Latest Posts

Long – Haul blooms!

November 29, 2024 11:40 am Published by

Consistent flowering and easy to grow, is what HibisQs is all about. Summer is synonymous with alluring hibiscus flowers covering…

Plant for Balcony

Plants for Balconies

February 27, 2023 12:30 pm Published by

Following on from our balcony feature, here are designer Karen’s top choices for container plants that can cope with the…

A Wall of Pots DIY

November 23, 2022 8:42 am Published by

With a few tools, a little reclaimed timber and Woodoc 50, you can make this stunning wall of pots DIY…

Window Box Cheery Yellows

3 Window Box Ideas

October 25, 2022 3:36 pm Published by

There is nothing that lifts the spirits more than planting up window boxes – it’s like creating a miniature garden…

designing with containers

Designing With Containers

July 15, 2022 3:11 pm Published by

The existence of potted plants as contained gardens must surely stretch deep back into time immemorial. Imagine, if you will,…

begonias

Dazzle with begonias

November 22, 2021 11:05 am Published by

If you really want to know how to make a splash with begonias, visit parks and gardens in summer and…

indoor plant-scaping

The Great Indoors

November 22, 2021 10:51 am Published by

How to enhance your interior with plants. The choices for indoor plant-scaping are endless – a large potted palm, a…

Russelia equisetiformis

January 16, 2019 8:57 am Published by

‘Firecracker’ This vibrant plant, Russelia Equisetiformis, is made up of clusters of scarlet tubular flowers; resembling small firecrackers, that provide…

Beat the heat

January 15, 2019 11:55 am Published by

Help your Roses to Keep their Cool • Hot nights bother the roses more than the heat during the day.…

Potted Gladiolus

October 12, 2018 2:15 pm Published by

Gladiolus are known for their tall elegance in a garden bed, and as Australian TV personality Dame Edna Everage’s favourite…

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Potted Spring

February 16, 2018 11:05 am Published by

To celebrate spring and inspire you to play with colour, Tanya and I spent a happy, flower-filled afternoon in her…

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Surprise Spring Pot

February 14, 2018 3:47 pm Published by

July is a great time to plant up pots and containers for a spring pot display of the highest order.…

Everlasting

February 14, 2018 1:29 pm Published by

A pretty, flowering everlasting, and a collection of bright succulents, were the inspiration for this colourful pot. I wanted to…

Potting by Water Zone

February 14, 2018 12:30 pm Published by

Plant lovely containers to match specific water zone needs. Responsible gardening hinges on good water management to get the best out…

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Pot some Azaleas

February 8, 2018 3:26 pm Published by

Rhododendrons, or Azaleas as they are referred to here in South Africa, are amongst the most beautiful of all flowering…

container plants

Contained to Grow

February 8, 2018 1:37 pm Published by

Container Plants Instant gardening with pretty plants and a variety of containers immediately raises the spirits, and this month garden…

Peanut Containers

January 17, 2018 11:25 am Published by

Growing Peanuts in Containers Peanuts are a good novelty plant to grow as they sprout and grow very quickly. They…

Veltheimia bracteata

January 15, 2018 8:32 am Published by

The natural habitat of the beautiful forest lily (Veltheimia bracteata) is the forests and coastal thickets of the Eastern Cape.…

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Tweedia caerulea

January 12, 2018 2:39 pm Published by

Tweedia Caerulea (also known as Amblyopetalum or Oxypetalum Caeruleum). This is an untidy, rambling, scrambling little sub-shrub from Uruguay that…

Sansevieria trifasciata

January 11, 2018 1:17 pm Published by

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria trifasciata is a tough, hardy and enduring succulent from Africa is making a strong fashion statement in…

Sedum spectabile

January 11, 2018 1:07 pm Published by

Sedum spectabile is a rewarding, easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial with succulent foliage, which originates from China and Korea. Commonly known as…

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Sempervivum tectorum

January 11, 2018 1:05 pm Published by

Common Houseleek, Hen and Chickens, St Patrick’s Cabbage A low, mat forming succulent comprising many rosettes of attractive grey-green leaves…

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Senecio elegans

January 11, 2018 1:02 pm Published by

Wild Cineraria Senecio is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, which is the second largest family of flowering plants…

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Serruria florida

January 11, 2018 12:59 pm Published by

Blushing Bride, Pride of Franschhoek First recorded in 1773, the Serruria Florida, a well-known plant belonging to the Proteaceae family,…

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Solanum Rantonnetii

January 11, 2018 12:54 pm Published by

In the days when we quickly had to order a few flowering shrubs to fill the instant colour aisles of…

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Streptocarpus

January 11, 2018 12:41 pm Published by

Cape Primrose This little, indigenous forest plant, Streptocarpus, was first discovered in Knysna in the 1800s and also occurs naturally in…

sunflowers

Helianthus Annus

January 11, 2018 12:39 pm Published by

Sunflowers There’s nothing more breathtaking than a field of golden Sunflowers holding up their heads to the sun. These regal…

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Nymphoides thunbergiana

January 8, 2018 12:21 pm Published by

Fairy Water Lily The decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics, like the Fairy Water Lily, and the showy blooms in season…

Malcolmia maritima

January 8, 2018 11:06 am Published by

Virginia Stock, French Forget-me-Not As gardeners, we are always in search of fragrance so it’s a mystery why the sweetly-scented Virginian…

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Gazanias

December 20, 2017 8:56 am Published by

Gazanias are the dream plant for low maintenance gardens. Their vivid, cheerful blooms guarantee a sunburst of colour and the…

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Fortunella japonica

December 19, 2017 10:28 am Published by

The ‘Kumquat’ Tree The ‘Kumquat’ is a most useful and versatile plant that bears  attractive fruit. It’s neat, compact growth…

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Ficus microcarpa

December 19, 2017 10:24 am Published by

Indian Laurel or Curtain Fig The medium-sized, leathery, lush green leaves of the Ficus Microcarpa plant create the perfect head…

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Euphorbia trigona

December 19, 2017 9:18 am Published by

African Milk Tree, High Chaparall, Cathedral Cactus Euphorbia Trigona – a tall, slender and erect succulent from Namibia. The dark…

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Dieramas

December 18, 2017 12:47 pm Published by

Harebells, Fairy Bells Dieramas are members of the iris family, Iridaceae, and are noted for their graceful, arching sprays of…

crinums

Crinum macowanii

December 15, 2017 12:56 pm Published by

Sabie Lily Crinums are members of the family Amaryllidaceae and have a very wide distribution in the tropics of Asia,…

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Clematis brachiata

December 15, 2017 12:42 pm Published by

Traveller’s Joy The Clematis Brachiata is a joy to gardeners as well, it bears masses of creamy white, fragrant flowers…

bauhinia

Bauhinia

December 14, 2017 11:21 am Published by

Galpinii, Bowkerii, Tomentosa and Petersiana Pride of de Kaap The Bauhinia belongs to one of the world’s largest plant families,…

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Aponogeton Distachyos

December 13, 2017 3:05 pm Published by

Cape Pond Weed The decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics and the showy blooms in season always command attention. Cape Pond…

Solar Garden

December 7, 2017 1:53 pm Published by

Consol’s Solar Jars are ideal little containers for plants and they make great table decorations or gifts for the festive…

Basket of Creativity

November 28, 2017 10:29 am Published by

Concrete basket DIY What you will Need for Your Concrete Basket • Plastic bowl• 3 lengths ½ inch (12 mm)…

Verbena ‘Quartz Pink Xp’

January 18, 2016 8:15 am Published by

Red Eye Verbena, Verbena This new Verbena, the Verbena ‘Quartz Pink Xp’, is bright and showy, excelling in the heat and dryness…

Urns

January 18, 2016 7:53 am Published by

Urns carved out of stone and earthenware amphorae were used by the Greeks and Romans as drinking pitchers and to…

Syzygium paniculatum

Syzygium paniculatum

January 15, 2016 11:09 am Published by

Syzygium Paniculatum is a well-known garden shrub with a multitude of uses. It is evergreen, has dense foliage, and grows rapidly…

Success with Clematis

January 15, 2016 7:57 am Published by

When one browses through magazines and gardening books, especially those from the UK, the pictures of Clematis are always inspiring.…

strelitzias

Birds of Paradise

January 15, 2016 7:51 am Published by

Strelitzias… Mother Nature’s incredible sculptures! From autumn to spring, when beautiful boat-shaped spathes crested by bright orange sepals and deep-blue…

Sedum nussbaumerianum

January 14, 2016 11:28 am Published by

Coppertone Stonecrop Sedum Nussbaumerianum is an exotic species from Mexico, with unusual, copper-coloured rosettes on slender spreading stems. It is…

Scaevola aemula

January 14, 2016 11:21 am Published by

One Australian perennial that contributes a new hybrid almost yearly is Scaevola Aemula, and sometimes the new release differs only…

scabiosa

Scabiosa

January 14, 2016 10:49 am Published by

Our colleague, Gerald Schofield, once described the hybrids of Scabiosa as ‘totally loveable’ plants. Most gardeners agree with his description of this…

Planting and Repotting Ferns

September 2, 2015 11:12 am Published by

Ferns are easy to transplant and benefit from regular repotting into slightly larger containers. They can either be planted singly…

philodendrons

Philodendrons

September 2, 2015 8:48 am Published by

The last couple of decades have seen many hundreds of thousands of these leafy Philodendrons absorbed into gardens around the…

Petunia x atkinsiana

September 2, 2015 8:44 am Published by

‘Marvel Beauty’ – ‘Blueberry’ and ‘Raspberry’ The Marvel Beauty – Blueberry and Rasberry – are exciting varieties with unique flower…

pelargoniums

Pelargoniums

September 2, 2015 8:08 am Published by

One can fill pots and barrels with bush and king pelargoniums, and fill hanging baskets and window boxes with ivy-leaved…

Osteospermum

September 1, 2015 12:31 pm Published by

Osteospermum are very popular late winter and early spring bedding plants, commonly known as Cape Daisies. Many daisy-like plants have…

Moonlight Gardens

August 31, 2015 8:57 am Published by

In today’s stressful world, moonlight gardens might just be the antidote we’re all searching for, so spend this month planning…

Jasminum multipartitum

July 29, 2015 12:59 pm Published by

Starry Wild Jasmine Type: Evergreen Jasminum shrub up to 3m. Form: Creeping or bushy (train long shoots can be trained…

hostas

Hostas

July 29, 2015 11:08 am Published by

Hostas have always been useful perennials for shade gardens, especially very cold gardens. This is perhaps why, over the years,…

Hellebores

July 28, 2015 6:55 am Published by

Falling in love three or more times a day (and not getting into trouble) is a distinct possibility when you…

fuchsia shadowdancer

Fuchsia Shadowdancer

July 14, 2015 8:18 am Published by

Fuchsia Shadowdancer “Marcia”, “Peggy” The Fuchsia Shadowdancer range is sold under the Proven Winner label. This guarantees that these early flowering…

freylinia tropica

Freylinia Tropica

July 14, 2015 7:52 am Published by

Blue Freylinia, Waterberg Bell-Bush, Blue Splash, Blue Honey-Bell Freylinia Tropica with its delicate foliage and light mauve to pretty blue…

Evolvulus ‘Blue My Mind’

June 11, 2015 7:34 am Published by

Dwarf Morning Glory Delicate, petite blue flowers cover these grey-foliage plants for months on end. Evolvulus, heat and drought-tolerant, these…

Euphorbia pulcherrima

June 8, 2015 11:08 am Published by

Poinsettia Euphorbia Pulcherrima is a deciduous large shrub or small tree that has rich green leaves with dentate (toothed) margins.…

euonymus japonicus

Euonymus Japonicus Microphyllus

June 8, 2015 11:03 am Published by

Japanese Euonymus, Dwarf Japanese Spindle, ‘Gold Dust’, ‘Aureus’ Euonymus Japonicus ‘Microphyllus’ is a rounded, very compact shrub with small, glossy…

Eucomis vandermerwei

June 8, 2015 10:54 am Published by

Pineapple Lily The mountainous area around Dullstroom in Mpumalanga has yielded a very unusual dwarf Eucomis. The Eucomis Vandermerwii grows…

flamenco samba

Cuphea llavea

April 20, 2015 9:02 am Published by

Flamenco Samba The Flamenco Samba is a lovely compact shrub of around 40 x 60cm and flowers prolifically, bearing cherry…

cotyledon orbiculata

Cotyledon Orbiculata

March 27, 2015 10:50 am Published by

Pig’s Ear, Elk’s Horn, or Round-Leafed Navel-Wort Succulent plants are still extremely popular in the garden fashion stakes, especially during periods…

carex

Carex Varieties

March 25, 2015 7:53 am Published by

Bronze Form, Bronze New Zealand Hair Sedge, Bronze Perfection There are many varieties to choose from in the genus Carex. Some are stately ornamental grasses…

camellia

Camellia

March 25, 2015 7:34 am Published by

Japonica, Common Camellia or Japanese Camellia, Sasanqua, Camellia Japonica has dark green, lustrous, leathery leaves and its size varies according to…

cupressus macrocarpa

Cupressus Macrocarpa

August 22, 2014 6:24 am Published by

‘Gold Crest’, ‘Golden Monterey Cypress’, ‘Swane’s Gold’, ‘Pencil Pine’ Golden Monterey Cypress Conifers truly come into their own in winter.…

Bacopa

August 21, 2014 9:10 am Published by

Bacopa, Indigenous Phlox, Sutera or James Brittennia. Whatever the name, the Bacopa, an ankle-high ground cover, with tits graceful flowers…

argyranthemum

Argyranthemum frutescens

August 18, 2014 11:21 am Published by

Crazy Daisy, Bush Daisy, Marguerite Daisy, Starlight Red, Summersong White For quick colour, few plants beat the old-fashioned daisy bush,…

angelonia

Angelonia Angustifolia

August 18, 2014 6:47 am Published by

‘Angelface’, ‘Summer Snapdragon’ & ‘Serena Lavender’ Looking at the sweet hybrids of Angelonia Angustifolia, it is hard to believe that…