Cool Blue Flowers – The Best Picks for Hot Summer Gardens
January 6, 2026 9:14 amOur favourites for the high summer months of January and February are ‘Twist Again’ and ‘Blue My Mind’. We have very good reasons for choosing…
When the Flowers Wake
May 12, 2025 1:02 pmA Story of Life, Light, and Visitors in Namaqua National Park Every year, when the rain remembers to fall and…
The Indigenous Autumn and Winter Garden
April 29, 2025 3:32 pmRead in Afrikaans Elsa Pooley, the botanist, artist and author gives us insight and planting tips about native plants that…
Agapanthus That Sparkle
September 22, 2023 12:56 pmIf at all possible, the new agapanthus varieties on the market this year are bigger, better, more intense in colour…
Pelargoniums Fit For A King
August 21, 2023 12:31 pmRead in Afrikaans The indigenous Pelargonium grandiflorum (regal pelargonium) is a gardener’s delight with so much visual interest, it can…
Cycads
July 20, 2023 3:36 pmSouth Africa is a hotspot for cycad diversity with 38 indigenous species (over 10% of the world’s cycads). Thirty-seven species…
King Proteas
May 15, 2023 9:49 amRead in Afrikaans Although proteas are not exclusively ours, we do own the unique king protea. When the supercontinent of…
National Treasures Of The Garden
January 26, 2023 3:09 pmOne of South Africa’s favourite plants is the extremely drought-tolerant, tough and versatile agapanthus. Whether growing in the garden in…
Agapanthus ‘Buccaneer’
September 12, 2022 1:13 pmOur indigenous agapanthus plants are truly a wonderful addition to the garden. They are easy to grow, virtually pest- and…
The Best of South Coast Splendour
July 24, 2020 1:39 pmThe indigenous gardens of Renishaw Hills have certainly caught many eyes, with both residents and visitors remarking on how spectacular…
6 Indigenous Bulbs to Plant
May 5, 2020 12:04 pmA colourful, fragrant spring garden is incomplete without bulbs. Whether in pots or flowerbeds, indoors or outdoors, bulbs are guaranteed…
Gazanias Galore!
November 26, 2019 11:23 amWant to add colour to your succulent garden? Don’t know what to plant in your sandy soil? Looking for a…
Pincushion Protea
September 27, 2019 1:03 pmRead in Afrikaans The Pincushion Protea has long-lasting flower heads in yellows, oranges and reds consist of a large number…
Beat the heat
January 15, 2019 11:55 amHelp your Roses to Keep their Cool • Hot nights bother the roses more than the heat during the day.…
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…
Sowing Clivia Seeds
December 18, 2018 12:38 pmLees in Afrikaans If you have a shady garden with lots of Clivias that flowered well in spring, and you…
Everlasting
February 14, 2018 1:29 pmA pretty, flowering everlasting, and a collection of bright succulents, were the inspiration for this colourful pot. I wanted to…
Veltheimia bracteata
January 15, 2018 8:32 amThe natural habitat of the beautiful forest lily (Veltheimia bracteata) is the forests and coastal thickets of the Eastern Cape.…
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…
Streptocarpus
January 11, 2018 12:41 pmCape Primrose This little forest plant, Streptocarpus or Cape primrose, is indigenous to South Africa. It was first discovered in Knysna…
Phygelius aequalis hybrids
January 8, 2018 1:50 pmThe nectar-rich flowers of these charming indigenous Phygelius Aequalis hybrids attract sun birds whilst lending a splash of colour to…
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
January 8, 2018 12:46 pmOne of our popular exports in the flower world is our fabulous Ornithogalums, also known as Chincherinchees. They are well-known…
Orphium frutescens
January 8, 2018 12:44 pmSea Rose Orphium Frutescens is a small, erect-stemmed shrub (growing to 90 cm tall) with bright green, leathery leaves. It…
Oscularia deltoids
January 8, 2018 12:42 pmSandsteenvygie The Sandsteenvygie is a ground cover that will stand up to the hottest days of our summer and still…
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…
Melianthus major
January 8, 2018 10:48 amHoney Flower (Kruidjie-Roer-my-Nie) The Honey Flower is a bushy evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 metres high is…
Leonotis leonurus
January 8, 2018 8:17 amLeonotis leonurus (wild dagga or lion’s ear) is a breathtakingly beautiful shrub which is willing to grow in a variety…
Crassula spathulata
December 15, 2017 12:48 pmThe Crassula Spathulata is a sprawling succulent with rounded and toothed leaves which have a red tinge to the margins.…
Calodendrum capense
December 15, 2017 12:06 pmCape Chestnut Type: Large tree, 20m.Form: Single stemmed with rounded canopy. Bark grey, leaves light green and shiny.Flowers: Pink, large and scented, massed…
Carpobrotus edulis
December 15, 2017 11:56 amSour Fig (Suurvy) No garden should be without the Sour Fig, an extremely valuable indigenous medicinal plant which originally occurred…
Aponogeton Distachyos
December 13, 2017 3:05 pmCape Pond Weed The decorative leaves of indigenous aquatics and the showy blooms in season always command attention. Cape Pond…
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…
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…
Tulbaghia violacea
August 31, 2017 12:17 pmSocial Garlic, Wild Garlic The hardy and easy-to-grow Tulbaghia Violacea has always been a very popular indigenous perennial, grown for…
Watsonia species and hybrids
January 18, 2016 8:51 amThis is an indigenous cut flower that continues to impress globally. Some Watsonia form evergreen clumps of sword-like foliage whilst…
Syzygium pondoense
January 15, 2016 11:20 amPondo Water Wood Syzygium Pondoense (Pondo Water Wood) is a scarce indigenous species, but with a bit of luck you…
Strelitzias – Birds of Paradise
January 15, 2016 7:51 amRead in Afrikaans From autumn to spring we know we do live in paradise. This is when the beautiful flowers…
Scaevola aemula
January 14, 2016 11:21 amOne Australian perennial that contributes a new hybrid almost yearly is Scaevola Aemula, and sometimes the new release differs only…
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…
Helichrysum petiolare
July 28, 2015 6:41 amSilver-Bush Everlasting Flower, Licorice-Plant, Liquorice Plant, Trailing Dusty Miller and Kooigoed The Helichrysum Petiolare is an indigenous, shrubby plant with woolly, grey…
Gomphostigma virgatum
July 23, 2015 10:08 amRiver Star The beautiful river star is a shining light amongst other greenery with its silvery foliage. Its size is…
Euryops Pectinatus & Virgineus
June 11, 2015 7:28 amYellow Daisy Bush, Honey Daisy Euryops Pectinatus is an indigenous yellow daisy bush that will give you immense joy with…
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…
Dombeya rotundifolia
May 11, 2015 9:05 amDombeya Rotundifolia, one of the most attractive and reliable of the indigenous trees suitable for suburban gardens, has long been…
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…
Cotyledon orbiculata: A reliable water-wise indigenous succulent
March 27, 2015 10:50 amCotyledon orbiculata, commonly known as pig’s ear, is one of those dependable plants that quietly earns its place in the garden.…
Container Plants that Beat the Heat
March 27, 2015 9:58 amThere are a number of tough waterwise characters that thrive in containers and love being out in the midday sun.…
Coleonema Species
March 26, 2015 12:57 pmThere are two species of Coleonema that feature prominently in most South African gardens. Coleonema Pulchellum, or the white confetti…
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