Big, Beautiful Botanical Begonias
April 20, 2026 8:01 amFew plant groups are as diverse and captivating as begonias. With more than 2 000 species, this genus offers an…
Autumn in Bloom
March 30, 2026 8:00 amWhen the garden starts to feel a little tired after summer, bedding plants are the quickest way to bring it…
Turn your garden into a colour haven with hydrangeas and bougainvilleas
November 3, 2025 12:19 pmHydrangea and bougainvillea guarantee endless summer colour and all gardeners love that… Magnificent mopheads The modern range Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless…
3 Happiness Flowers
January 23, 2023 10:57 amSome of midsummer’s flowers are like garden Prozac. Being amongst them has the ability to turn anxiety and a ‘down’…
Bidens Ferulifolia – Beggartick
October 25, 2022 3:14 pmPlant some Bidens for last and fast late-summer colour pops in hanging baskets, window boxes, pots and flower beds! In…
DIY Bromeliad Log
November 30, 2021 1:44 pmCreate a gorgeous centrepiece with a piece of driftwood and some guzmanias, a Vriesea ‘Splenriet’, a string of lights and…
Tropical Style for Indoors
November 30, 2021 1:27 pmBromeliads can add intrigue as well as wonderful forms and colours to your home. Bromeliads have made an effortless leap…
Dazzle with begonias
November 22, 2021 11:05 amIf you really want to know how to make a splash with begonias, visit parks and gardens in summer and…
Indigenous Spring Beauty Nemesias
September 14, 2021 10:37 amSpring flowers the world over have a softness and beauty that captures the spirit of the season itself. Our indigenous…
8 Flowers for Winter Colour
July 9, 2021 12:34 pmIf you wake up one morning and think, “I’m tired of browns and greys and leafless trees, I want colour!”,…
Propagating Begonia Rex
May 18, 2021 12:28 pmHave you ever wondered if it’s possible to try propagating you Begonia rex (painted-leaf begonia)? Well, if you have a…
Garden Structures: pergolas, arbours and gazebos
May 17, 2021 2:33 pmGarden structures outside your house can enhance the look of the garden by making it more appealing and professionally finished.…
Benefits of Indoor Plants
April 22, 2021 11:41 amWhy we need indoor plants As you may have noticed when strolling through interior shops lately, nature is a huge…
Pink Summer Flowers
January 28, 2021 10:54 amSummer gardens are potentially the brightest and showiest of all the seasons. Plant growth is rapid and the results are…
Border Charmers
December 17, 2020 4:40 pmEdging Plants to Complement Good edging plants that either calmly complement or create a bright colour contrast are just what…
How to Create a Topiary
December 17, 2020 4:03 pmReady-made topiaries are much admired but fairly expensive. Luckily it is not too difficult to create your own topiary at…
Callistemon
December 2, 2019 11:52 amA beginner gardener who cannot decide which flowering shrub to buy, won’t regret choosing one of the Callistemon (Bottlebrush) hybrids.…
Begonia ‘Summerwings’
November 14, 2019 9:13 amBegonia ‘Summerwings’ is a new and improved begonia range for hanging baskets. They are gifted with beautiful, decorative flowers and…
Beacon Impatiens
August 26, 2019 2:00 pmWelcome back summer’s best-loved flowers for shade. The fast-filling bedding Impatiens Walleriana, which all but vanished from summer shade gardens,…
Aloe Orange Delight
May 7, 2019 12:52 pmAloe…is it me you’re looking for? This Aloe is a delightful, small to medium aloe that is similar to hedgehog…
Three small indigenous trees
December 18, 2018 12:43 pmLees in Afrikaans Gardens around the globe are shrinking in size, necessitating the planting of smaller trees and shrubs to…
Bridelia Micrantha
November 27, 2018 12:13 pmMitzeeri or Coastal Golden Leaf Bridelia Micrantha is a medium to large deciduous tree (can reach 20m, though normally 8…
Black Diamond Crape Myrtle
February 28, 2018 9:01 amIf you’re looking for something different to plant, take a look at Black Diamond Crape Myrtle. This stunning new crape…
Buxom Buxus
February 19, 2018 1:24 pmPotted Plant Recipe Using Buxus The entrance to a home is much more welcoming when there’s a green focal point…
Watsonia pillansii
January 15, 2018 8:47 amPillans Watsonia, Beatrice Watsonia, Bugle Lily Watsonia Pillansii is a medium-sized irid, growing from 0.45 to 1.2 m high. It is widely distributed…
Serruria florida
January 11, 2018 12:59 pmBlushing Bride, Pride of Franschhoek First recorded in 1773, the Serruria Florida, a well-known plant belonging to the Proteaceae family,…
Sisyrinchium ‘E.K Balls’
January 11, 2018 12:57 pmBlue Eyed Grass The Blue Eyed Grass is a charming little clump-forming perennial comprising of narrow, sword-like leaves growing to…
Solanum Rantonnetii
January 11, 2018 12:54 pmIn the days when we quickly had to order a few flowering shrubs to fill the instant colour aisles of…
Spiraea ‘Arguta’
January 11, 2018 12:31 pmBridal Wreath, Foam of May Normal gardens have been fashionable around the world since the times of early civilisations and…
Psychotria capensis
January 8, 2018 1:21 pmBlack Bird Berry Psychotria capensis is one of the most useful plants in a garden because it can be grown…
Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea
January 8, 2018 12:24 pmThe decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics, like the Nymphaea Nouchali, and the showy blooms in season always command attention. They…
Ilex Crenata Hedges
December 21, 2017 1:17 pmBox-leaved Holly Formal gardens have been fashionable around the world since the times of early civilisations and still today they…
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora
December 18, 2017 12:30 pmBlue Ginger Gardeners have always enjoyed and admired plants with blue flowers, possibly because of the apparent scarcity of blue,…
Cymbidium hybrids
December 15, 2017 1:16 pmBoat Orchid The genus Cymbidium in the Orchidaceae (Orchid) family consists of about 50 species, from which many thousands of…
Calandiva
December 15, 2017 12:04 pmDouble Kalanchoe Calandiva plants are ideal ‘no-brainers’, pleasing the intrepid indoor gardener with long-lasting displays of hundreds of double-petalled, brightly-coloured flowers…
Burchellia Bubalina – Wild Pomegranate
December 15, 2017 10:41 amThe Wild Pomegranate is a neat growing shrub, up to 2.5 m in height, with beautiful dark green glossy leaves.…
Bromelia Aechmea
December 15, 2017 10:39 amUrn Plant The benefits of displaying indoor plants in our homes are huge. Plants are a décor tool, moisturiser, therapist,…
Betula Pendula
December 15, 2017 10:34 amSilver or Common Birch The Silver Birch is one of the best-known trees in cultivation today, especially in temperate regions,…
Beschorneria Yuccoides
December 15, 2017 10:30 amThe Beschorneria Yuccoides is a lovely plant found in gardens around the country and yet often overlooked and possibly, to…
Bergenia Cordifolia
December 15, 2017 10:17 amHeart Leaf or Elephant Ear The common names of Heart Leaf or Elephant Ear for the Bergenia Codifolia allude to…
Aristea Capitata
December 15, 2017 9:13 amBlue Sceptre (previously knows as Aristea Major) Growing on mountain slopes, Aristea Capitata is endemic to the Western, South Western…
Acokanthera oppositifolia
December 14, 2017 11:25 amBushman’s Poison Acokanthera Oppositifolia is an evergreen shrub with dark green leaves. It grows to a height of 3 metres,…
Bauhinia
December 14, 2017 11:21 amGalpinii, Bowkerii, Tomentosa and Petersiana Pride of de Kaap The Bauhinia belongs to one of the world’s largest plant families,…
Ficus Hanging Around
December 7, 2017 1:44 pmIf you visit any stockist of indoor plants you are sure to come across small potted trees called Ficus Microcarpa…
Rosa banksiae
November 20, 2017 3:37 pmYellow Banksian Rose ‘Lutea’ The Banksiae Rose is a garden favourite around the globe. It originates in West and Central…
Buxus Sempervirens
November 15, 2017 12:08 pmBox, Boxwood, Little Leaf Boxwood Formal gardens have been fashionable around the world since the times of early civilisations and…
Brachystelma Pulchellum
November 15, 2017 12:01 pmThere are myriads of interesting and unusual plants growing in gardens and in the vast tracts of unspoilt wilderness that…
Bellis Perennis
November 15, 2017 11:38 amEnglish Daisy The English Daisy is a dainty little perennial often treated as an annual in the warm African climate…
Barleria Species
November 15, 2017 11:16 amBarleria Greenii, Wild Bush Petunia If you have never had the pleasure of seeing the Barleria Greenii in full bloom…
Pittosporum tenuifolium
May 5, 2017 12:53 pmKōhūhū and Black Matipo Pittosporum Tenuifolium is a small evergreen tree, up to 10m. It is sometimes grown under the cultivar…
The Bearded Iris
January 18, 2016 6:45 amThe Bearded Iris is rated amongst the most beautiful of all the flowering perennials and they have also, over many…
Sedum spurium ‘Bronze Carpet’
January 14, 2016 11:31 amStonecrop The Sedum Spurium plant is a vigorous, evergreen ground cover with glossy, succulent leaves that are dark coppery-red in…
Scabiosa
January 14, 2016 10:49 amOur colleague, Gerald Schofield, once described the hybrids of Scabiosa as ‘totally loveable’ plants. Most gardeners agree with his description of this…
Red Roses – Rosa Hot Point Spire (BARhop)
January 14, 2016 8:50 amRed roses are associated with Valentine’s Day and this Spire rose grows into a stately 2,5m high specimen that produces…
Rhus crenata
January 14, 2016 8:38 amDune Crowberry The Rhus crenata resembles a bamboo with thick clumps with slender side branches and delicate rosettes of foliage…
Rhamnus prinoides
January 14, 2016 8:32 amDogwood or Blinkblaar Rhamnus prinoides are bushy with shiny dark green foliage. Its small greenish, insect-attracting flowers are followed by fleshy…
Perovskia atriplicifolia
September 2, 2015 8:33 amBlue Rain Perovskias Perovskias are often underestimated in terms of the great value that they can add to the garden.…
Ophiopogon
September 1, 2015 12:17 pmOphiopogon, or Mondo Grasses have thin, curved, ribbon-like leaves and grow in dense tussocks. They are evergreen, exceptionally hardy, produce…
Meet the Bignonia family, both good and bad!
August 31, 2015 8:07 amMuch like human families, plant families, like the Bignonia Family, also count amongst their members both the gorgeous and the…
Lobelia x gerardii
August 17, 2015 11:35 amBlue Lobelia The Blue Lobelia that most gardeners know is a tiny edging plant that is unparalleled for its intensity…
Liriope Muscari
August 17, 2015 11:05 amLiriopes, commonly known as lilyturfs, are evergreen flowering plants which form thick clumps of grasslike foliage. They are unique groundcovers…
Leucadendron tinctum
August 17, 2015 8:56 amBergroos, Spicy Conebush One of the most appealing features of this greatly under-utilised Leucadendron Tinctum is the strong spicy aroma…
Hostas
July 29, 2015 11:08 amHostas have always been useful perennials for shade gardens, especially very cold gardens. This is perhaps why, over the years,…
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Blushing Butterflies’
July 23, 2015 9:41 amOenothera lindheimeri ‘Blushing Butterflies’ (formerly Gaura lindheimeri) produces soft pink flowers and has leaves that are light reddish-green and become…
Freylinia Tropica
July 14, 2015 7:52 amBlue 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 amDwarf Morning Glory Delicate, petite blue flowers cover these grey-foliage plants for months on end. Evolvulus, heat and drought-tolerant, these…
Erigeron karvinskianus
June 1, 2015 10:51 amMexican Fleabane, Latin American Fleabane, Santa Barbara Daisy, Spanish Daisy, Karwinsky’s Fleabane, or Bony-tip Fleabane. Erigeron Karvinskianus is an inexpensive, evergreen diehard that will…
Distictis buccinatoria
May 8, 2015 7:59 amThis showy climber, the Mexican Blood Trumpet, from Mexico was planted extensively by local gardeners during the latter half of…
Diospyros whyteana
May 8, 2015 7:57 amBladdernut The Bladdernut is one of those small trees with so many uses in both small and larger gardens. Its…
Clivia miniata
March 26, 2015 11:21 amNatal Lily, Bush Lily The Natal Lily are lovely shade loving plants that will produce an absolute spectacle in spring with…
How to Grow Bleeding Heart (Clerodendrum thomsoniae)
March 26, 2015 11:06 amFew climbers rival the dramatic charm of Clerodendrum thomsoniae, commonly known as Bleeding Heart. When in full bloom, its brilliant red flowers emerge from…
Carex Varieties
March 25, 2015 7:53 amBronze Form, Bronze New Zealand Hair Sedge, Bronze Perfection There are many varieties to choose from in the genus Carex. Some are stately ornamental grasses…
Festuca gautieri
August 21, 2014 6:13 pmSpiky Fescue or Bearskin Fescue Festuca Gautieri has fine, bright green blades and grows to about 20 x 20 cm. A stretch…
Butia Capitata
August 21, 2014 10:48 amYatay or Jelly Palm Yatay or Jelly Palm is a stately, single-stemmed palm tree originating from Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina…
Burgundy Iceberg
August 21, 2014 10:39 amBurgundy Icebergs are beautiful, eye-catching roses worth planting en masse. Masses of velvety, generally wine-red flowers with a very delicate…
Buddleja Saligna
August 21, 2014 10:27 amWhite Olive Use the hardy Buddleja Saligna, a fast-growing small tree or large shrub, as a windbreak or hedge in…
Brunfelsia Pauciflora ‘Floribunda’
August 21, 2014 10:18 amWherever a yesterday, today and tomorrow – Brunfelsia Pauciflora ‘Floribunda’ – grows there will be the sweet and unmistakable scent…
Bougainvillea ‘Temple Fire’
August 21, 2014 9:49 amBougainvillea ‘Temple Fire’ is a cute dwarf plant (about 50 x 70 cm). Its purple bracts have a touch of…
Bolusanthus Speciosus
August 21, 2014 9:38 amTree Wisteria The Tree Wisteria is a truly elegant deciduous tree with a neat, elongated silhouette in the landscape. It…
Blechnum Ferns
August 21, 2014 9:33 amThe genus Blechnum, from the family Blechnaceae, was derived from the Greek word blechnon meaning a fern. Blechnum are mostly evergreen ferns…
Bersama Lucens
August 21, 2014 9:20 amGlossy White Ash Type: Small tree, 4m. Form: Compact multi-stemmed tree, prominent foliage. Flowers: Spikes of small, greenish flowers, from…
Berberis ‘Golden Ring’
August 21, 2014 9:15 amJapanese Barberry This splendid foliage shrub is a specially selected form of the Japanese Barberry, Berberis Thunbergii Fatropurpurea. It has many…
Bacopa
August 21, 2014 9:10 amBacopa, Indigenous Phlox, Sutera or James Brittennia. Whatever the name, the Bacopa, an ankle-high ground cover, with tits graceful flowers…
Argyranthemum frutescens
August 18, 2014 11:21 amCrazy Daisy, Bush Daisy, Marguerite Daisy, Starlight Red, Summersong White For quick colour, few plants beat the old-fashioned daisy bush,…
Aloe polyphylla
August 14, 2014 10:52 amSpiral aloe Aloe polyphylla is a stemless aloe with short, thorny, grey-green, upright leaves arranged in a perfect spiral. The leaf…
Aloe plicatilis
August 14, 2014 10:48 amFan Aloe Aloe plicatilis (fan aloe) is always pretty, whether it is in the form of a hundred-year-old giant or…
Aloe peglerae
August 14, 2014 10:44 amFez aloe Type: Small shrub-like aloe, 40cm.Form: Succulent with inwardly curving leaves that assume a ‘soccer ball’ shape.Flowers: Red-orange tubular…
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis ‘Blue Velvet’
August 14, 2014 8:21 amBlue Lily, African Lily, or Lily of the Nile Agapanthus, being a plant that is reliable, tough, enduring, very easy…
Agapanthus ‘Blue Ice’
August 14, 2014 7:49 amAgapanthus ‘Blue Ice’ has unique flowers that are blue at the bases, while the rest of each petal is almost…
Agapanthus ‘Black Pantha’
August 14, 2014 7:41 amAgapanthus Black Pantha bears closed buds that are almost black, opening to violet blue. The flowers are fantastic as cut…
Acanthus mollis
August 14, 2014 6:55 amBear’s Breeches Bear’s Breeches comes from Southern Europe and is considered one of the earliest cultivated garden plants. It has…
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