Brain Cactus
August 4, 2024 3:37 pmThe crested form of the brain cactus called Mammillaria elongata ‘Cristata’ is not a natural phenomenon. But rather a mutation…
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
February 23, 2022 2:44 pmMagnolia grandiflora, as its name suggests, is grown around the world as a large and magnificent ornamental tree, known for…
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…
Three Plant Oddities and How To Grow Them
March 11, 2021 9:01 amThese three plant oddities all have strange looks and habits, and even stranger still, nothing gets them down once they…
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…
Marigolds
September 11, 2020 2:38 pmMarigolds are fuss-free, quick-growing, flowers that will bring a bright and cheerful tone to any flower beds, borders or containers.…
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…
Sansevieria trifasciata
January 11, 2018 1:17 pmMother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria trifasciata is a tough, hardy and enduring succulent from Africa is making a strong fashion statement in…
Marsdenia floribunda
January 11, 2018 12:44 pmMadagascar Jasmine Marsdenia floribunda is a member of the Apocynaceae family and is classified as a vigorous climber with very strong stems. This…
Pachypodium lamerei
January 8, 2018 2:31 pmMadagascan Palm A tall, ultimately tree-like succulent from Madagascar, hence the name Madagascan Palm, with a pronounced stem covered in…
Phalaenopsis
January 8, 2018 2:03 pmMoth Orchid If you live in a subtropical region, these awesome beauties are for you. Also known as the Moth…
Phlox subulata
January 8, 2018 1:54 pmCandy Stripe, Alpine or Moss Phlox As its common names imply Phlox Subulata is a real little rock plant. It…
Magnolia grandiflora
January 8, 2018 11:09 amLittle Gem Magnolia grandiflora is a handsome evergreen tree that originates from the South Eastern parts of the USA. Today…
Malcolmia maritima
January 8, 2018 11:06 amVirginia Stock, French Forget-me-Not As gardeners, we are always in search of fragrance so it’s a mystery why the sweetly-scented Virginian…
Mazus reptans
January 8, 2018 10:59 amCreeping Mazus Creeping Mazus is a mat-forming plant with lance-shaped, light green leaves. It produces small, lobelia-like flowers in either…
Melaleuca alternifolia
January 8, 2018 10:57 amThe Tree of Health The tea tree is an incredibly powerful medicinal plant, and beautiful too. There’s a lovely, peaceful…
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…
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…
Myrciaria cauliflora
January 8, 2018 10:42 amJaboticaba Myrciaria Cauliflora (Jaboticaba) is both attractive as a garden ornamental and productive, bearing an abundance of delicious fruit during…
Malus oribunda
January 8, 2018 10:31 amJapanese Crab Apple Malus Oribunda is a small, deciduous tree that is smothered in delicate blossoms during spring. The deep,…
Leptospermum scoparium
January 8, 2018 8:57 am‘Cherry Brandy’ Miniature Tea Bush Leptospermum scoparium, with their dark, plum-coloured leaves and dense foliage of the miniature tea bush…
Lysimachia nummularia
January 8, 2018 8:20 amGolden Creeping Jenny or Moneywort Lysimachia nummularia is a low ground hugging cover that has soft stems that root as…
Leonotis leonurus
January 8, 2018 8:17 am‘Minaret Flower’, Wild Dagga, Wildedagga Leonotis Leonurus is a very important traditional medicinal plant that has a naturally wide distribution…
Graptopetalum paraguayense
December 20, 2017 8:21 amMother of Pearl plant or Ghost plant The Ghost Plant is a low growing, clump forming succulent comprised of rosettes…
Ficus microcarpa
December 19, 2017 10:24 amIndian Laurel or Curtain Fig The medium-sized, leathery, lush green leaves of the Ficus Microcarpa plant create the perfect head…
Ficus sur
December 19, 2017 10:20 amCape Fig This large, evergreen tree provides a haven for a wide diversity of animal life. The fig family Moraceae…
Echinocactus grussonii
December 19, 2017 9:04 amGolden Barrel Cactus or Mother-in-law’s Cushion The Echinocactus grussonii is a large barrel shaped cactus originating from Mexico. The swollen…
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…
Choisya ternata
December 15, 2017 12:16 pmMexican Orange Blossom The Choisya Ternata is a compact, evergreen shrub with a neat and tidy growth habit attaining an…
Ochna serrulata
November 20, 2017 2:27 pmCarnival Bush, Mickey Mouse Bush The Mickey Mouse bush is a stunning garden subject that will eventually grow about 1.8…
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…
Melaleuca bracteata
November 20, 2017 1:54 pmRevolution Gold, Golden Honey Myrtle, Johannesburg Gold Affectionately known as ‘Johannesburg Gold’ by most gardeners, this has to be the most…
Tigridia species
January 18, 2016 7:10 amJockey’s Cap Lily, Mexican Shellflower Peacock Flower, Tiger Iris, Tiger Flower There is something rather mysterious and wonderful about a flower that lasts…
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…
Stipa tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’
January 15, 2016 7:38 amMexican Feather Grass The beautiful Stipa Tenuissima ‘Pony Tails’, which is always waving in the wind, is another favourite with…
Silybum marianum
January 14, 2016 12:25 pmMilk Thistle The spectacular Milk Thistle is huge, eye-catching and drought tolerant! Its massive rosette of white-marbled, seriously prickly, deeply…
Petunia x atkinsiana
September 2, 2015 8:44 am‘Marvel Beauty’ – ‘Blueberry’ and ‘Raspberry’ The Marvel Beauty – Blueberry and Rasberry – are exciting varieties with unique flower…
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…
Myrtaceae family
September 1, 2015 11:52 amMyrtle Myrtaceae is a large family of mainly trees and shrubs, including the Myrtle, with over a hundred different genera,…
Murraya exotica
August 31, 2015 9:26 amOrange Jasmine The dark green glossy leaves make the Orange Jasmine shrub attractive even when not in flower, but the…
Murdannia simplex
August 31, 2015 9:17 amType: Groundcover, 10cm.Form: Clumping, with lanceolate dark green leaves.Murdannia Flowers: Mauve, in terminal clusters, from September to May. The Murdannia…
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…
Mmmm Marshmallows and butter
August 31, 2015 8:47 amMallow Family This month’s subjects all belong to the family Malvaceae; common names for this family include Mallow Family and…
Miscanthus
August 31, 2015 8:39 amBring movement into your garden with ornamental grasses and colourful companions such as Miscanthus. Botanical name: Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’ Common…
Microlepia speluncae
August 31, 2015 8:26 amLimpleaf Fern Tall growing, the Limpleaf Fern can reach a height of 1,5m. It is a clump-forming fern with lime…
Metarungia longistrobus
August 31, 2015 8:13 amThe Metarungia Longistrobus needs little attention, provided that the plants are well mulched and fed with an organic fertiliser twice…
Magnolia x soulangeana
August 25, 2015 6:29 amSaucer Magnolia Magnolia x Soulangeana is a small, deciduous tree that grows to approximately 6 x 6 m, making it ideal…
Mackaya bella
August 25, 2015 6:24 amRiver Bells Mackaya bella, commonly called River Bells, this evergreen shrub grows naturally under trees and close to water. Hence…
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 amMexican Blood-Trumpet This showy climber, the Mexican Blood Trumpet, from Mexico was planted extensively by local gardeners during the latter…
Cosmos bipinnatus
March 27, 2015 10:47 amGarden Cosmos or Mexican Aster From March through into April and always around the Easter holidays, fields of self-sown Cosmos spring…
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…
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…
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,…
Adiantum raddianum fern
August 14, 2014 7:22 amMaidenhair Fern Attractive black stalks carry triangular-shaped fronds comprised of numerous small, wedge shaped leaflets. Many different cultivars of this…
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