Tinnea was named after the Tinne family in Holland who were patrons of botany in the 1800s, to commemorate a scientific expedition on the Nile in 1861 during which Henrietta Tinne and her two daughters collected seed of Tinnea aethiopica. Tinnea belongs to the family Lamiaceae in a genus of 19 species restricted to Africa; three species occur in Mpumalanga, two of which are woody shrubs taller than 1.5 m. It is an excellent garden subject if planted in a warm, sunny or even semi-shaded position in rich, well-drained composted soil. It is also a lovely plant in a small or medium container for patios or verandas in good light conditions. The plant responds well to pruning for shape in late winter. It propagates easily from seed, but do not keep them too wet. Regular feeding with both general fertilizer and those containing trace elements will keep the foliage healthy and green. Tinnea rhodesiana is a compact shrub up to 1 meter. It has very interesting maroon flowers and is known to be a very floriferous plant.