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Indigenous

Agapanthus That Sparkle

September 22, 2023 12:56 pm Published by

If 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 pm Published by

The indigenous Pelargonium grandiflorum (regal pelargonium) is a gardener’s delight with so much visual interest, it can be hard to…

Encephalartos

Cycads

July 20, 2023 3:36 pm Published by

South 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 am Published by

Although proteas are not exclusively ours, we do own the unique king protea… When the supercontinent of Gondwana split during…

Agapanthus ‘Buccaneer’

September 12, 2022 1:13 pm Published by

Our indigenous agapanthus plants are truly a wonderful addition to the garden. They are easy to grow, virtually pest- and…

6 Indigenous Bulbs to Plant

May 5, 2020 12:04 pm Published by

A 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 am Published by

Want 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 pm Published by

The Pincushion Protea has long-lasting flower heads in yellows, oranges and reds consist of a large number of small flowers…

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.…

Sowing Clivia Seeds

December 18, 2018 12:38 pm Published by

Lees 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 pm Published by

A 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 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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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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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…

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Phygelius aequalis hybrids

January 8, 2018 1:50 pm Published by

The nectar-rich flowers of these charming indigenous Phygelius Aequalis hybrids attract sun birds whilst lending a splash of colour to…

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Ornithogalum thyrsoides

January 8, 2018 12:46 pm Published by

Chincherinchee, Tjienk, Star of Bethlehem Chincherinchees or ‘tjienks’ belong to the genus Ornithogalum and are members of the Hyacinth family…

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Orphium frutescens

January 8, 2018 12:44 pm Published by

Sea 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 pm Published by

Sandsteenvygie The Sandsteenvygie is a ground cover that will stand up to the hottest days of our summer and still…

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Melianthus major 

January 8, 2018 10:48 am Published by

Honey Flower (Kruidjie-Roer-my-Nie) The Honey Flower is a bushy evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 metres high is…

crassula spathulata

Crassula spathulata

December 15, 2017 12:48 pm Published by

The Crassula Spathulata is a sprawling succulent with rounded and toothed leaves which have a red tinge to the margins.…

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Calodendrum capense

December 15, 2017 12:06 pm Published by

Cape Chestnut Type: Large tree, 20m.Form: Single stemmed with rounded canopy. Bark grey, leaves light green and shiny.Flowers: Pink, large and scented, massed…

sour fig

Carpobrotus edulis

December 15, 2017 11:56 am Published by

Sour Fig (Suurvy) No garden should be without the Sour Fig, an extremely valuable indigenous medicinal plant which originally occurred…

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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…

Dymondia margaretae

November 15, 2017 2:03 pm Published by

Carpet Daisy, Silver Carpet Dymondia Margaretae, is a mat-forming ground cover with curly, greyish green leaves and yellow daisy-like flowers in…

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Barleria Species

November 15, 2017 11:16 am Published by

Barleria 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 pm Published by

Social 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 am Published by

This 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 am Published by

Pondo 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 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…

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…

Helichrysum petiolare

July 28, 2015 6:41 am Published by

Silver-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 am Published by

River Star The beautiful river star is a shining light amongst other greenery with its silvery foliage. Its size is…

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…

Dombeya rotundifolia

May 11, 2015 9:05 am Published by

 Wild Pear Dombeya Rotundifolia, one of the most attractive and reliable of the indigenous trees suitable for suburban gardens, has…

Diospyros whyteana

May 8, 2015 7:57 am Published by

 Bladdernut The Bladdernut is one of those small trees with so many uses in both small and larger gardens. Its…

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…

coleonema

Coleonema Species

March 26, 2015 12:57 pm Published by

There are two species of Coleonema that feature prominently in most South African gardens. Coleonema Pulchellum, or the white confetti…

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