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
March 27, 2015 10:50 amPig’s Ear, Elk’s Horn, or Round-Leafed Navel-Wort Succulent plants are still extremely popular in the garden fashion stakes, especially during periods…
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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