Salvias To Love
December 18, 2024 4:26 pmIf you are aiming for flower-filled borders all summer long, aim straight for the salvia displays in your local nursery…
Summer Colour In A Pot
January 30, 2024 2:15 pmLet’s take a look at this beautiful ‘summer colour in a pot’! The plants in this group all love the…
Sarracenia – Trumpet Pitcher Plants
December 11, 2023 4:06 pmIn Chinese, trumpet pitcher plants signify ‘Bags of Peace’ – the more pitchers (bags) a plant has the more peace…
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…
Plant a blast of colour!
January 23, 2023 11:37 amWhat we plant now must give us the typical look of summer, and should continue with a striking floral performance…
3 Happiness Flowers
January 23, 2023 10:57 amSome of midsummer’s flowers are like garden Prozac. Being amongst them has the ability to turn anxiety and a ‘down’…
String of Hearts
November 25, 2022 9:35 amString of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is an indigenous evergreen, trailing vine with opposite pairs of dainty heart-shaped dark-green leaves marbled…
Sempervivum arachnoideum
July 13, 2022 4:53 pmThe Sempervivum Arachnoideum, or cobweb houseleek, forms a mounding clump of little rosettes that look like they are covered in…
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…
Grow Perfect Sweet Peas
April 11, 2022 12:52 pmSweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are the prettiest and most rewarding spring-blooming cut flowers to grow. They should be sown in…
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…
Silver Vernonia
November 23, 2021 9:29 amBeautiful silver vernonia – ideal for summer borders The silver vernonia is a striking member of the daisy family Asteraceae.…
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!”,…
Fabulous Senecio ‘Angel Wings’
July 9, 2021 9:51 amSenecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’ is sure to catch the eye, whether growing outdoors in the garden or sitting indoors in…
Cinerarias – Nothing Short of Spectacular
June 10, 2021 1:43 pmThere are not many annuals that bloom through cold weather, and that bloom better the colder it gets. Cinerarias (Senecio…
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…
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…
Equisetum Hyemale – Snake Grass
December 10, 2020 10:28 amStop the spread of Equisetum hyemale (snake grass) in South Africa By Thulisile Jaca -Biological Invasions Directorate: South African National…
Sedums
January 21, 2020 11:42 amRead in Afrikaans If we had to rate a stone and a stonecrop plant comparatively for low care characteristics, the…
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…
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.…
Viburnum Odoratissimum
January 15, 2018 8:25 amIn a small garden, you may need only one of these shrubs to screen off your neighbour, the dog’s kennel…
Trachelospermum jasminoides
January 12, 2018 2:41 pmConfederate Jasmine, Star Jasmine Trachelospermum Jasminoides is an exceptional cultivar that is not grown for its flowers but rather for…
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…
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…
Santolina chamaecyparissus
January 11, 2018 1:15 pmCotton Lavender A compact-growing shrub with fine, feathery white or grey leaves of short and slender stature. Golden flower heads…
Searsia crenata
January 11, 2018 1:11 pmDune Crowberry The Searsia Crenata is a spreading and stocky coastal plant with a rounded shape. It survives against all…
Sedum spectabile
January 11, 2018 1:07 pmSedum spectabile is a rewarding, easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial with succulent foliage, which originates from China and Korea. Commonly known as…
Sempervivum tectorum
January 11, 2018 1:05 pmCommon Houseleek, Hen and Chickens, St Patrick’s Cabbage A low, mat forming succulent comprising many rosettes of attractive grey-green leaves…
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…
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,…
Sisyrinchium ‘E.K Balls’
January 11, 2018 12:57 pmBlue Eyed Grass The Blue Eyed Grass is a charming little clump-forming perennial comprising of narrow, sword-like leaves growing to…
Solanum Rantonnetii
January 11, 2018 12:54 pmIn the days when we quickly had to order a few flowering shrubs to fill the instant colour aisles of…
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…
Helianthus Annus
January 11, 2018 12:39 pmSunflowers There’s nothing more breathtaking than a field of golden Sunflowers holding up their heads to the sun. These regal…
Spiraea ‘Arguta’
January 11, 2018 12:31 pmBridal Wreath, Foam of May Normal gardens have been fashionable around the world since the times of early civilisations and…
Rothmannia globosa
January 11, 2018 11:58 amSeptember Bells Rothmannia globosa is decorative ornamental shrub or small tree grows to a height of 6 m in a…
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.…
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…
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
January 8, 2018 12:46 pmChincherinchee, Tjienk, Star of Bethlehem Chincherinchees or ‘tjienks’ belong to the genus Ornithogalum and are members of the Hyacinth family…
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…
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…
Ledebouria revoluta
January 8, 2018 9:07 amSouth Indian Squill South Africa is blessed with a wide and varied array of little bulbous plants, such as the Ledebouria,…
Leucadendron argenteum
January 8, 2018 8:51 amSilver Tree, Silver Leaf Tree Silver trees are wonderful garden ornamentals. Leucadendron Argenteum, the shimmering Silver Tree, is one of…
Leucanthemum – Shasta Daisies
January 8, 2018 8:47 amThe Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is every gardener’s favourite summer perennial, because it flowers non-stop and never gives its…
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…
Justicia brandegeeana
December 21, 2017 1:59 pmShrimp Plant Justicia Brandegeeana is another old favourite that needs more recognition as a good garden plant. The flowers are…
Hebenstretia dura
December 20, 2017 11:16 amCat’s Tail Hebenstretia Dura (family: Scrophulariaceae) is found from the Eastern Cape to the Northern Province. It is a hardy…
Hibiscus syriacus
December 20, 2017 10:40 amRose of Sharon, Rose Mallow and St Joseph’s Rod Hibiscus Syriacus is certainly one of the most spectacular of all the…
Ficus trichopoda
December 19, 2017 10:25 amHippopotamus Fig or Swamp Fig From a bird-attracting perspective, this wild fig species ranks amongst the very best of the…
Euphorbia tirucalli
December 19, 2017 9:13 amSticks of Fire In nature Euphorbia Tirucalli often forms almost indestructible thickets which made it a popular hedge plant around…
Cycas revoluta
December 15, 2017 1:12 pmSago Palm The Sago Palm, native to Japan, is such a worthy specimen for pool plantings. It makes a bold…
Crinum macowanii
December 15, 2017 12:56 pmSabie Lily Crinums are members of the family Amaryllidaceae and have a very wide distribution in the tropics of Asia,…
Castanea Sativa
December 15, 2017 12:12 pmSpanish Chestnut, Sweet Chestnut These are the spiny husks of the Spanish Chestnut that are produced on large deciduous trees…
Cassia Fistula
December 15, 2017 12:11 pmGolden Shower Tree Flowering trees are amongst the most spectacular plants cultivated in gardens. Their sheer size and abundance of…
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…
Betula Pendula
December 15, 2017 10:34 amSilver or Common Birch The Silver Birch is one of the best-known trees in cultivation today, especially in temperate regions,…
Antirrhinum Majus
December 13, 2017 3:04 pmThe ‘Snapdragon’ For gardeners wanting an easy growing winter annual it is worth re-stating all the good qualities of Antirrhinum…
Alocasia cucullata
December 13, 2017 2:54 pmSpear Queen Alocasia Cucullata is a spectacular evergreen foliage plant belonging to the Elephant’s Ear family. Upright, fleshy, rhizomatous stems…
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Variegata’
November 20, 2017 1:20 pmSweetgum, American Sweetgum This is a selected, variegated leaf form of the Liquidambar, which originates from parts of the Eastern…
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…
Veronica spicata ‘Heidekind’
January 18, 2016 8:19 amSpiked Speedwell, Speedwell A charming little plant that asks for very little and yet rewards hugely when flowering season arrives…
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…
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…
Birds of Paradise
January 15, 2016 7:51 amStrelitzias… Mother Nature’s incredible sculptures! From autumn to spring, when beautiful boat-shaped spathes crested by bright orange sepals and deep-blue…
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…
Stachys byzantine
January 15, 2016 7:33 amLamb’s Ear Children and adults alike are fascinated with the soft texture of Lamb’s Ear, it immediately attracts people to…
Solanum Giganteum
January 14, 2016 12:27 pmAfrican Holly Solanum giganteum is a somewhat unconventional choice – but not for birds! Do not confuse it with the invasive…
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…
Serruria hybrid
January 14, 2016 12:17 pm‘Tannie Evita’ The name says it all; Serruria hybrid is undoubtedly amongst the loveliest Blushing Bride. Serrurias belong to the…
Senecio cineraria ‘Silver Dust’
January 14, 2016 12:11 pmDusty Miller Senecio Cineraria ‘Silver Dust’ (Dusty Miller) is a low-growing sub-shrub that is often treated as an annual. It…
Selago corymbosa
January 14, 2016 11:57 amPlant: Selago Corymbosa Type: Dainty shrub, 60cm.Form: Upright growth with feathery foliage.Flowers: A fine mist of delicate lacy white flowers…
Sedum spurium ‘Bronze Carpet’
January 14, 2016 11:31 amStonecrop The Sedum Spurium plant is a vigorous, evergreen ground cover with glossy, succulent leaves that are dark coppery-red in…
Sedum nussbaumerianum
January 14, 2016 11:28 amCoppertone Stonecrop Sedum Nussbaumerianum is an exotic species from Mexico, with unusual, copper-coloured rosettes on slender spreading stems. It is…
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…
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…
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…
Lobularia maritima
August 17, 2015 11:39 amSweet Alyssum Lobularia maritima is a delicate, fine-textured plant with masses of white blooms set against variegated foliage. It is…
Liriope Muscari
August 17, 2015 11:05 amLiriopes, commonly known as lilyturfs, are evergreen flowering plants which form thick clumps of grasslike foliage. They are unique groundcovers…
Leucadendron tinctum
August 17, 2015 8:56 amBergroos, Spicy Conebush One of the most appealing features of this greatly under-utilised Leucadendron Tinctum is the strong spicy aroma…
Leucadendron sessile
August 17, 2015 8:54 amSun Conebush Forming a neat rounded shrub that grows up to 1,5m high, this easily-grown species of Leucadendron sessile has…
Jasminum multipartitum
July 29, 2015 12:59 pmStarry Wild Jasmine Type: Evergreen Jasminum shrub up to 3m. Form: Creeping or bushy (train long shoots can be trained…
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Brilliant’
July 29, 2015 11:06 amChinese Hibiscus, China Rose, Hawaiian Hibiscus, and Shoe-Black-Plant This large evergreen Hibiscus rosa-sinensis shrub reaches 2 x 2m and makes a lovely hedge…
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…
Grevillea Lanigera Mount Tamboritha
July 23, 2015 10:14 amSpider Flower Grevillea Lanigera ‘Mount Tamboritha’, or Spider Flower, is an utterly charming, low-growing shrub that copes perfectly in a…
Gaura lindheimeri Siskiyou Pink
July 23, 2015 9:49 amPink Gaura Gaura Lindheimeri, Siskiyou Pink, or Pink Gaura, has bright to dark pink flowers and a more compact, bushy…
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.…
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…
Dodonaea angustifolia
May 11, 2015 8:19 amSand Olive A Dodonaea Angustifolia, or Sand Olive, is a large shrub which grows fast and can handle wind and…
Davallia mariesii
April 23, 2015 6:40 amSquirrel’s Foot Fern Prominent, creeping rhizomes on the surface of the soil is a feature of the Squirrel’s Foot Fern. They…
Convolvulus cneorum
March 27, 2015 10:06 amSilver Bush Silver Bush is a low-growing, compact shrub with silky, silver leaves that have an iridescent sheen. White, tubular,…
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…
Cerastium tomentosum
March 25, 2015 10:43 amSnow-in-Summer This plant is covered in masses of white, star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer, hence its common…
Calibrachoa
March 25, 2015 7:15 amSeaside Petunia Calibrachoa are charming little plants and are relatives of the petunia, producing masses of small, bell-shaped flowers on…
Cupressus Macrocarpa
August 22, 2014 6:24 am‘Gold Crest’, ‘Golden Monterey Cypress’, ‘Swane’s Gold’, ‘Pencil Pine’ Golden Monterey Cypress Conifers truly come into their own in winter.…
Nandina domestica
August 21, 2014 7:07 pmNandina, Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo For Autumn colour there is nothing to beat Nandina Domestica and its cousins. The lacy leaves change…
Festuca gautieri
August 21, 2014 6:13 pmSpiky Fescue or Bearskin Fescue Festuca Gautieri has fine, bright green blades and grows to about 20 x 20 cm. A stretch…
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…
Bacopa
August 21, 2014 9:10 amBacopa, Indigenous Phlox, Sutera or James Brittennia. Whatever the name, the Bacopa, an ankle-high ground cover, with tits graceful flowers…
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,…
Angelonia Angustifolia
August 18, 2014 6:47 am‘Angelface’, ‘Summer Snapdragon’ & ‘Serena Lavender’ Looking at the sweet hybrids of Angelonia Angustifolia, it is hard to believe that…
Agapanthus africanus ‘Summer Gold’
August 14, 2014 8:11 amAgapanthus Africanus ‘Summer Gold’ is a slow-growing, variegated hybrid developed in California. It adapts well to local conditions, but can…
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