Blushing bride or Pride of Franschhoek Serruria florida First recorded in 1773, this well-known plant, belonging to the Proteaceae family, is now threatened in its natural habitat by invasive plants and fire. It occurs on the Franschhoek side of the Hottentots Holland mountains where soils are of a granite origin. The common name – blushing […]
indigenous plant
Streptocarpus
Cape primrose Streptocarpus This little, indigenous forest plant that was first discovered in Knysna in the 1800s and also occurs naturally in the Drakensberg is one of our most adaptable and freely flowering garden shade plants. Perhaps the name has something to do with it, but it’s hard to know why it is not more popular. […]
Plumbago auriculata
Royal Cape Plumbago auriculata Typical characteristics of plumbago is that it is a tough, scrambling shrub which grows and blooms in light shade but, because it is always looking for the sun, it may clamber way up into trees, flowering at a level where you least expect it. P. auriculata ‘Royal Cape’ has a more […]
Orphium frutescens
Sea Rose Orphium frutescens Orphium frutescens is a small, erect-stemmed shrub (growing to 90 cm tall) with bright green, leathery leaves. It is the only species in the genus Orphium, and is also the most well known of our indigenous gentians. There are also two very attractive pink and white flowered cultivars, selected by horticulturist […]
Oscularia deltoids
Sandsteenvygie Oscularia deltoids This is a groundcover that will stand up to the hottest days of our summer and still look good. Originating from the fynbos region of the Western Cape, this striking plant with its unusually shaped grey-green leaves makes a real impact in a rockery setting or as a pot plant. The pink […]
Osteospermum fruticosum
Fine-leaved white’ or ‘rankmagriet Osteospermum fruticosum Also known by indigenous growers as ‘fine-leaved white’ or ‘rankmagriet’, it is an excellent coastal plant with a prostrate, trailing habit, and white daisy flowers from August to November. It tolerates shade or sun and requires regular watering and pruning to keep it neat. Its natural habitat is from […]
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
Blue Water Lily, Frog’s Pulpit Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea The decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics and the showy blooms in season always command attention. They are easily grown in full sun, in still water that is protected from strong wind, and they can also be displayed in large water-filled ceramic containers in sunny courtyards. In […]
Nymphoides thunbergiana
Fairy Water Lily Nymphoides thunbergiana The decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics and the showy blooms in season always command attention. They are easily grown in full sun, in still water that is protected from strong wind, and they can also be displayed in large water-filled ceramic containers in sunny courtyards. In addition to their ornamental […]
Ledebouria revoluta
South Indian squill South Africa is blessed with a wide and varied array of little bulbous plants, many of which are overlooked, from an ornamental perspective, due to their relatively small size. One of these little gems is the relatively common and widely distributed wavy-leaved ledebouria that is found growing in grasslands and woodlands. The attractive, […]
Leucadendron argenteum
Silver tree, Silver leaf tree Silver trees are wonderful garden ornamentals. Leucadendron argenteum, the shimmering silver tree, is one of South Africa’s iconic trees. It was first mentioned in a manuscript of the early 17th century when dense stands of it covered large areas of the Cape Peninsula. With urbanisation, forestry and agriculture, it is […]