Dionaea Venus Flytrap
February 17, 2024 7:43 amIn this final in the series, we discover the fascinating world of Dionaea Venus flytrap. Let’s find find out more…
Summer Colour In A Pot
January 30, 2024 2:15 pmLet’s take a look at this beautiful ‘summer colour in a pot’! The plants in this group all love the…
Drosera Sundews
October 5, 2023 2:21 pmSpeculation on the history of carnivorous plants still exists, but with little fossilised evidence. With advanced molecular science technology, researchers…
Dyckias
October 27, 2022 3:30 pmNot without gloves! Dyckias are technically not succulents, but bromeliads hailing from Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina. They produce…
3 Flower Bombs
August 11, 2022 10:00 amAugust or early spring is the best time to flower bomb your garden and patio with three homegrown flowers! Cape…
Overwinter Dahlias
May 12, 2022 11:07 amIf you want to see those fat pom-pom dahlia blooms the size of a soup plate in your garden again…
5 Purposeful Groundcovers
January 21, 2022 2:09 pmIndigenous groundcovering plants are cheap, functional, and tough as old garden boots. Plant these in your pretty spaces and problem…
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…
Daffodils for Your Spring Garden
April 22, 2021 12:00 pmAll your fundamental questions answered! Daffodils (Narcissus) are synonymous with spring, joy and (luckily for gardeners) hardiness. These beautiful bulbs…
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…
Dianthus
April 2, 2020 2:47 pmDianthus needs to be added to the list of garden toughies that are water-wise, don’t mind neglect and outlast most…
Save space (and your back) with a raised planter
September 19, 2019 11:41 amWell made the most of the large capacity of the Elho Grow Table by packing in a diverse selection of…
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…
Searsia crenata
January 11, 2018 1:11 pmDune Crowberry The Searsia Crenata is a spreading and stocky coastal plant with a rounded shape. It survives against all…
Senecio elegans
January 11, 2018 1:02 pmWild Cineraria Senecio is a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family, which is the second largest family of flowering plants…
Monstera deliciosa
January 8, 2018 10:45 amSwiss Cheese Plant, Delicious Monster These are completely at home in a retro-style décor setting, the Delicious Monster is a…
Leucanthemum – Shasta Daisies
January 8, 2018 8:47 amThe Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is every gardener’s favourite summer perennial, because it flowers non-stop and never gives its…
Felicia amelloides
December 19, 2017 10:22 amKingfisher Daisy This is a little gem from our local shores. Felicia plants grow into sprawling or cascading sub-shrubs up…
Dichroa versicolor
December 18, 2017 1:09 pmEvergreen Hydrangea Dichroa Versicolor – the ‘Evergreen Hydrangea’ – is a close relative of the Hydrangea and originates from China,…
Duvernoia adhatodoides
December 18, 2017 1:04 pmPistol Bush Duvernoia adhatodoides grows easily and is ideal for shady, moist spots. It has large dark green leaves and…
Dissotis canescens
December 18, 2017 1:00 pmThe cosmopolitan family Melastomataceae is a very large group of more than 3 000 species of perennials, climbers, shrubs and…
Digitalis purpurea
December 18, 2017 12:54 pmFoxglove Described as a biennial or short-lived perennial, the common Foxglove is always assured of making a stately feature in…
Dieramas
December 18, 2017 12:47 pmHarebells, Fairy Bells Dieramas are members of the iris family, Iridaceae, and are noted for their graceful, arching sprays of…
Diascia barberae
December 18, 2017 12:40 pmTwinspur The Diascia Barberae is a dainty little perennial plant originating from the Drakensberg mountain range. It produces numerous upright…
Dianella tasmanica
December 18, 2017 12:38 pmTasman Flax Lily Dianella Tasmanica, commonly known as the Tasman Flax Lily is a grass-like, evergreen perennial that provides a…
Dasylirion wheeleri
December 18, 2017 12:35 pmDesert Spoon The Desert Spoon has a thick, short trunk. The leaves are a cool, grey colour with spiky, dry,…
Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’
December 18, 2017 12:33 pmWinter Daphne Daphne Odora Aureomarginata has a delicious and unique fragrance that, once experienced, will never be forgotten. This is…
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,…
Duranta
December 18, 2017 12:14 pmThe genus Duranta includes a number of tree and shrub species that originate in the tropical Americas and include many…
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…
Abelia x grandiflora
December 13, 2017 2:22 pmDwarf Glossy Abelia Formal gardens have been fashionable around the world since the times of early civilisations and still today…
Myrtus communis
November 20, 2017 2:06 pmCompacta, Dwarf Myrtle, Myrtle A well-known healing herb, Myrtus Communis, which is more often referred to simply as ‘Myrtle’, is…
Dymondia margaretae
November 15, 2017 2:03 pmCarpet Daisy, Silver Carpet Dymondia Margaretae, is a mat-forming ground cover with curly, greyish green leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers in…
Cinerarias by any other name
April 19, 2016 11:55 pmThis beautiful flowering plant with daisy flowers in a spectacular range of bright colours is still affectionately called cinerarias by…
Tecoma Capensis
January 18, 2016 6:23 amExpect a lively concert from the garden wildlife if, perchance, you end up alongside a Tecoma Capensis, or Cape Honeysuckle…
Syzygium paniculatum
January 15, 2016 11:09 amSyzygium Paniculatum is a well-known garden shrub with a multitude of uses. It is evergreen, has dense foliage, and grows rapidly…
Senecio cineraria ‘Silver Dust’
January 14, 2016 12:11 pmDusty Miller Senecio Cineraria ‘Silver Dust’ (Dusty Miller) is a low-growing sub-shrub that is often treated as an annual. It…
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…
Portulacaria afra
September 4, 2015 6:38 amElephant Bush, Dwarf Jade Plant, Porkbush and Spekboom The spekboom or porkbush, also known as elephant’s food, olifantskos, soetspekboom, suurspekboom, igwanishe…
Osteospermum
September 1, 2015 12:31 pmOsteospermum are very popular late winter and early spring bedding plants, commonly known as Cape Daisies. Many daisy-like plants have…
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…
Monanthotaxis caffra
August 31, 2015 8:53 amDwaba Berry, Dwababessie Type: Medium shrub, 2m.Form: Woody scrambler with sparse foliage.Flowers: Insignificant cream flowers, from December to March.Why plant…
Euonymus Japonicus Microphyllus
June 8, 2015 11:03 amJapanese 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 amPineapple Lily The mountainous area around Dullstroom in Mpumalanga has yielded a very unusual dwarf Eucomis. The Eucomis Vandermerwii grows…
Elegia Tectorum
June 1, 2015 10:40 amElegia tectorum is technically not an ‘ornamental grass’ but a reed-like plant, and is part of the indigenous Restionaceae family,…
Dovyalis caffra
June 1, 2015 6:50 amUmkokola, Kei Apples, Kai Apples, or Kau Apples Kei Apples have dense, glossy, oval leaves with a leathery feel –…
Dombeya rotundifolia
May 11, 2015 9:05 amWild Pear Dombeya Rotundifolia, one of the most attractive and reliable of the indigenous trees suitable for suburban gardens, has…
Dodonaea angustifolia
May 11, 2015 8:19 amSand Olive A Dodonaea Angustifolia, or Sand Olive, is a large shrub which grows fast and can handle wind and…
Distictis buccinatoria
May 8, 2015 7:59 amMexican Blood-Trumpet This showy climber, the Mexican Blood Trumpet, from Mexico was planted extensively by local gardeners during the latter…
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…
Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
May 8, 2015 7:48 amThis plant is a ‘dramatic’ ground cover with a cascading habit. Its thin stems are sparsely clothed in silvery-white, round…
Dazzling dahlias
April 23, 2015 6:58 amIsn’t it strange how some flowers just go out of fashion, for no good reason? That’s been the fate of…
Hemerocallis
April 23, 2015 6:52 amDay Lilies Day Lilies are shrugging off their image as simple, ordinary garden plants. They are still hardy and easy…
Davallia mariesii
April 23, 2015 6:40 amSquirrel’s Foot Fern Prominent, creeping rhizomes on the surface of the soil is a feature of the Squirrel’s Foot Fern. They…
Acorus Gramineus
August 22, 2014 9:32 am‘Golden Edge’, ‘Mini-Gold’ & Variegatus Acorus Gramineus ‘Golden Edge’ is a grass-like evergreen perennial with delicate, slightly curved foliage that…
Dais cotinifolia
August 21, 2014 6:05 pmPompom Tree The slender Pompom Tree is the perfect size for a small townhouse garden. It has a rounded crown,…
Agapanthus africanus ‘Double Diamond’
August 14, 2014 8:00 amAgapanthus Africanus ‘Double Diamond’ was developed in South Africa and suits most of our climates, except the extremely cold areas.…
Abelia x Grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’
August 14, 2014 6:18 amAbelia x Grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a dwarf hybrid (70 x 90 cm) with ever-changing foliage. The new growth in spring…