Agathosma is a genus of about 140 species of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, native to the southern part of Africa. Common names include Buchu, Boegoe, Bucco, Bookoo and Diosma. Buchu formally denotes two herbal species, prized for their fragrance and medicinal use. They are small shrubs and subshrubs, mostly with erect woody stems reaching 30cm to 100cm tall, but low-growing and prostrate in some species. Many of the species are highly aromatic, and the genus name means “good fragrance”. Some species of the genus, most notably Agathosma betulina are used as herbal remedies. The buchus grown commercially for their medicinal properties and essential oils are Agathosma crenulata and Agathosma betulina. Oil is extracted for use in manufacturing cosmetics, soaps and medicinally for the treatment of renal disorder and chest complaints. The medicinal properties of these plants were discovered by the Khoi who named the plants “buchu”.

Agathosma ovata is a variable shrub and occurs from the Western Cape up into Kwazulu-Natal and Lesotho. It is commonly known as the false buchu. Buchu’s volatile oils also act as a deterrent to plant eaters and protect the bushes from pests. The oils may also be released on hot days to form a layer of vapour that protect the plant from excess transpiration. Agathosma ovata ‘Glentana’ and Agathosma ovata ‘Witteklip’ are two other selection forms of this species which make good garden plants.