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Growing water lilies - Nymphaea |
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Nymphaea nouchali var.caerulea = N. capensis
Picture courtesy www.newplant.co.za
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 The genus (family) Nymphaea consists of about 40 species and can be found growing in tropical and temperate climates, of both hemispheres. Many hundreds of hybrids have been bred, in so many colours, shapes and sizes; that even botanists can get confused identifying them.
There are only two species that occur in southern Africa; Nymphaea lotus has white or cream flowers and blooms at night, and Nymphaea nouchali, with blue flowers, that blooms during the daytime. Nymphaea caerulea, and Nymphaea capensis; are no longer regarded as distinct species and have now been classified under Nymphaea nouchali.
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Picture courtesy Joel Bradshaw
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There are about 7 or 8 species of Frangipani, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. Frangipani can also be found in Eastern Africa, where they are sometimes referred to in Swahili love poems. They have become naturalised in India, where they symbolise immortality and are used extensively in temples. These exotic ornamental shrubs or small trees remain popular in sub-tropical regions for their showy terminal clusters of large waxy flowers, that bloom all summer and autumn; and last well in a vase. Plant them near your patio or windows, where their fragrance can be enjoyed. They also grow beautifully in pots.
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Picture courtesy Karl Gercens
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Cestrum elegans (red flowers) and Cestrum aurantiacum (yellow flowers) are plants that are native to Central America. They were widely planted in gardens around the country in the past, doing particularly well in warm regions. Regrettably they are now invading forest margins, savanna, plantations and wooded kloofs.
Both have been declared category 1 invader weeds and must be immediately removed from gardens. The whole plant is poisonous.
Reference Book: Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants by Lesley Henderson
ISBN 1-86849-192-7 | |
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Plumbago
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Hedges are an integral part of many gardens, providing windbreaks and privacy as well as dividing the garden into various ‘rooms’. If carefully chosen the plants will compliment your planting scheme, providing a valuable backdrop for flowering plants, bulbs and seedlings. A wide range of beautiful hedging plants are available at nurseries; some with evergreen leaves and others like roses, which lose their leaves in winter but make up for this by producing beautiful flowers or berries. Many plants can be grown both as formal or informal hedges but always choose tough, reliable plants that are not prone to dying off easily and are suitable for your climatic region. To avoid having to spray for pests and diseases, select plants that are relatively disease free.
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