Bring colour to your garden this winter!
April 17, 2026 8:33 amWith the right plant choices, containers and garden beds can stay vibrant throughout winter. Add colour and structure to your…
Beautiful but invasive! Garden pond plants to avoid
April 14, 2026 1:09 pmAcross the country, gardeners are reimagining their outdoor spaces with tranquil ponds, lush wetland corners and water-wise sanctuaries that support…
Plant Colour Everywhere This Spring
August 14, 2025 8:38 amFor your brightest sun or a mix of sun and shade areas, we assure you that we are absolutely spring-ready.…
Perfect Peonies
June 30, 2024 1:24 pmWe all love perfect peonies with their big beautiful blooms! But not all of us can grow them… Firstly, they…
The Four Ps of Spring
June 25, 2024 11:48 amRead in Afrikaans There are four annuals with pretty petals and names starting with the letter ‘P’, we often refer…
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…
Freddie’s Flowering Favourites – Petunias & Calibrachoas
May 31, 2023 11:05 amHanging basket tips: It’s time to plant lots of glorious colour and there is no better than petunias and calibrachoas…
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…
Peace Lily Care
March 29, 2023 11:48 amThe peace lily (Spathiphyllum) is an iconic houseplant that deserves attention for it’s almost indestructible nature, beautiful dark green leaves…
Happy Bean Peperomia
November 25, 2022 10:46 amThe happy bean peperomia or pincushion peperomia (Peperomia ferreyrae) is a weird little perennial epiphyte hailing from South American rainforests,…
Phlox paniculata
November 25, 2022 8:25 amAn old but beautiful classic! Phlox paniculata (garden phlox or autumn phlox) is a typical herbaceous perennial of the high…
3 Climbers For Your Pergola
October 25, 2022 2:10 pmIf you have a sunny little pergola-covered patio that needs some shade in summer, but there is no available space…
Flanders Poppy
July 27, 2022 10:00 amPapaver rhoeas The Flanders poppy is a flower that symbolises lives lost in conflict which is remembered and celebrated annually…
Poppy Enchantment
June 9, 2022 12:57 pmTime for the four P’s There are four annuals with pretty petals and names starting with the letter ‘P’ that…
Plectranthus – Masters of Shade
May 11, 2022 3:04 pmRead in Afrikaans There are not many plants that can turn shade into a fairy landscape of dainty flowers in…
Get More Pelargoniums Via Cuttings
April 8, 2022 4:43 pmRead in Afrikaans The indigenous Pelargonium is a gardener’s delight and the epitome of versatility too. They thrive in a wide…
Three Plants for Inside and Outside
February 18, 2022 3:58 pmIn Mother Nature’s book there is no such a thing as an indoor plant per se. What we gardeners use…
5 Purposeful Groundcovers
January 21, 2022 2:09 pmRead in Afrikaans Indigenous groundcovers are cheap, functional, and tough as old garden boots. Plant these in your pretty spaces…
A Peperomia for Every Season
December 1, 2021 1:58 pmLees in Afrikaans The peperomia is a houseplant collector’s dream. Also known as radiator plants (for their love of warm…
Prime Petunias
July 12, 2021 11:42 amRead in Afrikaans Petunias don’t have a specific season and can actually be planted all year round. But it is…
Orchids in the Home
July 9, 2021 7:59 pmDon’t be intimidated by these exotic beauties. Many of us start our orchid growing with a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid…
8 Flowers for Winter Colour
July 9, 2021 12:34 pmIf you wake up one morning and think, “I’m tired of browns and greys and leafless trees, I want colour!”,…
How to sow primulas or garden fairies
May 18, 2021 2:26 pmThis year if you plant only one annual that flowers in late winter and spring, make it a colour cloud…
Garden Structures: pergolas, arbours and gazebos
May 17, 2021 2:33 pmGarden structures outside your house can enhance the look of the garden by making it more appealing and professionally finished.…
Benefits of Indoor Plants
April 22, 2021 11:41 amWhy we need indoor plants As you may have noticed when strolling through interior shops lately, nature is a huge…
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…
Pink Summer Flowers
January 28, 2021 10:54 amSummer gardens are potentially the brightest and showiest of all the seasons. Plant growth is rapid and the results are…
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…
Pansies To Brighten Your Garden
June 12, 2019 9:03 amPansies are the easiest way to add colour to the winter and spring garden! Nothing matches their charm, or the…
Pink Knock Out® Rose
May 7, 2019 2:32 pmThe Knock Out® Rose is a sure win in any garden. This plant flowers continuously, producing beautiful medium pink flowers…
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…
Quercus palustris
November 27, 2018 12:10 pmPin Oak The Quercus palustris is a tall (25m), stately, deciduous tree of North American origin that has adapted to…
Aloe ‘Peri-Peri’
May 23, 2018 10:53 amWe all love aloes, those hard-to-kill, structural beauties that are such a striking part of our natural landscape and this…
Plant Pansies in Pots
February 8, 2018 11:36 amAutumn and winter are the best seasons to use pansies to add happy colour to garden beds and pots. These…
Watsonia pillansii
January 15, 2018 8:47 amPillans Watsonia, Beatrice Watsonia, Bugle Lily Watsonia Pillansii is a medium-sized irid, growing from 0.45 to 1.2 m high. It is widely distributed…
Sagina subulata
January 11, 2018 1:52 pmPearlwort, Irish Moss This is a low, mat-forming plant with tiny green or golden (Sagina Subulata ‘Aurea’) leaves and tiny…
Serruria florida
January 11, 2018 12:59 pmBlushing Bride, Pride of Franschhoek First recorded in 1773, the Serruria Florida, a well-known plant belonging to the Proteaceae family,…
Solenostemon scutellarioides
January 11, 2018 12:51 pmFrog’s Foot, Flame Nettle, Painted Nettle This is a fantastic subject for filling in and covering bare patches of soil…
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…
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…
Pavetta lanceolata
January 8, 2018 2:27 pmForest Bride’s Bush, Weeping Bride’s Bush Pavetta is a hardy, evergreen shrub with dense glossy green leaves and large, dramatic…
Pentas lanceolata
January 8, 2018 2:05 pmPentas lanceolata, also known as Egyptian star cluster, was for many years part and parcel of most frost-free suburban gardens.…
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…
Philodendron Scandens
January 8, 2018 1:56 pmSweetheart Creeper The Sweetheart Creeper, named for its glossy, heart-shaped leaves, is an attractive indoor climber. It will happily climb…
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…
Photinia x fraseri
January 8, 2018 1:52 pmPhotinia x fraseri is guaranteed to bring a blast of colour to hedges. The foliage is the main feature on this…
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…
Pieris japonica
January 8, 2018 1:44 pmJapanese Lily of the Valley Bush Pieris Japonica is an evergreen shrub with a compact growth habit. It is clothed…
Plectranthus ciliatus
January 8, 2018 1:42 pmWhite Wild Sage There is a huge variety of Plectranthus species, most of which are shade lovers. Beautiful dark green…
Psychotria capensis
January 8, 2018 1:21 pmBlack Bird Berry Psychotria capensis is one of the most useful plants in a garden because it can be grown…
Limonium perezii
January 8, 2018 8:42 amSea Lavender or Statice A member of the Plumbago family (Plumbaginaceae), there are over 600 species of Limonium from around…
Lotus berthelotii
January 8, 2018 8:25 amThis unusual and yet striking plant originates from the Canary and Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The slender,…
Hypoestes aristata
December 20, 2017 10:00 amRibbon Bush or Purple Haze Hypoestes Aristata, more commonly known as the Ribbon Bush or Purple Haze, is an evergreen…
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…
Acacia sieberiana
December 13, 2017 2:26 pmPaperbark Thorn Acacia trees are an iconic symbol of the African landscape. Here in South Africa the paperbark thorn is…
Pittosporum tenuifolium
May 5, 2017 12:53 pmKōhūhū and Black Matipo Pittosporum Tenuifolium is a small evergreen tree, up to 10m. It is sometimes grown under the cultivar…
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 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…
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…
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…
Phormium ‘Margaret Jones’
September 2, 2015 9:00 amNew Zealand Flax If flaxes, like the New Zealand Flax, should ever go out of fashion, we gardeners will sorely lament…
Philodendrons
September 2, 2015 8:48 amThe last couple of decades have seen many hundreds of thousands of these leafy Philodendrons absorbed into gardens around the…
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…
Perovskia atriplicifolia
September 2, 2015 8:33 amBlue Rain Perovskias Perovskias are often underestimated in terms of the great value that they can add to the garden.…
Pelargoniums
September 2, 2015 8:08 amOne can fill pots and barrels with bush and king pelargoniums, and fill hanging baskets and window boxes with ivy-leaved…
Paeonia lactiflora – Peonies
September 2, 2015 7:36 amPeony ‘Shirley Temple’ If you live in a very cold area, pretty peonies will brighten your day. Once you have them…
Jasminum polyanthum
July 31, 2015 7:32 amPink Jasmine Chances are that if there’s a lovely, sweet fragrance wafting over from the neighbour’s garden at this time…
Hostas
July 29, 2015 11:08 amHostas have always been useful perennials for shade gardens, especially very cold gardens. This is perhaps why, over the years,…
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’
July 23, 2015 9:46 amBlush Gaura Oenothera lindheimeri ‘Passionate Blush’ (formerly Gaura lindheimeri), or Blush Gaura, has light pink flowers and its new leaves…
Gaillardia Galya
July 14, 2015 8:21 amWild Fire Blanket Flower Gaillardia or Blanket Flowers, are perennial daisies. They are valued for their extended flowering season, blooming…
Fuchsia Shadowdancer
July 14, 2015 8:18 amFuchsia Shadowdancer “Marcia”, “Peggy” The Fuchsia Shadowdancer range is sold under the Proven Winner label. This guarantees that these early flowering…
Plumeria rubra – Frangipani
June 11, 2015 8:26 amPlumeria rubra, one of the seven or eight species of Plumeria that are found in the wild and that go…
Euphorbia pulcherrima
June 8, 2015 11:08 amPoinsettia Euphorbia Pulcherrima is a deciduous large shrub or small tree that has rich green leaves with dentate (toothed) margins.…
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 capensis
June 1, 2015 10:37 amElegia is one of many plant species belonging to the family Restionaceae, a group of rush-like plants found largely in…
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…
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.…
Peonia officinalis
March 20, 2015 6:00 amPeonies, originally from Japan and China are virtually unrivaled to bring impact and drama to the garden. Once established they…
Amaranthus caudatus
August 22, 2014 10:02 amLove-Lies-Bleeding, Pendant Amaranth,Tassel Flower, Velvet Flower, Foxtail Amaranth, Quilete A much-loved, ancient food, the Amaranth has literally become a worldwide weed,…
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,…
Blechnum Ferns
August 21, 2014 9:33 amThe genus Blechnum, from the family Blechnaceae, was derived from the Greek word blechnon meaning a fern. Blechnum are mostly evergreen ferns…
Alstroemeria
August 14, 2014 12:01 pmInca or Peruvian Lily As its common name implies, the Alstroemeria, or Inca Lily, originates from South America. Alstroemeria is…
Agapanthus praecox subsp. orientalis ‘Blue Velvet’
August 14, 2014 8:21 amBlue Lily, African Lily, or Lily of the Nile Agapanthus, being a plant that is reliable, tough, enduring, very easy…
Agapanthus orientalis ‘Queen Mum’
August 14, 2014 8:16 amQueen Mum Lily of the Nile Agapanthus Orientalis ‘Queen Mum’ is an exceptionally elegant plant with flowers that are blue…
Agapanthus africanus ‘Peter Pan’
August 14, 2014 8:07 amDwarf African Lily, Dwarf Lily of the Nile, Dwarf Peter Pan Lily With all the new varieties of agapanthus that…
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