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 pmThe indigenous Pelargonium grandiflorum (regal pelargonium) is a gardener’s delight with so much visual interest, it can be hard to…
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 amAlthough proteas are not exclusively ours, we do own the unique king protea… When the supercontinent of Gondwana split during…
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 pmThere are not many plants that can turn shade into a fairy landscape of dainty flowers in a season when…
Get More Pelargoniums Via Cuttings
April 8, 2022 4:43 pmPelargoniums have had a whole season’s growth, producing enough plant material for you to take a few cuttings to propagate…
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 pmIndigenous groundcovering plants are cheap, functional, and tough as old garden boots. Plant these in your pretty spaces and problem…
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 amPetunias don’t have a specific season and can actually be planted all year round. But it is in the cold…
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 pmThe Pincushion Protea has long-lasting flower heads in yellows, oranges and reds consist of a large number of small flowers…
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, indigenous forest plant, Streptocarpus, was first discovered in Knysna in the 1800s and also occurs naturally in…
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 Gaura Lindheimeri Passionate Blush, or Blush Gaura, has light pink flowers and its new leaves are a rich…
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 amWild Pear Dombeya Rotundifolia, one of the most attractive and reliable of the indigenous trees suitable for suburban gardens, has…
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…
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…
Looking for something?
Follow Us
