts

• The Mickey Mouse Plant nickname comes from the appearance of the fruit: black berries contrasting with bright red sepals, resembling the famous cartoon character.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden: a website with tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and plants.
• RHS: Find help & information on Ochna serrulata.
• USDA, NRCS: The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.