The genus Searsia was named after Paul B. Sears (1891-1990) who was head of the Yale School of Botany. The Anacardiaceae family is widespread in warmer parts of the world with about 111 species of Searsia occurring in southern Africa. Most of the species grown in southern Africa, belonging to the genus Rhus, have been placed in Searsia.

Searsia zeyheri commonly known as Blue Currant is a South African endemic species from the Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces. Searsia zeyheri grows into a shrub or small tree of up to 4 meters tall. It has small leaflets. From spring to autumn it bears small greenish-yellow flowers which are followed by russet-red fruit. It is synonymously known as Rhus glaucovirens, Rhus zeyheri and Rhus zeyheri var. parvifolia.