Welcome to Gardening in South Africa!

Arctotis acaulis 'Purple' Picture courtesy K M from flickrA really well-planned garden will include plants for all seasons and interest can come in many forms, including colourful foliage and deciduous shrubs that display great autumn colours, flowers, colourful berries or fruits, and even attractive seed pods. Find a list of summer perennials for all regions below.

Modern gardeners are looking for good-looking plants which perform at their best with a minimum of fuss. They also want plants which are not susceptible to many pests and diseases, because they wish to reduce or eliminate the need to spray poisons in the garden. For these reasons, they are selecting appropriate plants for growing in their climatic region.

Gardeners are opting to use tough yet beautiful flowering perennials, which don’t need to be replaced every season,  as the backbone of the garden, and seasonal annuals are only added in smaller areas for colour and accent, or in pots which can easily be maintained, and placed where they are most effective.

Because perennials come back year after year, they are a good long-term investment for gardeners on a budget. Planting perennials will also create a welcome habitat for local wildlife.

Perennial plant list for sunny summer gardens

I hope the plant list below will inspire you to plant more perennials in your summer garden. Visit to your local garden centre to find those that will grow best in your region.

Click here to read more about perennials and to find a plant list of summer flowering perennials for shady gardens.

Dymondia Dymondia, Tapytmadeliefie (Dymondia margaretae)

Dymondia is endemic to the Southern Overberg which lies east of Cape Town beyond the Hottentots-Holland Mountains. This lovely ground cover is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, but ironically, in its native range in South Africa it is endangered and faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

This slow-growing evergreen perennial is a little all-rounder and is most obliging, tolerating heat and thriving in full sun or light shade. It forms low-growing mats only 2 to 7cm in height, carpeting the ground with narrow, greyish-green leaves with fuzzy white undersides that give the plants a silvery appearance. Throughout summer it produces masses of tiny yellow daisy-like blooms that are visited by many insects including bees and butterflies.

Each plant will spread about 40 to 50cm, and the growth is so dense that it will choke out almost all weeds, making dymondia a wonderful filler plant between pavers and stepping-stones, or a groundcover in rockeries amongst succulents and other water-wise plants. Even simply cascading down a stone wall or over a hanging basket or pot this little plant will attract attention, making it perfect for sunny courtyards and balconies.

It is highly recommended for regions where drought is a serious concern, and is absolutely invaluable in coastal gardens, helping to limit wind soil erosion in bare patches, and to stabilise and retain soil on slopes. It also grows very well inland.

As a lawn substitute, dymondia is perfect for areas of the garden that receive only light foot traffic, and in areas which receive more foot traffic you can protect a dymondia lawn by using paving stones etc. to create walking paths through these spaces.

Members can click here to read more about growing Dymondia

Oortjies Picture courtesy www.randomharvest.co.zaWhite Carpet, Oortjies (Falkia repens)

Oortjies is an evergreen perennial groundcover that is endemic to the Eastern and Western Cape where it can commonly be found growing in damp or temporarily inundated soil alongside streams, in damp coastal flats and seeps, damp grasslands, and in vleis or along their margins.

The small greenish yellow leaves are shiny and slightly succulent, with rounded tips and bases, looking rather like little ears. From spring to December an abundance of delicate paper-like flowers that resemble miniature poppies appear, opening a pale pink and fading to white.

Oortjies remains popular worldwide because it looks great all year round and grows quickly, taking only one year to reach maturity. The plant can spread 30 to 46cm to form a flat mat of foliage. Although it thrives in semi-shade, in too much shade the plant will grow taller, and as long as it gets lots of water, will also grow happily in full sun.

It is great planted in solid stands, and works beautifully in combination plantings where it covers the ground fast to suppress weeds. The plant is also excellent to plant between stepping-stones, and even to replace lawn where there is little or no foot traffic. It’s just as effective flowing over rocks or walls, and most elegant cascading over pots and hanging baskets. 

Members can click here to read more about growing Oortjies

Creeping MazusCreeping Mazus (Mazus reptans)

Creeping mazus is a self-rooting, low-growing perennial groundcover which has attractive bright green leaves. It produces masses of small lavender-blue or white flowers with yellow and white centres from late spring to mid-summer, with sporadic blooms throughout summer and autumn if conditions are right. There's also a white variety called 'Alba'. If the plants receive adequate sunshine they will remain short, 3 to 5cm with a spread of 25 to 30cm.

Mazus has long been prized as a groundcover because it forms a dense ground-hugging carpet, and grows very quickly without being aggressive. It is sometimes used as a lawn substitute in small areas with limited foot traffic, and will tolerate the occasional mowing.

It is ideal planted between stepping stones and alongside steps, and thrives in rock gardens. Use it as a pretty border plant or as a filler between larger summer flowering perennials. It is also wonderful to stabilise the soil on slopes and has proven to be a great green roof plant in regions with good summer rainfall.

Because it loves to grow in slightly moist soil, it’s an excellent choice for waterside gardens and next to water features. If planted over bulbs it will serve as a 'living mulch', shading their roots and keeping them cool without interfering with their growth, and if planted into hanging baskets and containers it will trail down.

Creeping mazus will grow in full sun or semi-shade, but in very hot, dry regions the plant will appreciate some shade during the hottest part of the day. In warm regions the plants are evergreen, but are semi-evergreen or totally dormant in cold winter regions.

Members can click here to read more about growing Creeping Mazus

Cape Weed Cape Weed (Phyla nodiflora)

This widely spreading evergreen perennial herb is native to an area from northern South America to the southern United States, occurring in wetlands, wet prairies, and near rivers. In many parts of the world and in South Africa it is considered a naturalised weed, like Cosmos flowers.

The green leaves are ovate with serrated margins, and the clusters of small white to pink flowers with purple bases are showy, and can bloom all summer long. The fruits that follow are capsules that break up into ‘nutlets’ which are small, indehiscent, dry fruits. It generally grows around 5 to 10cm tall, but mature unclipped specimens reach greater heights, and the plant can produce stems up to 90cm long, becoming woody at the base as it matures. In the subtropics it remains evergreen, but in cold regions it will die down completely in winter and shoot again in spring.

Cape weed loves to grow in full sun but will also take some shade. It is very tough and because it can take heavy foot-traffic it’s often grown as a lawn substitute, or planted between pavers and stepping stones. It makes an excellent groundcover that can withstand both drought and flooding, and is often used next to water features, and is lovely cascading over pots and hanging baskets.

It tolerates being mown about twice a year, and besides keeping it under control, this plant does not require much attention - as with many successful weeds, it will grow just about anywhere.

Members can click here to read more about growing Cape Weed

Petunia and Dichondra 'Silver Falls'Dichondra 'Silver Falls' (Dichondra argentea)

Dichondra is an herbaceous perennial which is evergreen in warm climates. When used as a groundcover its creeping stems root wherever they come into contact with the ground. This enables the plant to spread quickly and form a dense, prostrate mat that not only looks great but also blocks out weeds. It is grown for its beautiful foliage, but tiny greenish-white flowers are produced in summer.

Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ is a garden cultivar which is loved for its velvety-soft silver leaves and glistening stems that will cascade up to 1.2m long, resembling a waterfall of tiny silver coins. Dichondra 'Emerald Falls' is another garden cultivar with brilliant emerald green leaves, and a more rounded shape than 'Silver Falls', producing a wider but shorter plant.

Dichondra thrives in full sun but tolerates semi-shade, however, in too much shade it may become leggy and the silver will not be as brilliant.

Dichondra are great additions to modern city gardens where they are planted on balconies, in courtyards, rock gardens, and even in vertical or rooftop gardens. They make a lovely groundcover and both the green and silver forms blend well with other plants to provide contrast in the garden. Use them to cool down brightly coloured landscapes, and to provide subtle contrast for gardens with lots of green, leafy plants.

Because the stems can cascade up to 1.2m long, Dichondra is a fantastic trailing plant for adding contrast to hanging baskets, and also looks beautiful cascading down steps or over retaining walls. Even if you only have a small balcony garden you could plant into hanging baskets to create a curtain of gorgeous foliage for privacy.

Members can click here to read more about growing Dichondra

Australian VioletAustralian Violet (Viola hederacea)

The Australian violet is an excellent, fast spreading evergreen perennial groundcover which will grow in moist, shady areas, but also takes full sun if watered regularly, making this little plant excellent in beds where the shade pattern varies greatly between summer and winter. Although these plants grow well in shaded conditions, they do need sunshine to flower well.

It quickly forms mats of bright green leaves and masses of tiny white and violet flowers which can appear anytime in spring, summer and autumn, and in warmer subtropical gardens it can flower all year round. The flowers stand above the foliage at a height of about 15cm, and each plant can spread via underground runners to about 30cm.

The Australian violet is good to stabilise the soil on banks and perfect next to water features and ponds. It is essential in for cottage gardens, where it forms a pretty groundcover amongst other flowers, or in the rose or herb garden. Its lovely trailing habit makes this violet a wonderful addition to mixed container plantings and hanging baskets.

It is lovely planted between pavers, stepping stones and alongside pathways. And in areas where grass struggles to grow, this plant can be a beautiful alternative if foot traffic is light.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Australian Violet

Sutera Sutera, Bacopa (Chaenostoma cordatum)

This charming little South African plant remains a firm favourite with gardeners around the world for its ease of growth and profusion of flowers throughout spring and summer. Plant breeders have developed many new and improved strains which not only flower even more profusely, but also have larger blooms, with some varieties even sporting lovely yellow foliage. Sutera is available in beautifully delicate shades of blue and pink to lavender and white. It is a hardy, vigorous, low-growing plant which can spread 50 to 60cm, while only reaching a height of 15 to 20cm.

In warm winter regions Sutera is grown as a short lived evergreen perennial plant, but in cold winter regions it is most often grown as a summer annual. It is very heat tolerant, and thrives in semi-shade, but if it is watered well it can take lots of sun. In extremely hot regions it does better in semi-shade or morning sun.

Sutera is perfect to plant into hanging baskets, window boxes and pots of all sizes. Try mixing it with summer annuals for a colourful display. Planted in mass, it makes a wonderful groundcover and will stabilise the soil on slopes. It is also a lovely rockery and edging plant for the garden, and because its colours are so delicate, Sutera blends beautifully with other garden plants.

Members can click here to read more about growing Sutera

Ground Morning GloryGround Morning Glory (Convolvulus sabatius)

Gardeners will be glad to know that the ground morning glory is not at all invasive, even though it belongs to the same family the invasive morning glory (Ipomea purpurea). The ground morning glory does not wander or set seed, rather, this scrambling evergreen perennial stays in one place, flooding the ground around it with pools of delicately creased lilac-blue flowers that almost smother the lovely grey-green leaves that are soft to the touch. The flowers bloom for a very long time from spring, all through summer and into autumn, and in warmer frost free regions blooming can be all year round. The flowers attract butterflies, moths, bees and other insects, and close in the evening. 

This trailing, woody evergreen perennial does well in full sun but will take light shade. It has a dense, compact form, and each year the clump will grow stronger and bigger, starting off at around 10 to 15cm tall, with a greater spread, and maturing after about two years to a height of about 20cm and a spread of approximately 50 to 60cm or more, depending on climate and rainfall.

The ground morning glory is one of the most versatile and hard-working plants around. It is non-invasive and easy to grow for low maintenance areas, and because it is water-wise, is recommended for xeriscaping. It is exceptional as a ground cover, and its spreading roots make it ideal to retain the soil on steep banks.

It is also a lovely filler plant to cover gaps between other plants, and is most impressive if allowed to scramble over low walls, or to tumble down the sides of steps made with sleepers or rocks. Spilling over the edges of containers and hanging baskets on terraces and balconies, it can put on a spectacular display.

The soft, hairy, evergreen foliage and lavender-blue flowers make a soft, cool statement in the garden, working well with any colour scheme whether bright or pastel, and blending effortlessly with a host of companion plants which also enjoy full sun.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Ground Morning Glory

Arctotis 'Red'Renoster Arctotis, Renostergousblom (Arctotis)

Most Arctotis species occur in the Western and Eastern Cape, and Namaqualand, but are also represented in all the other provinces. The various growth forms include tufted annuals, perennial ground covers, small sprawling shrublets, and semi-woody shrubs. Arctotis love full sun, and the flowers only open fully in bright sunlight.

Many arctotis species make excellent garden plants and are popular for their ease of growth and abundance of flowers through late winter, spring or summer, depending on the species chosen. Every year there are more beautiful hybrids and selections available to gardeners in a variety of forms, from clumping to spreading or trailing, and a gorgeous range of colours to suit every gardens colour palette.

The Renoster Arctotis (Arctotis acaulis) is an easy to grow perennial which can bloom for most of the year in mild climates. It grows 20 to 30cm tall with a basal tuft of hairy leaves which are a beautiful silver-grey. A dazzling display of flowers appear from late winter and spring to early summer (July to November), peaking in spring (August to October). Fabulous hybrids are available and the large, brightly coloured daisy flowers all have dark centres to show off the bright petals, which come in all shades of orange, yellow and red, as well as plum, pink and cream. There is also often an attractive black spot, or a black or bright yellow band at the base of the florets. The renoster arctotis is excellent to control soil erosion at the coast and makes a most effective ground cover. It also looks wonderful spilling over low walls or a dry bank.

Trailing Arctotis, Kusgousblom (Arctotis stoechadifolia) is a very vigorous sprawling perennial which hugs the ground closely and roots continuously as it spreads. The white felted leaves are long and narrow with slightly toothed or serrated edges, providing a striking silver-grey carpet. The masses of showy flowers appear from spring to summer (September to December), standing on upright shoots about 35cm tall. They are a creamy light to bright yellow, marked with maroon underneath, and the centre of the flower is black. In coastal gardens this is one of the best groundcovers to retain the sand cover, and is very striking if allowed to cascade down a stone wall.

Members can click here to read more about growing Arctotis

Euphorbia 'Breathless'Garden Spurge (Euphorbia hypericifolia)

Euphorbia hypericifolia is a perennial herb native to the Americas where it occurs in the tropics and subtropics. It normally grows about 60cm in height, and contains a milky sap which can cause skin and eye irritation.

These wispy plants with their abundance of small white flowers, produced in frothy drifts interspersed amongst their olive green leaves, resemble the annual plant called “baby's breath” (Gypsophila paniculata) and can be used in the garden in much the same way.

The delicate look of these tropical plants belies their hardy temperaments, and they make wonderful low maintenance, water-wise plants. They look good in borders and along the edges of walkways, planted singly or intermingled with large leaved plants like coral bells and coleus.  They are glorious in hanging baskets and containers with their delicate branches spreading and spilling over the edges. Try tucking them into rock wall pockets and any nook and cranny in the garden, as they are the perfect companions to almost all other water-wise garden plants. 

Because of the popularity of this plant exciting new introductions are being brought out every year, and today there are lovely pink flowering cultivars available. These all have a low, mounding and spreading growth habit, 20 to 30cm tall and 50 to 60cm wide.

These euphorbias can take some shade but do best in full sun. They bloom pretty much continually in summer, and in areas with mild winters they will bloom almost all year-round. They are remarkably hardy to light frosts, but in very cold regions they are often grown as summer annuals or pot plants.

Members can click here to read more about growing Euphorbia

Cineraria saxifraga Wild Cineraria, Geelblom (Cineraria saxifrage)

This pretty little evergreen perennial belongs to the daisy family and includes about 50 species which are endemic and restricted only to the southern areas of South Africa, from Swellendam in the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, southern KwaZulu-Natal, and extending into Lesotho and Swaziland. It grows all along the coast and adjacent interior, and is common on stony hillsides and rocky outcrops.

The wild cineraria will grow quickly and easily, thriving in full sun to light shade. In too much shade it will not flower as abundantly, and a plant in a sunny situation will be more compact than one in a shadier spot.

The plant forms a mounding groundcover about 20 to 30cm tall with a spread of around 40 to 50cm. Because the branches are low they will make roots wherever they touch the soil, so the plant can spread much further with time. The dainty succulent leaves are broadly triangular to rounded, bright green, and very attractive. The tiny sunflower-yellow blooms appear on fragile stalks and are most prolific in spring and early summer, and autumn, but can also bloom in the height of summer.

The wild cineraria with its delicate foliage and bright yellow flowers, is a rewarding and versatile plant for the garden, doing extremely well in coastal gardens where it is used as a super tough groundcover and for stabilising the soil on steep banks.

It is impressive when spilling over retaining or terraced walls and steps, and wonderful if combined with other plants in window boxes and hanging baskets. It is invaluable in indigenous and water-wise gardens, and also looks pretty in cottage gardens.

Because it loves growing amongst rocks, it is an excellent candidate for rock or pebble gardens. Being very low maintenance, the wild cineraria is great for public gardens, traffic islands, office parks, parking lots and school yards. An added bonus is that it will attract honey bees and butterflies to your garden, as well as insect eating birds.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Wild Cineraria

Diascia 'Coral'Twinspurs, Horinkies (Diascia)

These delightfully delicate little gems belong to the snapdragon family and there are about 70 species, all of which occur only in southern Africa. Diascia species can be annual or perennial, with most of the perennials occurring in the summer rainfall regions, and the annuals in the winter rainfall regions.

Twinspurs are renowned for their abundance of flowers throughout summer. The varieties of Diascia available at garden centres today are mainly new hybrids that have been bred to be even more floriferous, with many exciting new pastel and vivid shades of pink, white, red, lavender, mauve, deep plum, vivid orange, apricot and tangerine. The species vary slightly in height, growing 25 to 40cm tall. Some varieties will spill over pots and others tend to grow more upright.

Twinspurs are perfect for mass plantings, putting on a brilliant show if planted in large sweeps in the garden; with some varieties making excellent groundcovers. They are pretty to fill little pockets between other plants in the garden or alongside garden paths, as well as in rose and herb gardens. Try them in hanging baskets and containers, planted singly or mixed with other plants.

Twinspurs thrive in full sun or light shade and will grow in any well-drained soil.

Members can click here to read more about growing Twinspurs

Brachyscome 'Radiant Magenta' Picture courtesy Nu-Leaf NurseryRiver Daisy (Brachyscome multifida)

The river daisy is a sprawling evergreen perennial which belongs to the daisy (Astereae) family. It’s a perfectly delightful plant with that classic ‘daisy look’ with its masses of tiny daisy flowers and dense mat of feathery foliage. Flowers appear predominantly in spring and summer but also sporadically throughout the year.

Plant breading has produced numerous cultivars and many improvements to plant form, flower size and colour range, and today the flowers come in a range of colours like pink, mauve, pale and deep blue, as well as white, and many also have striking yellow centres.

The river daisy grows about 30 to 50cm wide and 20 to 30cm tall, dependent on the variety and growing conditions, and like all daisies loves full sun, although it will tolerate some light shade.

Its spreading habit makes it ideal as a ground cover, border plant, or in rockeries or pebble gardens.  This low maintenance and water-wise plant is a beautiful addition to any garden and is quite at home in cottage and rose gardens. It is especially effective in mass plantings, producing a very effective and eye-catching ground cover. It is also stunning draping over retaining walls, and spilling over pots and hanging baskets.

Members can click here to read more about growing the River Daisy

Asystasia gangetica Picture courtesy Nu-leaf NurseryCreeping Foxglove, Isihobo (Asystasia gangetica)

The creping foxglove is quite endearing with its lovely dark green leaves and profusion of small, fragrant cream flowers which resemble foxgloves, and can appear sporadically at any time in spring and summer, or year round in warm climates. The flower petals have delicate purple streaks in them that act as nectar guides for the host of pollinators that visit the flowers. In South Africa it occurs along the eastern coastal areas of the country and in the north, growing wild in forests and woodlands.

This fast growing evergreen perennial herb roots easily at the nodes, enabling it to spread vigorously. It can reach a height of 30 to 45cm with a spread of 60cm, but in tropical and subtropical regions it can grow a lot taller and wider. There is a form known as Asystasia gangetica ‘aurea’ that has attractive yellowish-green leaves.

If you have a large expanse that needs covering, try the magic of this indigenous beauty. It is a useful groundcover for shady areas under trees, but is equally suited to mass planting in sunny areas, provided the area receives regular irrigation.

The only bad attribute to be said about this plant is that it is perhaps a bit too obliging, and in warmer, wetter regions it can become invasive in the garden. As long as you are aware of this and are prepared to keep it in check, this indigenous plant is a lovely garden subject, and a 'must-have' for wildlife gardens, and especially honey bee and butterfly friendly gardens.

Because of its vigorous nature it is not suitable for very small gardens, but there is no reason why you could not have one in a hanging basket, as the trailing habit of this plant looks quite spectacular in a large basket or tall pot, and can provide a lot of privacy on a small balcony. It can even be trained to climb up a trellis.   

Members can click here to read more about growing Creeping Foxglove

Erigeron 'White' Picture courtesy Nu-leaf Nursery Seaside Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)

The seaside daisy is a graceful, trailing, woody-based perennial which grows 30 to 60cm tall, and can spread 90 to 150cm. It is noted for its endless production of small daisies throughout summer, and sporadically throughout the year in frost-free regions. The soft and whimsical looking pure white daisies with their sunny centres, turn a lovely rosy-pink and lavender as they mature. This ground-hugging groundcover plant forms a low mound of hairy, grey-green leaves, and the leaves have a red tinge if the plant is grown in poor soil.

The seaside daisy will grow almost anywhere - try it as a groundcover in difficult areas, or as an edging plant in a mixed border. It will even grow in the very shallow soil between pavers, and looks brilliant spilling with abandon over low walls, creeping down the sides of stone or brick steps, or simply tucked into wall crevices, where it seeds itself and spreads slowly with its rhizomatous roots.

If it is planted into hanging baskets or pots its will cascade down most graciously, forming a solid curtain of flowers and foliage. An added bonus is it attracts bees, butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.

In very hot regions it may decide to take a break in summer when temperatures soar, and you may even think it has died, only for it to suddenly reappear when the weather cools down a bit. Once established in the garden, it can pop up in the most unexpected places, and can become invasive.

The seaside daisy will grow in full sun or semi-shade, in very hot regions it will perform better where it receives shade at midday, or dappled shade throughout the day, and in cooler regions it will flourish in full sun to light shade.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Seaside Daisy

Tulbaghia violaceaWild Garlic, Isihaqa (Tulbaghia)

Tulbaghia are bulbous or rhizomatous clump-forming perennials with linear leaves and umbels of small star-shaped flowers with a small cup-like corona. It is a small genus of about 20 species from southern Africa, and several cultivars exist for some species.

The two most popular with gardeners are Tulbaghia violacea and Tulbaghia simmleri. Tulbaghia violacea loves to grow in full sun but will take some shade, but Tulbachia simmleri prefers more shade.

(Tulbaghia violacea) produces attractive flowers throughout the growing season and is a proven low maintenance landscaping plant which is water-wise in hot, dry beds, making it useful for those difficult spots in the garden.

Most of the species are adapted for moth pollination, with flowers that become sweetly scented at night. Tulbaghia violacea, however, seems to be pollinated by butterflies and bees because it is scented during the day.

Tulbaghia violacea is a very fast growing little evergreen plant which can be found growing wild in the Little Karoo, the Eastern Cape and Kwazulu-Natal; commonly on moist sandy coastal soils, near rivers, in grasslands and on rocky slopes. It can reach a height of 35 to 50cm; forming a clump 25 to 30cm wide. The long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy leaves smell strongly of garlic when bruised. Clusters of up to 20 tubular mauve flowers are held above the leaves on tall flower stalks, appearing sporadically over a long period from September to April.

Wild garlic is a popular groundcover for large open areas on pavements, in complexes, office parks and shopping centre parking lots. It can also be used to good effect in rockeries, courtyard gardens and as an edging plant. Wild garlic is a good companion plant for roses and other shrubs prone to aphid attack.

Members can click here to read more about growing Wild Garlic

Gazania rigens var uniflora 'Variegated'Gazania, Botterblom, Ubendle (Gazania)

Gazanias are little rays of sunshine with their bright blooms, and stalwarts of the African summer garden. These herbaceous perennials have a very wide distribution range, mainly within the winter rainfall regions of South Africa, but can be found in virtually all the provinces. They are very adaptable and thrive in many habitats.

There are a number of Gazania subspecies, cultivars, and hybrids, each with its own unique growth habit, with both trailing and clump forming varieties. Hybrids are available in a choice of colours ranging from bronze to red, orange, pink, yellow, cream and white. The large, satiny flowers can be of a single colour or in graded shades; and the bases of the petals often feature spots, dots or darker areas with distinctive contrasting stripes and mottling. In warm regions most varieties will produce flowers all summer, or year round

It is essential that gazanias receive as much sun as possible because the blooms only open in the sunshine, closing at night. New varieties are being bred which are more tolerant of semi-shade and whose blooms open on overcast days.

The leaves of Gazanias are alternately arranged, densely clustered along the stems, and variable in appearance and shape. Most commonly they are lance shaped but can also be spoon shaped. Some leaves are smooth edged and others are indented. Leaf colour varies from light to dark green although some varieties have grey leaves. The upper surface is generally hairless but the underside of the leaf is densely covered in fine white hairs.

Gazanias are tough little plants that require very little maintenance, and make fantastic garden plants, provided they are not overwatered and are planted in full sun. The best floral displays are achieved by planting in massed displays of a single variety as a groundcover or border, or by using several species of gazania together. The trailing varieties are particularly good in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes.

The evergreen groundcovers are renowned for their vigorous growth, making them excellent to prevent soil erosion on slopes. Gazanias are essential in water-wise and low maintenance gardens and tolerate high pollution in cities.

Members can click here to read more about growing Gazanias

Dimorphotheca MixedTrailing Daisy, Rankbietou, u-Mesigcolo-nkonekazi (Dimorphotheca)

There are about 19 species of Dimorphotheca in southern Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe, and 7 in Namaqualand. They occur from elevations of 3 000m to sea-level, and in a variety of landscapes ranging from afromontane, karroid and arid, to subtropical coastal belts and grasslands.

These daisies revel in full sun, and their blooms will only open fully in the blazing sun, and because they also tolerate drought and survive in dry and windy environments, they are perfect for exposed coastal gardens, and water-wise gardens. Some are hardy to frost and grow very well inland, while others are tender to frost, so consult with your local garden centre to find those most suitable for your climatic region.

Trailing daisies just continue to rise in popularity, and today they are available in a wide selection of varieties and new cultivars, thanks to plant breeders who continue to expand their funky colour palette and unique petal shapes, which vary by variety. The flowers of these garden hybrids are so striking that you may even wonder if they’ve been dyed or painted, and their central disks look as if they have been coloured with metallic paint.

Some species are a vibrant purple above and coppery-orange below with a purple central disc; others are white with lilac centres and mauve on the reverse of the petals, or sparkling white on the upper side, and light blue or violet on the lower side, with dark blue or purple centres. Modern hybrids are available in inspiring shades of wine-red, white, pink, yellow, and terracotta.

Hybrids are also selected for their long blooming time, and can flower through spring, summer and autumn. So, by selecting a variety of these daisies you can extend their blooming time, and who wouldn’t want to do that.

The upright species are delightful in the flower border, making the greatest impact when planted in groups. The spreading evergreen species can be used as a border for the flower garden, to line pathways, or in a rockery where they can cascade over the rocks. Their trailing habit also makes them ideal subjects for hanging baskets and pots located in full sun. They are also hardy groundcovers, and perfect candidates for stabilising sandy soils on embankments.

Members can click here to read more about growing Trailing Daisies

Scaevola 'Blue'Fairy Fan-flower (Scaevola aemula)

The fairy fan-flower is an herbaceous evergreen perennial in warm regions. The leaves of this tender perennial will be burnt by frost, but the roots can survive short periods of temperatures as low as -3°C. However, in very cold regions it is usually grown as a summer annual. This prostrate and spreading little evergreen plant grows around 30cm tall, with some cultivars remaining even lower, and will spread 50cm to 1m. Fairy fan-flowers love full sun but will take light shade.

Many beautiful cultivars have been bred for the garden and they flower prolifically and almost continuously in warm climates; or until the first frost in colder regions. Their distinctive fan shaped flowers appear all along the stems and are available in shades of purple, blue, mauve and white. The petal colour is combined with a white or more commonly a yellow centre, resulting in a bright, eye-catching little flower.

The fairy fan-flower will trail down beautifully if planted in hanging baskets and window boxes, and looks charming spilling over low walls or cascading down flights of stairs in the garden. It also makes a wonderful groundcover and edging plant for all types of gardens, but is especially pretty in cottage gardens and on the margins of woodland gardens, as well as in rockeries. Its trailing or prostrate habit combined with its long flowering period, makes this little plant a sure winner for all types of gardens.

This little plant is a relatively short-lived perennial, lasting about 18 months to 2 years, but is very rewarding and well worth the effort of growing.

Members can click here to read more about growing Fairy Fan-flower

Angelonia 'White'Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia angustifolia hybrids)

Angelonia are evergreen perennials native to Mexico, Cuba and parts of the West Indies. They are tough, easy to care for members of the snapdragon family, and are planted in summer for their lovely flowers, born on slender upright spikes. They can take heat and full sun, but will still flower in very light shade. These ‘toughies’ will even withstand heavy thunderstorms.

Summer snapdragons will bloom continuously during the hot summer months, continuing into autumn or as long as the weather remains warm. They have attractive bright green willow-like leaves, and hybrids are available in clear flower colours or two-toned combinations of rose, pink, blue, lilac, violet-blue, purple, and white.

Summer snapdragons love growing in humid tropical and warm sub-tropical conditions and are tender to frost. Therefore they are planted as summer annuals in cold regions. Hybrids grow 25 to 40cm tall and will spread 30 to 40cm.

Their rounded upright growth habit and long blooming season make them perfect bedding plants and worthwhile additions to background plantings in flower borders. Numerous hybrids have been bred for flower performance and compact growth, making them an ideal choice for colourful container plantings.

Mix summer snapdragons with other flowering annuals in containers, window boxes and hanging baskets to give your plantings height and accent without overpowering the other plants. Angelonia flowers last well in a vase and will attract butterflies to your garden. Treat yourself to a few of these delightful plants this summer, you will not be disappointed.

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Alternanthera 'Yellow'Josephs Coat (Alternanthera bettzichiana)

Joseph’s coat is an herbaceous, evergreen perennial herb which grows around 20 to 50cm tall, with stems that can be either erect, or creeping. In cold regions it will die back in winter but often re-sprouts again in spring. Garden varieties are more compact and are available in gorgeous leaf shades of rose, pink, red, yellow, bronze, green, purple, and cream.

In order to keep their bright colours the leaves require sunshine, so site your plants where they receive full sun or light shade.

Joseph’s coat is a popular ornamental worldwide and is particularly popular in China, where it is cultivated in all the large cities. Garden varieties with dark purple or red leaves really stand out in the garden, and being of a darker hue they always make excellent background subjects for mass plantings with paler shades in the foreground. However, use them sparingly to avoid creating an overall dark overtone to the landscape.

Because the plant has an extensive root system it is planted in plantations as a ground cover to prevent soil erosion. It can even be trimmed and grown as a low hedge. This little plant is great for adding impact and contrast to mixed borders and plantings, and if mixed with other ornamentals and annuals adds good contrast to pots, window boxes and hanging baskets.

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Felicia 'Blue'Kingfisher Daisy, Bloumagriet (Felicia)

Blue is a sought after colour amongst gardeners because it is quite rare, especially a true blue shade. Kingfisher Daisies, with their masses of striking sky-blue and sunny yellow flower heads fit the bill, catching the eye wherever they are planted.

There are approximately 84 species of Felicia, and South Africa is blessed with about 79, mostly in the Cape Province. This little plant did not go un-noticed and was one of the earliest species used in horticulture, and today sky-blue, pale blue, violet-blue, pink and white flowered forms are available, as well as a variegated variety and a beautiful annual which is entirely blue.

Kingfisher daisies grow 30 to 60cm tall, and depending on the climate where they are grown flowering times can vary. In some regions the plants may flower almost continuously, or give their best flush in spring and summer, or even in late summer and autumn. Generally, in hot climates the plant will stop blooming when temperatures rise in midsummer.

These evergreen perennials are long-lived in the garden and the delicate beauty of their blooms belies their ruggedness. They are excellent container plants and if planted in mass, make a breath-taking sight when in bloom. Mix them with grasses, aloes and other indigenous plants for a glorious show, or use them in mixed flower borders as filler plants. They are also excellent for pebble gardens and rockeries, and provide valuable colour if combined with other plants in retaining walls, or mixed containers.

Although they are mainly sun loving, Felicias will also grow quite happily in light, dappled shade. In fact, these versatile little gems can be used almost anywhere you have a reasonably sunny spot in the garden.

The flowers are visited by butterflies, bees and many other small flying insect. You may even occasionally spot a well camouflaged, bright yellow ‘flower’ spider lurking in the centre of the bloom.

Members can click here to read more about growing Felicia

Ocimum obovatum Cat's Whiskers, Katsnor, Ufukuzela (Ocimum obovatum)

Cat's whisker’s is a low-growing perennial herb up to 30cm in height. It loves to grow in full sun or some light shade, and once you have seen this lovely perennial in full bloom you will never forget it. Anytime from spring to the height of summer spikes of frilly, pale mauve to white flowers appear in profusion. The flowers look a lot like the herb Sage, and its old name “Becium” is an ancient name for sage, derived from the Greek word “bekion.”

There are approximately 33 known species occurring in southern Africa, tropical Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and parts of India. In South Africa it is very common in grasslands and rocky outcrops, from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State to Limpopo. Because it grows in grasslands where fires sweep through regularly, the plants have adapted by growing an extensive, woody underground rootstock. This also makes them very water-wise, and at the end of summer the plants will die down and become completely deciduous through winter, making them very cold hardy. Once spring arrives the plants respond by sending out plenty of new stems from their underground rootstock.

If you have a grassland or wildlife garden plant groupings of cat’s whiskers – they are irresistible to bees and renowned for attracting ‘Blues’ butterflies to the garden, not forgetting a host of other insects. Cat’s whiskers are also often included in the open areas of bird gardens.

This tough and undemanding water-wise plant has become very popular as a groundcover or border plant. To compensate for its dormancy in winter, plant it between evergreen groundcovers. It’s ideal for gardens small or large and even does well in a pot.

Members can click here to read more about growing Cat's Whiskers

Geranium incanum 'White'Carpet Geranium, Ngope-sethsoha (Geranium incanum)

Geranium incanum is an evergreen perennial herb which remains a popular garden plant not only for its very long flowering period, but also because it is long-lived, undemanding, and very versatile in the garden. It can be found scrambling through the natural vegetation along the eastern and south-western coastlines of South Africa, from Malmesbury to KwaZulu-Natal, transitioning from the winter rainfall regions, through those regions that have year-round rainfall, and into KwaZulu-Natal where it’s just as happy with summer rainfall. The carpet geranium grows abundantly and is often found growing together with fynbos on the slopes of hills, as well as on coastal dunes, and in damp coastal flats and seeps.

It thrives in full sun where but it will take some shade. In full sun it forms a dense mounded carpet about 35cm tall, with a spread of 50cm. It’s finely divided, aromatic light green leaves have a lovely silvery-grey flush to them, lending a soft texture to the garden, and during the cooler months the leaves may display slight coppery-bronze hues. The masses of delicate, pale mauve to lavender, pink or white flowers can appear at any time of the year, peaking during spring and summer.

The carpet geranium is a perfect groundcover between fynbos, and is just as pretty in bushveld gardens combined with grasses and aloes. It is effective at stabilising the soil on banks, and lovely when allowed to trail over retaining walls, hanging baskets or pots. Its softly textured leaves can be used to soften pathways, steps and large expanses of gravel, and if planted next to a body of water the plant will grow towards the water and even float on it.

The carpet geranium is a must-have for a wildlife garden as it is a larval host plant for many butterflies and attracts birds and other valuable insect pollinators to the garden. This geranium is even used for roof gardens and green walls - you will have to look hard to find a more versatile plant.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Carpet Geranium

Limonium pereziiSea Lavender, Papierblom (Limonium perezii)

Limonium perezii is a tough evergreen perennial herb of coastal habitat and is native to the Canary Islands, off the west coast of Africa. It is a giant statice which will grow 50 to 60cm tall and 40cm wide. Its thick, oval to round leaves are about 30cm long, and like most Limonium species it forms attractive low-growing mounds.

Large flower heads of tiny papery, violet-blue and white flowers are produced nearly all year round in favourable climates, but are especially prolific in summer. The individual flowers are minute but make a stunning display because they are borne in billowing sprays on wiry branching stems held well clear of the foliage. Fresh flowers last long in the vase, and dried flowers keep their colour beautifully.

Sea lavender grows well in seaside conditions as well as inland, and is an outstanding low maintenance perennial for water-wise gardens. It is a great accent plant among big-leaved tropical plants and is conveniently small enough for beach cottages and bungalows, in courtyards, patios and sheltered front-entry gardens.

Plant it along palisades, on dunes and embankments, or amongst landscape boulders and rocky outcroppings. It is most effective in massed beds, and if planted 40cm apart makes a lovely edging plant or groundcover. It also mixes well with other annuals or perennials in containers.

Sea lavender performs best in full sun, but will still bloom in a dry lightly shaded location. Many species flourish in saline soils, and are therefore common near coasts and in salt marshes (or salt meadows), and also on saline, gypsum and alkaline soils in continental interiors.

Sea lavender is probably the most well-known of the ‘everlastings’ due to the dry, papery nature of their flowers and are valued by arrangers and crafters.

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Platycodon Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)

Balloon flowers are hardy long-lived perennials which are reliable bloomers in cold climates, and can take short periods of drought while still delivering a long season of beautiful blooms with minimal effort. For these reasons, gardeners around the world have always valued the balloon flower, and new gardeners are also re-discovering their charms, not only for their whimsical flower buds, but also because balloon flowers are really tough cookies! If you can’t find plants, seeds are now available online.

It's the puffy buds which intrigue gardeners, because as the buds grow they inflate like an origami balloon before unfurling into gorgeous five-star bellflowers 5 to 7cm across. This enthrals everyone and makes the balloon flower almost irresistible, and taking into account their flower colours which come in sought-after shades of blue, violet-blue, as well as pink and white, they are totally irresistible!

Flowering begins in mid-summer when many summer flowering shrubs and perennials have finished blooming, and continues into autumn, making balloon flowers essential if you love colour in your garden throughout the seasons. Their lance-shaped, blue-green leaves are also attractive. There are many cultivars available; some types have a dwarf compact growth habit with a height of about 20cm, while others are much taller, growing up to 60cm or more.

This perennial revels in full sun, but will also take semi-shade. In hot regions of the country it prefers morning sun, or semi-shade during the fierce midday heat.

Balloon flowers are perfect companions for ornamental grasses and 'spiky' plants, and look great in rock or gravel gardens. Their delicate form and cool colours complement many perennials, and they are essential in sunny flower beds and perennial borders. The dwarf varieties are wonderful edging plants for the flower border and alongside pathways, and are delightful in mixed containers. The older and taller-growing balloon flowers, with their bluish leaves and long trailing stems, are lovely in large hanging baskets, and also very useful in perennial borders, and cottage gardens.

Balloon flowers are also excellent cut flowers, and fun to grow with children because kids are fascinated by the hot air balloon shape of the buds, and love to pop the flowers open!

Members can click here to read more about growing Balloon Flowers

BidensTickseed (Bidens ferulifolia)

Tickseed remains one of the most popular and best-selling summer flowers around the world. Its sunny colour and casual style, combined with its ease of growth, led to this top performer receiving many plant awards. Known for its heat, wind, and drought tolerance, it is perfect for our sunny and hot South African summers.

It grows vigorously, and has lovely finely textured leaves, and all summer long until the first frosts, it will continually produce a profusion of yellow or orange flowers that are held above the foliage on wiry stems. Plant breeders have introduced newer varieties which include pink, gold, and white blossoms. There has also been an increase in flower patterns and you can now find petals with brushstrokes and rings of colours, and with contrasting colours on the tips of the petals.

New selections may have a spreading or trailing form, while others grow into a more mounded shape. Depending on the variety, tickseed can grow between 25 and 35cm tall with an equal spread.

Tickseed is so versatile in the garden, bringing masses of flowers continuously, and adds a fine and delicate texture with its lacy leaves. It’s the perfect choice for beds and borders, and creates a bold effect in mass plantings.

Because many varieties have a trailing or spreading shape, they're often used in hanging baskets, window boxes, and container gardens as a ‘spiller’ plant, or as a ‘filler’ companion to larger plants in pots and planters. Because of its drought tolerance it is an ideal choice for a water-wise garden and is also highly tolerant of urban pollution.

Members can click here to read more about growing Tickseed

Bulbine 'Orange'Cat's Tail, Ibucu, intelezi (Bulbine frutescens)

Bulbine frutescens is endemic to South Africa and is widespread, growing in succulent Karoo, Nama-Karoo, fynbos, rocky grasslands, and bushveld-savanna, where it is easy to spot when in full bloom. Bulbine is especially abundant in the dry valleys of the Eastern Cape, and in succulent rich thickets in parts of the Western and Northern Cape. It also occurs naturally in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and Gauteng.

The cat's tail is a spreading, evergreen perennial succulent with smooth and fleshy quill-like grey-green leaves that do not need much water to look good all year round. It grows quickly in spreading clumps and usually grows about 30 to 40cm tall, and will spread continuously without becoming a nuisance.

The cat's tail flowers profusely when planted in full sun. The pretty star-shaped yellow or orange flowers are carried on elegant long stems and have showy, fluffy stamens. Flowering is prolific in spring, but will be almost continuous during warm weather. The fruit is a small rounded capsule that contains black seeds which are dispersed by the wind.

This plant is becoming more and more popular with gardeners and city landscapers alike as it will thrive and put on a good show in places where little else seems to grow. The plants can basically be left do their own thing and still look lovely, making the cat’s tail particularly useful to use in areas that are prone to neglect, like on slopes that are difficult to reach for usual maintenance. Because the cat’s tail and agapanthus flower at the same time, try planting the yellow flowered cat’s tail with blue agapanthus, and the orange variety with white agapanthus for a glorious show.

The cat’s tail is a tough, water-wise groundcover for dry and cold regions, and is perfect for coastal gardens because it tolerates poor soils and wind. It can be grown almost anywhere you have sunshine. Because the flowers attract bees, butterflies, and a host of other beneficial pollinators to the garden, this charming little plant is perfect for all wildlife gardens, no matter their size. 

Members can click here to read more about growing Cat's Tail

Scabiosa 'Pink'Pincushion Flower, selomi, mamokhale (Scabiosa)

The pincushion flower fits the bill for a modern garden perfectly because it flowers abundantly, is hardy, grows quickly and easily, and is fairly drought tolerant. Best of all, there are no serious pests and diseases which affect it, reducing the need to spray in the garden.

The Dipsacaceae or scabious family of plants has 290 species and is found in Africa and Asia, but is most abundant in the Mediterranean region, and in South Africa there are nine species. The deeply lobed, green to grey-green leaves are slightly hairy, and have an airy fern-like effect in the garden. The lightly fragrant flowers start opening in spring and continue flowering sporadically until autumn, flitting in the breeze on long, gracefully bending stems. When fully open the clusters of tiny flowers look rather like little cushions with pins sticking out, hence their common name.

Plant breeders have developed fantastic garden hybrids which are nice and compact, and which bloom even more profusely. They come in lovely pastel shades of lilac, lavender-blue, white and pink, and after flowering the heads turn into tight, bristly balls, looking rather like furry sea urchins, and falling apart as the seeds ripen.

With its soft pastel shades, the pincushion flower can be added to almost any colour scheme in the garden, and is just as effective in a cottage garden as it is in an ultra-modern setting. It makes a wonderful filler plant for perennial borders and rock and gravel gardens, and is stunning when planted together with grasses and other perennials for a wild meadow look. Pincushion flowers are a must-have for cutting gardens, and interspersed amongst low-growing roses they really shine. This little plant is also an ideal choice for a wildlife, bird or butterfly garden, attracting many insects and pollinators to its nectar-filled flowers, and seeds which are also sought-after by birds.

The Pincushion flower loves to grow in full sun, but in very hot summer regions, it will appreciate some shade at midday.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Pincushion Flower

Alstroemaria 'Pixie Rose'Inca Lily, Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria aurantiaca)

Alstroemarias are long-lived herbaceous perennials and the species from Chile are winter-growing plants while those from Brazil are summer-growing. Many hybrids and cultivars have been developed, and the most popular hybrids commonly grown today result from crosses between species from Chile with species from Brazil. This strategy has overcome the problem of seasonal dormancy and resulted in plants that are evergreen, or nearly so, and which flower for most of the year.

 Inca lily hybrids produce large clusters of azalea-like flowers in bright orange, yellow and golden yellow, various shades of pink, as well as lilac, rose, white, or red. Most hybrids will flower throughout summer and well into autumn, providing cut flowers for the vase. When collecting for the vase it is best to twist or tug the flowering stem gently off the rhizome instead of cutting it out, because this encourages more stems to develop.

Inca lilies spread with a rootstock consisting of groups of slender rhizomes with sausage-like water storing structures, rather like Dahlia tubers. They spread to form large clumps and will take a while to establish, but once they are established they will develop rapidly, so be careful where you plant them.

Compact hybrids grow 20 to 40cm tall, and the taller varieties vary in height from 60 to 90cm. They thrive in full sun but in very hot regions, they will appreciate a bit of midday or afternoon shade.

These versatile plants can be grown in containers or mixed flower beds and are essential for all cottage and woodland gardens. New compact, free flowering hybrids are available which have specifically been bred for containers.

'Inticancha' is one of these hybrids which, because of its compact growth habit and long flowering season, is perfect for terraces and patios and will grow easily in containers of all kinds. It also makes a beautiful border plant in the garden and an excellent groundcover if planted closely together.

Members can click here to read more about growing Inca Lilies

Gaillardia 'Mesa' Bright Bicolour Picture courtesy Ball StraathofBlanket Flower (Gaillardia X grandiflora)

Blanket flowers are stalwarts of the summer garden and appreciated by seasoned gardeners around the world for their resilience, extremely long blooming season, and richly coloured daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown, held proudly above spreading mounds of narrow, fuzzy, grey-green leaves.

Gardeners fell in love with blanket flowers, and the hard work of plant breeders continues to produce outstanding new cultivars which are compact and strongly-branched, growing about 45cm tall. Their large blooms can be single or double, and unlike the wild species which bloom mainly from mid-summer and into autumn, these hybrids will also produce flowers in spring and early summer, with a magnificent flush from mid-summer on.

Blanket flowers are low-maintenance and also drought and heat tolerant - what more could the modern eco-conscious gardener ask for - so do your garden a favour this summer and invest in a few blanket flowers!

If blanket flowers are planted in groups in the garden their blooming impact becomes even more remarkable. The bold flowers blend especially well with soft textured leaves like Cosmos, and for an informal modern look they are great mixed with other airy looking plants like ornamental grasses. Blanket flowers are essential in meadow gardens, cutting gardens, and rockeries. Use them in flower borders or simply as fillers in those difficult hot spots.

Even if you have a tiny garden, or perhaps a sunny balcony, a single potted specimen will brighten up any dull spot for months on end. Another good reason for planting blanket flowers is butterflies and bees are drawn to these plants like magnets, and the flowers last well in a vase.

Blanket flowers are short-lived herbaceous perennials that love full sun and very well-drained soil. They are most commonly grown from purchased plants, and once the perennial varieties are established in the garden you can propagate them by division in spring. Seeds are also available online.

Members can click here to read more about growing Blanket Flowers

Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' Picture courtesy Nu-Leaf NurseryPurple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Gardeners have grown coneflowers for hundreds of years because they are reliable perennials which, once established in the garden will continue to provide colour for many years, blooming every season for a long period from mid-summer to autumn. Like all plants in the daisy family, they bloom profusely and each flower is born singly on a sturdy stem, making coneflowers great to pick for the vase.

Their large blooms are quite bold and distinctive with their swept-back petals and large, coppery-orange central cones. The hairy, dark green leaves are lance-shaped and coarsely-toothed, and because the thick roots penetrate deeply into the soil and store water, the plants are able to withstand drought.

Today, plant breeders have taken this humble daisy to greater heights, developing beautiful garden varieties that are sturdy and compact, growing 40 to 60cm tall, and which bloom for even longer. Fortunately they are just as heat and drought tolerant as their original parents. New cultivars come in a range of exciting new colours like white, pink and rose-pink, a range of sunset colours, and a lovely deep purple-pink.

Coneflowers are native to open areas, prairies, and valleys where they are the most exposed to sun, so keep this in mind when choosing your planting location. However, they can take some light shade, and in extremely hot or dry regions partial midday and afternoon shade would be preferable.

When contemplating what to plant with coneflowers, consider other flowering plants as well as foliage superstars to offer dimension, as well as tones and textures that will enhance their stoic beauty. Companions should have similar cultural requirements, and you can go with a wild grassland look using likeminded plants, or you can go in the opposite direction and plant coneflowers in a cottage garden where they mingle with daisies and roses. Such is the versatility of coneflowers!

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Penstemon 'Purple'Beard-tongue (Penstemon hybrid)

In early summer, right after your spring bloomers have faded, penstemmons will quickly fill your garden with their beautiful spires of foxglove-like flowers which come in hues to suit every colour palette. Flowering will continue sporadically throughout summer and into autumn, and in coastal gardens flowers can appear all year round, making penstemons a 'must-have' for hassle free summer gardens.

The large bell-shaped flowers are produced in loose spikes at the ends of tall stems and they come in hues ranging from white to soft pinks, deep rose, salmon, peach, lavender, dark purple, and bold fiery reds to electrifying blues. Some varieties also have distinctive veining and white throats. Because of their tubular nectar-rich flowers, they are one of the best exotic garden perennials for attracting sunbirds to the garden, not to mention bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

The various cultivars come in many shapes and sizes, from dwarf varieties which you can tuck into rock gardens, to larger plants that bring colour and movement to the back of the flower border. The shape and colour of the leaves also varies, depending on the cultivar, and can be oval, lance-shaped or needle-like, with colours ranging from green or blue-green, to a delightful deep purple.

Penstemons are indispensable if you want colour in xeriscape and water-wise gardens. The smaller types are ideal in rockeries and the taller growing ones look spectacular when planted next to boulders. In wild meadow and cottage style gardens they are the backbone of mixed perennial borders, with the dwarf ones in front and the taller ones at the back of the bed. For tiny gardens the dwarf varieties are quite delightful and easy to grow in pots.

Penstemons are easy to grow in full sun or semi-shade. In coastal regions they thrive in full sun, but in hot inland gardens the plants will appreciate some shade during the hottest time of the day. Varieties with purple or reddish leaves will exhibit the best foliage colour when grown in more direct sunlight.

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Salvia farinacea 'Victoria'Salvia, Sage (Salvia)

Salvia commonly referred to as ‘sage’ is the largest genus in the mint family and includes annuals, perennials and soft-wooded evergreen shrubs, as well as culinary and medicinal herbs and garden ornamentals.

Perennial salvias have become mainstays of the summer garden, providing season long colour at very little expense. The taller varieties will add accent to flowerbeds and the dwarf varieties make excellent border plants and work well in containers mixed with summer flowering annuals. Butterflies as well as nectar eating birds are drawn like magnets to salvias.

There are hundreds of different types of salvias available to gardeners, and they all have beautiful tall flower spikes, and attractive green or grey-green leaves which are often aromatic. They will flower almost all summer and autumn, and new selections come out almost every season, which are valued for their extended blooming season and spires of dense or loose flowers in shades of red and pink, or bright blue, violet, cream and white. Tall and dwarf varieties are available, varying in height from 15 to 90cm.

Salvia thrives in full sun but will take light shade, and in regions which experience extremely hot weather the plants will appreciate some shade during the hottest time of the day.

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Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro'Daylily (Hemerocallis)

Daylilies are among the easiest plants to grow and love full sun but will tolerate light shade. In hot regions the flowers will benefit from shade when the sun is at its hottest, and this is particularly relevant for dark-coloured flowers such as reds, purples, and blacks, as these colours will often scorch in hot sun. If grown in too much shade they will produce fewer flowers and the foliage will be lanky.

Their natural habitat is vast and covers varying climatic conditions, so there are varieties available that will thrive in virtually any climate. Most daylilies require some degree of winter chilling in order to survive or bloom, but some perform well even in frost-free climates. In very hot climates the evergreen varieties generally tend to perform better.

Daylilies varieties vary in height from 40cm to over 1m tall, and the various species can be either evergreen, semi-evergreen,  or dormant, depending on the area where they are grown. Semi-evergreen varieties recede partially in winter, except in warm climates. This adaptability ensures that we have species to suit many regions.

These popular perennial plants have been extensively hybridised and today their colour variation is astounding and there are thousands of shades of yellow, orange, cream, red, pink, lavender, maroon and purple, and combinations thereof. The flower shapes and sizes also vary enormously from small miniatures with single blooms to large doubles. Peak blooming time in South Africa is from November to mid-January but the length of the blooming period varies greatly from one variety to another. New hybrids have been bred to extend the blooming season and will start flowering very early and continue through summer. If you choose your varieties carefully you can have flowers all summer.

Day lilies are great for mass plantings and as a groundcover. They are perfect for perennial borders, and also just as beautiful if planted singly in a pot. They are great in pebble gardens and the smaller varieties make beautiful borders for the rose garden.

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Kniphofia Image by ZenAga from PixabayRed Hot Poker, Vuurpyle (Kniphofia)

 This genus of about 70 species is distributed in eastern and southern Africa, with one species in Madagascar and another in southern Arabia. A few species are deciduous but most are evergreen and common at higher elevations, although some can be found near the coast.  The Herbaceous species go dormant in winter and have narrow, grass-like leaves, varying in length from 10cm to 1m long, while the evergreen species have broader, strap-shaped foliage up to 1.5m long.

There are autumn and winter, and spring and summer flowering species, which help to extend the season in the garden, so visit your local garden centre to find those most suitable for your growing region.

The flower heads consist of clusters of tubular flowers, arranged in inflorescences that vary from cylindrical and elongated, to more compact ball shapes. Most are red and bright orange when immature, and the flowers of some species change to bright yellow or even white as they mature, giving that striking bicolour effect.

The close affinity pokers have with aloes is quite obvious and both are classified in the family Asphodelaceae. However, whereas aloes have succulent leaves, Kniphofia has channelled, fibrous leaves which are almost always V-shaped in cross section. The plants derive their nourishment from rhizomes growing well below ground level and it is from these rhizomes that the leaves arise.

Because these plants multiply easily and form large clumps, they make a striking statement in the garden even when not in bloom, and when in full bloom their tall and colourful spires always attract attention.

The flowers are adapted to sunbird pollination and butterflies and bees are attracted like magnets. Other unexpected nectarivorous guests may include reptiles and mammals, notably various species of bats.

Pokers are so easy to grow and very versatile, looking exceptionally pretty planted between grasses and aloes in grassland gardens, and are just as effective in tropical looking and ultra-modern designs. The larger species are wonderful architectural plants in the garden, and because they form dense clumps, they look spectacular in mass plantings.

It goes without saying that pokers are a ‘must-have’ for wildlife gardens large and small, and we need to use them a lot more, not only for the beauty they bring us, but to support our wildlife which is under much strain.

Pokers can be grown throughout South Africa as they are tough as nails, handling frost and conditions at the coast just as well. They love full sun, especially if growing in moist areas, but they will also take some shade.

Members can click here to read more about growing Red Hot Pokers

Leucanthemum 'Snow Lady'Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

The ever popular shasta daisy is a robust herbaceous perennial which grows in a bushy clump of narrowly oblong leaves. From early summer to autumn, brilliant white daisy-like flowers with golden yellow centres are produced singly atop long green stems. 

There are many cultivars to choose from, with flowers varying greatly in size from tiny singles with simple petals, to semi-doubles and huge doubles with frilly, feather-like structures. The flowers will attract butterflies into your garden, and many cultivars are suitable for cutting.

Shasta daisy cultivars vary in height and spread from 30cm to 1.2m tall, forming dense clumps. Their eye catching clean white flowers brighten up any bed, and blend effortlessly with other perennials, making Shasta daisies all-time favourites for the perennial border.

The smaller cultivars make great groundcovers or edging plants and also do well in pots. Shasta daisies are most impressive if planted in large or small groups, but can be just as effective if planted singly in a small garden.

Shasta daisies are easy to grow in South Africa, from the subtropics to the coldest parts. They thrive in full sun but can be planted in semi-shade. In very hot regions some midday shade would benefit the plants, and some cultivars with double flowers do really well in partial shade.

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AgapanthusAgapanthus, Ubani, (Agapanthus)

The versatility of Agapanthus is legendary because they can be incorporated almost anywhere in the garden, even in containers. And, if your gardening time is limited and you want a relatively maintenance free garden, Agapanthus certainly fits the bill.

A great many breeding programmes have given rise to a wide variety of exciting dwarf, medium, and taller growing agapanthus and the flower colours are also quite remarkable nowadays and come in all shades, including the well-known blue-purple hues, white, pink and bi-colour varieties.

Agapanthus is a long-flowering perennial which is water-wise, can take the heat, and grows in full sun. Certain varieties even flower well in semi-shade.

In the garden they are most effective if planted in massed displays, and the larger growing cultivars are wonderful if planted towards the back of the perennial flower border. The dwarf varieties make excellent container plants, and beautiful ground covers, rockery and border plants.  All are most effective in stabilising the soil on banks, and will thrive on the banks of rivers and dams, and next to water features.

Agapanthus fit into any colour scheme, the white ones will stand out in a twilight garden, and the blue shades give depth to a pastel flower border, while also complimenting brightly coloured flowers.

Members can click here to read more about growing Agapanthus

Dietes grandiflora Wild Iris, isiqungasehlati (Dietes)

Dietes belong to the Iris family and there are six species, five of which occur only in the eastern parts of South Africa, and one which can only be found on Lord Howe Island between Australia and New Zealand.

Dietes are easy to grow evergreen perennials which spread by underground rhizomes, forming large clumps about 1.5m wide. The 1m long sword-shaped leaves are dark green and the large Iris-like flowers are borne in profusion. They can be white or yellow, and are held on the ends of long flower stalks. Blooms can appear anytime in spring and summer, often after good rains, and will attract bees, butterflies and many other pollinators to your garden. The fruit is a large capsule which splits open to release shiny, dark brown seeds.

Due to their reliability and hardiness dietes have become popular landscaping plants. They are low maintenance, water-wise, and are usually disease-free, making them great for busy gardeners.

Because of their long flowering season they are perfect to plant as a groundcover in large, sunny garden beds or under trees. The wild iris does not flower well in very shady conditions but is one of the few plants that can satisfactorily grow under trees in spite of tree root competition. Because they grow quickly dietes is ideal to use in areas that need to be established quickly, and are perfect to stabilise the soil on slopes.

Use them as accents in mixed borders, or in pairs at either side of a bench, the entrance to a garden pathway, or at the top of a flight of stairs. They also grow beautifully in wetland gardens and alongside water features and ponds. The wild iris also grows easily in pots, but remember that will need a reasonably large container.

These versatile plants will grow in full sun or semi-shade and can be grown in moist boggy soils as well as dry well-drained ones. In very hot inland gardens they will appreciate some light shade, especially during the hottest part of the day.

Members can click here to read more about growing Dietes

Dierama Hairbells, Grasklokkies, isiDwendweni (Dierama)

Dierama is a genus of about 44 species of flowering plants in the Iris family (Iridaceae) and is endemic to Africa. The majority occur in South Africa, with the greatest diversity found in KwaZulu-Natal which has about 26 species. Despite its wide distribution Dierama is restricted to a single major habitat - moist grassland.

This genus of evergreen perennial herbs grows from large fibrous-coated corms and form large clumps of narrow, grass-like green leaves. When in flower, the slightest breath of wind causes the stems to sway gently, adding a magical quality to the plants and making it easy to understand why Dierama is commonly called “angel’s fishing rods”, and when the seeds develop the extra weight can cause the stems to bend more and in some cases make a parabola shape with the tips touching or almost touching the ground.

Flowering is mainly from September to March, depending on the species, and there are many cultivars in shades of pink, reddish-pink, mauve, and white. Even after the flowers have fallen and before the seed capsules develop, the bracts from which the flowers emerge, which are usually silvery or brown, give the appearance of a tall elegant grass in flower.

These perennials can take 2 to 5 years to reach their ultimate height and the various species vary in height and spread, ranging from 1 to 1.6m tall and 75 to 90cm wide.

In the garden they like an open and airy site in full sun, and look fabulous in gravel or rock gardens amongst other grass-like plants. Dierama is just as effective in cottage gardens, and grows well in deep pots. Try mixing them with ornamental grasses or as an accent plant in flower borders. They are also a good choice to plant on banks and slopes and are very attractive near water. The flowers attract butterflies, honey bees and carpenter bees, and even when not in bloom, their foliage remains attractive.

Members can click here to read more about growing Dierama

Watsonia borbonica 'Pink'Cape Bugle Lily, Kanolpypie (Watsonia)

Watsonia is a genus of plants in the Iris family and is endemic to South Africa. Most are deciduous fynbos plants which are adapted to a Mediterranean-type climate with hot, dry summers and wet winters. Those which occur in the summer rainfall regions are evergreen. All are perennial herbs growing from corms and producing attractive upright, lance shaped leaves. Watsonias burst into bloom during the spring and early summer months (September to around January). After flowering, they may die back for the hottest time of the year (February and March). The flowers provide a major source of food for nectar-feeding birds and insects.

 (Watsonia borbonica) is a stately plant with 2m tall flowering spikes of rose-pink, trumpet-shaped flowers.

Rooipypie (Watsonia aletroides) has blooms in shades of pink, orange or red, and only reaches about 55cm tall, making it excellent for smaller gardens and pot cultivation.

(Watsonia marginata) has cup-shaped rather than trumpet-shaped flowers, held on long spikes 1.2 to 2 meters tall, with up to 50 densely packed flowers per spike. Flowers can be mauve, pink, white or maroon. The leaves are also attractive, being broad, bluish-green in colour, with conspicuous yellowish margins.

(Watsonia pillansii) has many garden hybrids in cream, pink and red, and puts on a spectacular show. It grows 60cm to 1m tall, making it great for smaller gardens and pot culture.

Watsonias are easy to grow in full sun or light shade, and although most are adapted to a winter rainfall climate, they will still thrive under summer rainfall conditions

They are great subjects for low maintenance and water-wise gardens and their flowers will attract sunbirds. They look magnificent in mass plantings or when planted in clumps in herbaceous borders, are excellent for soil retention on banks, and also grow beautifully in pots.

Members can click here to read more about growing Watsonias

Gaura 'Passionate Blush"Butterfly Gaura - Gaura hybrids

Gauras are very hardy herbaceous perennials that will come up again and again each season. They are vigorous, easy to grow and trouble-free plants that will bloom all spring and summer, until the first frosts. The delicate flowers are borne on long wiry stems which move in even the slightest breeze and could be mistaken for a cloud of butterflies. Flower colours range from white to light and dark pink, and some varieties also have beautiful red or yellow foliage.

Gauras love full sun but will tolerate light shade; in too much shade the flower stems have a tendency to sprawl. The ever popular white gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) is a low growing, clump-forming plant with tall flower spikes 90 to 150cm tall and a spread of 60 to 90cm. Newer cultivars remain more compact, ranging in height from 30 to 60cm.

Gauras are excellent cut flowers and have taken over the role once played by gypsophila in the garden, in that they are generally planted to add a touch of lightness to a mixed perennial border. Their wild, slightly unkempt look mixes well with grasses and natural style plantings, and their lax growth habit makes them particularly useful for filling in gaps in the border and linking other plantings together. The butterfly gaura looks fantastic planted in large drifts, but also makes a statement if planted singly, or in a pot. It makes a fantastic groundcover in large beds, and if the taller growing cultivars are given some space to spread, their wispy stems will lean gracefully over other little plants and pathways.

Members can click here to read more about growing Butterfly Gaura

Euryops virgineus Wild Daisy Bush, Harpuisbos (Euryops)

Euryops is part of the Asteraceae family and there are about 97 species which occur throughout southern and tropical Africa. They produce starry sunshine yellow blooms throughout the seasons, depending on the variety grown.

Their hardiness, ease of growth and long flowering season has made them popular garden plants around the world. Euryops are evergreen and grow quickly and easily both inland and at the coast, as long as they can be planted in full sun. They are excellent pioneer species and one of the first plants to re-establish themselves after a fire. In the winter rainfall regions they make great water-wise plants and are lovely planted in fynbos gardens.

Euryops looks good planted in groups of three and is a great filler plant for cottage gardens and perennial or mixed shrub borders. It also grows easily in pots. The seeds will attract many seed eating birds to your garden, and the flowers are attractive to butterflies and many other insect pollinators, who will in turn, attract insect eating birds.

The Golden Daisy, Wolharpuisbos (Euryops pectinatus) is found growing on the rocky sandstone slopes of the south-western Cape. It grows 1 to 1.5m tall and 1m wide and has silvery-grey leaves and bright yellow daisy flowers almost all year round, but is especially prolific in spring.

Giant Resinbush, Grootharpuisbos (Euryops speciosissimus) can be found growing in dry fynbos on rocky sandstone slopes and in valleys, in the Vanrhynsdorp, Clanwilliam, Piketberg and Tulbagh districts. It produces flowers mainly from early spring to about November, but can start flowering in mid-winter to November. It varies in height from 45cm to 2.5m tall.

Resin Bush, Kortbeenharbuisbossie (Euryops tenuissimus) is widespread in the Namaqualand, Vanrhynsdorp, Calvinia, Clanwilliam, Ceres, Worcester, Robertson, Montagu, Swellendam, Riversdale, Laingsburg and Ladismith Districts, where it is commonly found growing on dry, stony slopes in arid fynbos and renosterveld. In spring, large areas of the Western and Northern Cape are ablaze with the bright yellow flowers of this euryops. Flowering has been recorded from July to December but is most spectacular in August to October. It varies in height from 90cm to 2m and is well branched. Mature foliage is thin and needle-like.

(Euryops 'Sunshine Classic') is a garden hybrid with sunny, bright yellow daisy flowers in winter, spring and summer. It is a vigorous, medium sized plant, with finely divided leaves. 

Members can click here to read more about growing Euryops

Plant List of Summer Flowering Perennials for Shady Gardens

I hope this short plant list will inspire you to plant more perennials in your garden for all seasons. Visit your local garden centre to find those most suitable for your growing region.

Australian Violet Australian Violet (Viola hederacea)

The Australian violet is a low growing, spreading evergreen perennial groundcover which is excellent for moist, shady areas and grows well under a canopy of trees. It forms mats of bright green leaves and masses of tiny white and violet flowers in spring, summer and autumn, and in warmer subtropical gardens it can flower all year round.

Although these plants grow well in shaded conditions like forests or anywhere under heavy tree cover, they do need sunshine to flower well and will be more prolific in more sun. If watered regularly this little violet will also take full sun, making it perfect for beds which receive sun and shade, or where the shade pattern varies greatly between summer and winter.

It is lovely planted between pavers, stepping stones and alongside pathways. And in areas where grass struggles to grow, this plant can be a beautiful alternative. It is good to stabilise the soil on banks and perfect next to water features and ponds. And its lovely trailing habit makes a wonderful addition to mixed container plantings and hanging baskets.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Australian Violet

Creeping JennyCreeping Jenny (Lysimachia)

Creeping Jenny is a low growing evergreen perennial that is particularly associated with damp or even wet areas where it flourishes in semi-shade. However, in cultivation it will tolerate drier conditions, and can even grow in full sun if the soil is kept consistently moist.

Due to its creeping growth habit it can reach considerable widths, quickly forming carpets along the ground and clamouring over stones and rocks, and the European species (Lysimachia nummularia) with its lovely bright green leaves can become invasive.

However, the yellow cultivars like Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' are much less aggressive and suitable for judicious use in ornamental plantings. 'Aurea' is grown for its lovely yellow foliage, and can produce bright yellow cup-shaped flowers in summer. However, in South Africa flowering can be erratic or non-existent. Because seed capsules do not form readily, Aurea does not spread by seed as readily as the green type will.

Members can click here to read more about growing Creping Jenny

Oortjies Picture courtesy www.randomharvest.co.zaWhite Carpet, Oortjies (Falkia repens)

Oortjies is an evergreen perennial groundcover that is endemic to the Eastern and Western Cape where it can commonly be found growing in damp or temporarily inundated soil alongside streams, in damp coastal flats and seeps, damp grasslands, and in vleis or along their margins.

The small greenish yellow leaves are shiny and slightly succulent, with rounded tips and bases, looking rather like little ears. From spring to December an abundance of delicate paper-like flowers that resemble miniature poppies appear, opening a pale pink and fading to white.

Oortjies remains popular worldwide because it looks great all year round and grows quickly, taking only one year to reach maturity. The plant can spread 30 to 46cm to form a flat mat of foliage. Although it thrives in semi-shade, in too much shade the plant will grow taller, and as long as it gets lots of water, will also grow happily in full sun.

It is great planted in solid stands, and works beautifully in combination plantings where it covers the ground fast to suppress weeds. The plant is also excellent to plant between stepping-stones, and even to replace lawn where there is little or no foot traffic. It’s just as effective flowing over rocks or walls, and most elegant cascading over pots and hanging baskets. 

Members can click here to read more about growing Oortjies

Ajuga reptans 'Burgandy Glow' Picture courtesy Ball StraathofBugle Flower (Ajuga reptans cultivars)

The bugle flower is a spreading evergreen perennial groundcover which thrives in moist shady to semi-shaded areas of the garden. Although their dense spikes of flowers in shades of blue, purple, pink or white are charming, they are merely an added bonus, and bugle flowers are grown mainly for their beautiful leaves. There are many garden cultivars to choose from and selections include foliage variegated in green, bronze, purple, white, red, yellow and pink.

If planted as a groundcover bugle flowers will create a lovely carpeting effect, and surprisingly they even grow well in dry shade if they can be watered a bit. However, in dry shade they will not be as luscious looking as those growing in moister areas.

These versatile little plants are used to stabilise the soil on banks and thrive under tree and shrub canopies. Try planting them along the edges of shaded borders and flagstone pathways, and add them to mixed plantings in pots or hanging baskets for that ‘wow’ effect.

Members can click here to read more about growing Bugle Flower

Dead Nettle 'White' Dead Nettle (Lamium maculatum cultivars)

Dead nettle enjoys a cool shady spot in the garden, even growing in full shade, and although it enjoys moist soils, once established it will even flourish in difficult areas of dry shade. Excessive sun and drought will scorch the foliage and lead to dieback.

Many exciting named selections are available to local gardeners, and most varieties will grow 10 to 15cm tall. Cultivars can have mottled green, silver white or gold foliage, and in late spring and summer they bear showy spikes of shell pink, pink, dark lavender, or white flowers, depending upon the cultivar.

Their gorgeous variegated leaves make them worthy garden subjects for adding texture, and as contrast plants in garden beds and borders. They are also beautiful planted in hanging baskets and pots, mixed with other plants and annuals.

Members can click here to read more about growing Dead Nettle

Creeping MazusCreeping Mazus (Mazus reptans)

Creeping mazus will grow very quickly in semi-shade or full sun and does best in a sheltered spot in the garden. It is a self-rooting, low-growing evergreen perennial with attractive bright green leaves. Masses of small lavender-blue or white flowers with yellow and white centres appear from late spring to mid-summer, with sporadic blooms in late summer and into autumn if conditions are right. There's also a white variety called 'Alba'.

Creeping mazus is a prized groundcover because it forms a dense ground-hugging carpet, and grows very quickly without being aggressive. In small areas with limited foot traffic it is sometimes used as a lawn substitute, and will tolerate the occasional mowing. It is also wonderful to stabilise the soil on slopes.

It is ideal planted between stepping stones and alongside steps, and thrives in rock and woodland gardens. It’s a good border plant and an attractive filler plant between larger summer flowering perennials. It will also trail down beautifully if planted into hanging baskets and containers. Because it grows well in slightly moist soil it’s a good choice for waterside gardens and next to water features.

Members can click here to read more about growing Creeping Mazus

Creeping Foxglove Picture courtesy Nu-leaf NurseryCreeping Foxglove, Isihobo (Asystasia gangetica)

Asystasia gangetica is a fast growing, evergreen perennial herb which flowers profusely in a sunny position, but also grows exceptionally well in shade, even deep shade, but in too much shade the flowers are sparse.

The creeping foxglove is widely distributed from tropical Asia to southern Africa, and is quite endearing with its lovely dark green leaves and profusion of small, fragrant cream flowers which can appear sporadically at any time in spring and summer, and all year round in warm climates.

The only bad attribute to be said about this plant is that it is perhaps a bit too obliging, and in the warmer, wetter regions of southern Africa, it can become invasive in the garden. As long as you are aware of this and are prepared to keep it in check, this indigenous plant is lovely in large or small gardens.

It is a useful groundcover for shady areas under trees, so if you have a large expanse that needs covering, try the magic of this indigenous beauty. Its trailing habit makes it quite spectacular in a large basket or tall pot, providing a lot of privacy on a small balcony. It can even be trained to climb up a trellis.   

Members can click here to read more about growing Creeping Foxglove

False HeatherFalse Heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

False heathers have gained widespread appeal not only for their lush foliage and tiny flowers in many pretty shades of lilac and lilac-pink, to purple and pure white, but also for their heat tolerance. Although the flowers are small, they make up for this by flowering abundantly throughout summer until the first frosts. In warm winter regions they are grown as evergreen perennials which will bloom all year round, but in cold and frosty regions they are often treated as summer annuals.

False heather forms mounds of small, glossy and finely textured foliage which can be bright green or a delightful golden to lime-green. Dwarf forms reach 15 to 25cm tall, often with an even broader spread, making them very useful as edging plants. The taller varieties grow about 45 to 60cm tall with a 60cm spread, making them perfect to fill in gaps in the middle of the flower border.

False heathers love full sun but will take some shade, and in extremely hot and dry summer regions, semi-shade or full shade at midday is recommended. They are excellent in so many garden situations, and can be ‘popped in’ almost anywhere to soften the corners of paving, to make a fine nest for the base of a fountain, birdbath or sundial, or just simply to fill out beds and borders with foliage and flowers.

Members can click here to read more about growing False Heather

Polka Dot Plant Picture courtesy NuLeafPolka Dot Plant - Hypoestes phyllostachya

In subtropical and tropical regions the polka dot plant is grown as a spreading perennial, but in cold and frosty regions it is grown outdoors as a summer annual. Polka dot plants require a protected spot in the garden where they will receive filtered bright light, but not too much direct sunlight which can burn the leaves.

This eye-catching little plant with its brightly variegated oval leaves is low-growing, to a maximum height of about 30cm with an equal spread, but what it may lack in stature it sure makes up for in colour. New garden cultivars are very compact and bushy, growing to a height of about 20cm, and there are several spotted or mottled varieties available in shades of blush, pink, rose, red, and white. In summer the bushes may produce tiny, solitary pink or purple flowers at the nodes.

Polka dot plants really ‘pop’ in the landscape, be it as a groundcover or as a contrast plant for other shrubs. They are perfect little ‘filler’ plants for mixed plantings in garden beds or pots, blending effortlessly with many colour schemes and garden styles in much the same way as flowers would.

In subtropical and tropical regions the plant can become quite rampant and may have to be kept in check. 

Members can click here to read more about growing Polka Dot Plants

Twinspurs Twinspurs (Diascia integerrima)

Twinspurs thrive in full sun or light shade making them good for beds which receive both sun and shade. They are immensely popular for their abundance of flowers throughout summer.  These little beauties belong to the snapdragon family, and all 70 species occur only in southern Africa.

Diascia species can be annual or perennial, with most of the perennials occurring in the summer rainfall regions, and the annuals in the winter rainfall regions.

Diascia integerrima is probably the most popular perennial species, and one of the most widespread, toughest and floriferous of all the species.

The varieties of twinspurs available at garden centres today are mainly new hybrids that have been bred to be even more floriferous, and come in many exciting shades of pink, white, red, lavender, mauve, deep plum, vivid orange, apricot and tangerine.

Some varieties will spill over pots and hanging baskets and others tend to grow more upright, varying in height from 25 to 40cm tall.

These little gems are perfect for mass plantings, putting on a brilliant show if planted in large sweeps in the garden. They are also pretty to fill little pockets between other plants in the garden or alongside garden paths.

Members can click here to read more about growing Twinspurs

SpurflowersSpurflowers (Plectranthus)

Keen gardeners love spurflowers because these perennials do really well in shade, and their attractive evergreen foliage looks good year round, providing interesting textures and colours.

Flowering starts in late summer and continues into autumn and winter, depending on the species. Spurflowers come in a number of flower shapes and colours, ranging from white and pink to dark mauves, and lavenders.

Plectranthus is a large family of plants and about 48 species occur in South Africa, mostly in the warm eastern regions of the country where they thrive in the deep or dappled shade of forests. The species vary in their growth forms, from prostrate ground covers to medium and large growing shrubs.

They look beautiful if planted in drifts in garden beds and are ideally suited to grow under the shade of trees. The large growing varieties are often used as informal screens and hedges. The smaller varieties are great planted individually in beds, together with other flowering plants, or in pots and hanging baskets.

Members can click here to read more about growing Spurflowers

Lady's MantleLady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Lady's Mantle is an herbaceous perennial plant which grows about 35 to 45cm tall and can spread as wide. It grows best in semi-shade and if planted in too much sun, may scorch.

It is popular around the world for its ease of growth and ornamental value. It’s a fascinating garden plant because its soft, velvety grey-green leaves capture droplets of water that sparkle like diamonds in the sun. In summer the plant is hard to ignore with its abundance of huge spreading heads of tiny, star-like yellow flowers.  

Lady’s mantle is invaluable to add contrast in shady woodland gardens. It is often used as a groundcover and planted about plant 38cm apart, and its bold leaf texture is a very pleasing contrast with finer textured plants. Use it to soften the edges of an herbaceous flower border, or plant it next to ponds and water features.  This well behaved plant is suitable for a small garden and goes well with many other shade loving plants in a mixed container.

Members can click here to read more about growing Lady's Mantle

Plantain LilyPlantain Lily (Hosta)

Plantain Lilies are herbaceous perennials which have been cultivated for centuries by gardeners in Japan, growing beautifully in part shade to full shade. There are about 50 to 70 species of Hosta and over a thousand named cultivars and hybrids. These hybrids vary greatly in growth habit, with some reaching no more than 15cm tall and others up to 90cm, with a similar spread.

They are grown for their striking leaves that grow in overlapping mounds, varying from tiny miniatures a couple of centimetres across, to large "elephant ear" types more than 60cm long. The leaves range from heart-shaped to elliptic and can be smooth, puckered or even twisted. Plain green varieties as well those with striking variegations of grey-green, yellow and cream are available.

In summer, lily-like flowers are held on slender stalks that stand above the foliage and their colours range from blue to lilac and violet, or green to white. Many Hostas produce a very floriferous floral display and some are fragrant.

Plantain lilies are lovely planted in groups in shady woodland or pebble gardens, and because they are so easy to divide they make a wonderful groundcover under trees. They love growing near water and are excellent bog plants, and they also grow happily in pots.

Members can click here to read more about growing Hosta

Watergras Picture courtesy Random Harvest NurseryWatergras, Weeping Anthericum (Chlorophytum saundersiae)

This little evergreen perennial is indigenous to South Africa, and occurs naturally in our subtropical regions. Because it will grow in sun or shade its particularly useful to plant in those difficult areas of the garden which receive both sun and shade. And an added bonus is the plants will grow in both dry and damp conditions, and are particularly good for dry shade.

'Starlight', also known as 'Variegata' is a highly prized plant, and  South African gardeners have embraced this garden hybrid because it is one of a very few variegated plants indigenous to South Africa.

Starlight forms a dense clump of slender grass-like leaves that are flat, up to 10mm wide and 750mm long, growing vertically before arching gracefully at their tips.  Multiple lines of variegation run along the entire length of the leaves parallel to the midrib and in ‘Starlight’ the variegation can range from green and white to a green and a golden cream colour, usually depending on the growing conditions.

Flowering time is from early summer right through to early winter, and in warm climates flowers can appear throughout the year, and just like the green form the star-shaped flowers are pure white with prominent yellow anthers, and are very recognizable as belonging to the ‘Hen and Chicken’ family (Chlorophytum comosum), but without the little ‘chickens’ this genus is so famous for. The fruit is a small, green to brown, globose capsule containing numerous black, angular seeds.

Members can click here to read more about growing Watergras

Shasta DaisyShasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum)

The ever popular Shasta daisy is a robust herbaceous perennial which is easy to grow all over South Africa, from the subtropics to the coldest parts. Shasta daisies thrive in full sun but can be planted in semi-shade. In very hot regions some midday shade would benefit the plants, and some cultivars with double flowers do really well in partial shade.

Shasta daisy cultivars vary in height from 30cm to 1.2m and the plants have narrowly oblong leaves and grow in bushy clumps. From early summer to autumn brilliant white daisy flowers with golden yellow centres are borne singly atop long green stems.  There are many cultivars to choose from, with flowers varying greatly in size from tiny singles with simple petals to semi-doubles and huge doubles with frilly, feather-like structures.

Their clean white flowers will brighten up any bed, and blend effortlessly with other perennials, making them all-time favourites for perennial borders. The smaller cultivars make great groundcovers or edging plants, and also do well in pots. Shasta daisies are most impressive if planted in large or small groups, but can be just as effective if planted singly in a small garden.

Members can click here to read more about growing Shasta Daisies

Wild IrisWild Iris, Isiqungasehlati (Dietes)

These versatile evergreen perennials will grow in full sun or semi-shade and can be grown in moist boggy soils as well as dry well-drained ones, spreading by underground rhizomes and forming large clumps.  

The large Wild Iris (Dietes grandiflora) grows wild along the eastern coastal areas of the southern Cape, Eastern Cape and southern Kwazulu-Natal at forest margins and on exposed slopes facing the sea, under the protection of taller shrubs. The large white blooms are marked with yellow and violet.

The Yellow Wild Iris (Dietes 'Bicolor') has light yellow flowers with three dark purple spots, each surrounded by an orange outline. It occurs naturally in the Bathurst region of the Eastern Cape where it thrives in damp locations and can be found growing in large clumps next to streams and in marshy places. It is also remarkably drought hardy. This species tolerates mild frost and grows best in full sun, except in hot inland gardens where partial shade is best.

These plants are perfect to use as a groundcover in large garden beds or under trees. Although they do not flower well in very shady conditions, their foliage is attractive, and they are one of the few plants that can satisfactorily grow under trees in spite of tree root competition.

Members can click here to read more about growing the Wild Iris

Japanese AnemoneJapanese Anemone (Anemone x hybrida)

Japanese anemones are the stars of the late summer and autumn garden, providing invaluable colour when the garden may be looking a bit tired after all the summer flowering perennials have finished blooming.

These herbaceous perennials are low maintenance and in our hot climate they thrive in partial shade. However, too much shade can result in leggy plants that flop over more readily.

Their  attractive leaves and simple but beautiful cup-shaped flowers can have single or double rows of silken petals, and come in soft shades of pale pink, darker pinks, mauve, or white. The plants will grow about 60cm tall with a spread of 60cm to 1m, but the flowering stems can reach 1.2m. It can take several years for the plants to reach their ultimate height and spread.

Japanese anemones look at their best if planted in drifts, rather than in isolated, small clumps. They are wonderful for mixed flower borders or in lightly shaded informal spots in the garden.

Members can click here to read more about growing Japanese Anemones

Purple BellsPurple Bells (Dyschoriste thunbergiiflora)

Purple bell’s is a fast growing and a colourful solution for those moist shady spots in the garden. It remains a popular garden plant because it produces masses of striking violet-blue trumpet flowers, marked with dark blue spots and lines in the throat, and the blooms just keep on coming almost all summer and well into autumn, and if the plant is kept well irrigated it will produce attractive lush foliage all season.

Purple bells is a much branched, upright to sprawling evergreen perennial shrub which grows quickly to around 1 to 1.5m tall with an equal or slightly larger spread. Although this plant loves water, it is reasonably drought tolerant, tending to go dormant in drought conditions.

It looks wonderful if planted next to a water feature or pond, and is an excellent low maintenance shrub for the shady mixed border. It grows well in a pot and is easily trained by light pruning, and can even be persuaded to clamour up a trellis or other support.

Members can click here to read more about growing Purple Bells

Arum LilyArum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

The common or white arum is widespread and can be found growing wild in the Western and Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and into the Northern Province. It is evergreen or deciduous depending on habitat and rainfall. In the Western Cape it is dormant in summer and in the summer rainfall regions it is dormant in winter. However, if grown in marshy conditions which remain wet all year around, it will remain evergreen.

This arum will grow in full sun or semi-shade and is a useful foliage plant in the shade under trees, but in deep shade it will not flower very well.

Its lush dark green leaves with their arrow-head shape grow vigorously to a height of 60cm to 1m tall. The large pure white spathes can appear anytime of the year, depending on climatic conditions.

The white arum lily grows easily throughout most of South Africa, as long as it can be watered regularly. It is an extremely versatile garden plant, and the most commonly planted arum lily.

Members can click here to read more about growing Arum Lilies

Falling StarsFalling Stars, Umlunge (Crocosmia aurea)

Crocosmia aurea belongs to the Iris family (Iridaceae) - a cosmopolitan family consisting of approximately 1 700 species, with over half of the species occurring in South Africa. They are found mostly in the eastern parts of the country from the coast to up to an altitude of 2 000m, in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland.

Crocosmia aurea prefers shaded positions in the garden, but the hybrids will also grow in full sun.

Plants are available to plant out year round, but the corms are planted from mid-September to October, to flower between December and March.

In ideal conditions the plant will grow up to 1.2m tall, bringing an openness or lightness to the garden with its dangling little orange flowers, and its architectural form gives it the allure of ornamental grasses as they move with the wind. Crocosmia is a deciduous perennial and will go dormant in winter.

Members can click here to read more about growing Falling Stars Lilies

Wild RhubarbWild Rhubarb, Bear's Breeches (Acanthus mollis)

Wild Rhubarb is a very ornamental herbaceous perennial which grows into a large clump with large dark green leaves and dramatically tall spires of ivory-white flowers, clasped by showy purple or slightly pink bracts. Flowers can appear in late spring and early summer, and again in late summer.

The plant itself will grow around 1m tall, but when in bloom the flower spikes can reach heights of 1.5 to 2m or more, standing proudly above the voluptuous leaves to create an eye-catching focal point in the mixed border.

Because of the sculptural nature of the plant it will impose an air of formality to classical and formal gardens, but it can be just as effective if used as a feature plant in informal and tropical gardens.

Wild Rhubarb will grow in semi-shade or full sun, but in very hot and dry regions it will perform best in semi-shade. It is excellent to plant in dry shade.

Members can click here to read more about growing Wild Rhubarb

Creeping Jenny & Spurflower What is a perennial?

In horticulture, the term perennial is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than two years.

Perennials typically grow structures that allow them to adapt to living from one year to the next through a form of vegetative reproduction rather than seeding.

These structures include bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, woody stems and crowns which allow them to survive periods of dormancy over dry seasons, or turions - a type of bud which can be above or below ground, and is capable of growing into a complete plant. These structures typically store carbohydrates which are used to produce new growth once the dormancy period is over.

Some perennial plants are protected from wildfires because they have underground buds or roots that produce adventitious shoots, bulbs, crowns, or stems. Others may have thick cork layers that protect the stems.

Interestingly, it is estimated that 94% of all plant species fall under the category of perennials.

Are perennials evergreen or deciduous?

When it comes to perennials, seasonality is expressed as ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ periods rather than ‘warm’ and ‘cold’ periods (summer and winter). Deciduous perennials shed their leaves when growing conditions are no longer suitable for photosynthesis, so deciduous perennials lose their leaves in the dry season, which in many parts of the world just happens to be in winter, but in winter rainfall regions the cycle is reversed. When the first rains arrive deciduous perennials will quickly send up new shoots.  

Herbaceous types have soft green stems that go dormant and die back to the ground during the dry season.

Woody types may lose their leaves in autumn or winter, but the root systems and stems stay alive. Others are semi-deciduous, meaning they lose some of their leaves in either winter or summer.

In climates that are warm and moist all year round, evergreen perennials grow continuously.

Because evergreen perennials are not cold hardy, in cold and dry winter regions they are treated by gardeners as summer annuals that are planted out or sown from seed every year in spring. Tomato vines are a good example of an evergreen perennial which can live for several years in its natural tropical/subtropical habitat, but is grown a summer annual in temperate regions because it does not survive cold weather.

Which perennials are cold hardy?

Deciduous and Herbaceous types are typically cold-hardy plants because they become dormant in regions with dry, cold winters, re-sprouting again in spring with the first rains.

How long do perennials live?

When grown in favourable conditions, perennials often live a long time, but don’t assume they will last forever. Their life span is variable, and some may live for only two to five years.

How long do perennials bloom?

Generally perennials will bloom for only one season each year, either in spring, summer, autumn, or winter, but there are also re-blooming and long-blooming perennials that can bloom sporadically year round.

Why choose perennials?

Perennials bring effortless seasonal colour to the garden

Perennial plants are wonderful additions to the landscape. While trees and shrubs may act as the bones of a garden, perennials provide muscle. The season-long statement they offer is unmatched, as you can plan and design your perennial garden to shift with the seasons.

If you design it well, your garden will deliver colourful blooms all year round. And if you also include perennials for their bold or colourful foliage, you are guaranteed a prize-winning garden that is low on maintenance and good for your bank balance.

There are perennials suitable for every garden

There’s a breath-taking range of perennials to choose from, and this means you can find the perfect perennials for your gardens particular growing conditions and climate. There are perennials for sun and shade, and those which are cold hardy dormant types, to perennial evergreens or semi-evergreens. Some like lots of water and others are water-wise, so take all these factors into account before deciding on your final plant selection.

When you focus on the particular growing situations in your garden, it will narrow down a large list, but that actually makes picking the perfect perennials easier, and best of all, you will be confident that they will thrive.

A visit to your local garden centre will also be very helpful as they will only stock perennials that do well in your region.

Perennials are cost effective

Although perennials tend to cost more initially, they are a good long-term investment because, unlike annuals which complete their life cycle in one growing season, perennials come back year after year, making them a great economic choice for gardeners on a budget.

Perennials can save you on water bills

Unlike annuals, perennials have evolved to come back season after season, so they’ve had a lot of practice making sure their timing is perfect. During the dry season, and when there is a drought, they will go dormant until conditions improve, and they can remain in a dormant state for a very long time. They instinctively know when the rains are coming, and will quickly show signs of new growth. This adaptation is especially advantageous for gardeners in regions prone to droughts.

Perennials are easily propagated by division

Many perennial plants benefit from being lifted and divided every couple of years, and this is the best time to propagate new plants for free, or just to give away to family and friends.  

Perennials are great for container gardening

Gardeners naturally think about flowering annuals first if they are planting up pots, window boxes or hanging baskets, but perennials should not be overlooked as they offer some unique advantages.

Trailing perennial groundcovers can blend effortlessly with annuals in pots, and will outlast their annual companions. If they have outgrown the pots at the end of the season, you can remove and plant them in the ground.

If you have some prized perennials that need shelter in winter, or don’t quite fit your area’s climate, you can plant them into pots that can be moved around to keep them in the most suitable environment throughout the year.

Perennials are good for wildlife

Perennial plants provide pollen, nectar, seeds and nesting material for birds and butterflies. Planting perennials, both indigenous and exotic, will create a welcome habitat for pollinators and other local wildlife, so try to include as many of our gorgeous indigenous plants to your list as possible.

Bacopa Abunda Colossal 'White' Picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompanyWe have all heard friends bemoan the fact that their yard is mostly shady and "nothing will grow, not even grass!" Let's face it, gardening in shade can be daunting at first, and is often viewed with despair by those endeavouring to maintain a shade garden, especially if they happen to be trying to grow plants that will not do well there. But, rest assured it’s all a matter of determining how much shade your plants will receive, enriching the soil, and choosing the right plants.

A properly planned shade garden possesses a charm of its own, with quiet harmonies of light, colour, form and texture that are so different in character from its sunny counterpart, and in our hot climate nothing beats a shady corner of garden, filled with quiet tranquillity, sweet scents and cool breezes.

The varying degrees of shade

When gardening in the shade it’s good to bear in mind that there are varying degrees of shade. For example, under large spreading trees you will get varying degrees of shade from semi-shade to deep shade near the trunk where almost nothing will grow.  Therefore, it's important to have a clear understanding of the type of shade your garden bed receives before selecting your plants.

Observe how much shade your bed receives, how dense the shade is, and at what time of the day the bed is shaded. Make sure that shade plants are always protected from the fierce midday and afternoon sun, this is especially important in very hot regions.

The shady parts of the garden are usually under trees or next to walls. Trees rob the soil of both nutrients and water, and even when it rains, very dense trees will prevent the rain from reaching the soil underneath. The rest of the garden might be wet, but the plants underneath trees will still need to be irrigated. Soil next to walls may not be impoverished but is also often dry after rainfall, so pay some extra attention to plants growing there as well. For all the reasons above, you may even have to water your shade garden more frequently than your full sun garden.

Some shade-tolerant plants are adapted to dry shade situations, while others require moist shade. The terms “damp shade” and “dry shade” refer to the moisture content of the soil, not the type of shade itself. Dry shade is the more challenging to work with, so if this is what you have click here to read my article “Gardening in dry shade”.  articles/shade-gardens/gardening-in-dry-shade

Group plants according to their watering needs

Group plants that require lots of water together and those that require less water together. Irrigation systems water all the plants in the area equally, so decide how much water your bed will receive before choosing your plants.

In summer you may only have to water every few days, but when you do, water thoroughly and deeply. Light sprinklings every day do more harm than good.

A shade garden under trees requires regular feeding

Regular foliar feeding (spraying food directly onto the leaves) is by far the best and the most effective method, as the food is absorbed directly into the plant. Granular fertilisers can also be applied, starting in spring, followed by one or two further applications during the growing season. Feeding and replenishing your beds with a fresh layer of compost and mulch each spring will ensure that your plants have sufficient food to keep them healthy and growing.

In woodland situations where the trees have spreading roots, planting into pots is often the only option, and the advantage of pots is that they can be moved around to accommodate pruning and other maintenance.

Selecting your plants

Determining which plants to select is probably the most important and exciting part of your project. Do not rush this stage of your garden design, and research as many plants as you can before deciding on your final selection. Remember to choose plants that you like, but most importantly, select those that will suit the site best, so do your homework first and your shade garden is bound to be a resounding success.

Summer flowering annuals for shade

I hope this list of flowering plants will inspire you to jazz-up your summer shade garden.

Alyssum Alyssum

If you have garden beds that receive full sun and some parts which are a bit more shady Alyssum would be perfect to use as it thrives in full sun but still performs well in light shade. It also grows well in the sandy soils of coastal gardens.

Alyssum is a compact, low-growing plant about 15cm tall and spreads about 20 to 25cm. It remains one of the most popular summer bedding plants because it is low maintenance, long flowering and very easy to grow all year round. Its honey scented flower spikes are available in lovely in shades of pink, rose, purple, mauve, white and yellow.

Use it as an edging plant in the garden, and the free-flowering plants are also great in hanging baskets and containers, mixing effortlessly with other flowering plants for months of colour.

Members can click here to read more about Alyssum

 

AquilegiaAquilegia, Columbine

These beautiful perennial plants remain firm favourites to plant in shade gardens because they start flowering in late spring and continue into summer. Their attractive fern-like leaves are a perfect foil for the exotic- looking flowers, which are available in shades of pink, red, blue, violet, rose and burgundy, white, yellow and orange.

There are very compact dwarf varieties that grow 13 to 20 cm tall, and the larger varieties vary from 40 to 75cm tall. Aquilegias grow in semi-shade to partial sun and are hardy to frost, but are not suited to humid or very dry regions.

Modern hybrids thrive in warmer climates like South Africa, and the plants will flower within 28 to 34 weeks after sowing seed, whereas older varieties will take two seasons to mature and flower, so if you are impatient, purchase trays of seedlings or even instant colour pots, where the plants are already in bloom.

Aquilegias give a beautiful effect if planted in drifts in woodland gardens, and the dwarf varieties are perfect for planting in pots and window boxes.

Members can click here to read more about Aquilegias

 

Bedding Begonias Begonias

Begonias are truly the backbone of the flower garden and bloom all season long, until the first frosts, and in warm climates they can bloom all year round, and are available in various shapes and sizes.

Small compact plants like Begonia ‘Baby Wings’ and Begonia ‘Planet’ are perfect for flower borders and come in green or bronze foliage, and blooms in various shades of pink, red and white.

The taller growing types like Begonia ‘Big’, Begonia ‘Bossa Nova’ and Begonia ‘Megawatt’ with their large red or pink flowers make a bold statement in the garden when planted in large drifts, and are stunning in large containers and hanging baskets.

The larger upright to trailing types of Begonia like ‘Dragon Wings’ are hard to beat in containers and hanging baskets.

Although begonias will grow in quite a lot of shade they flower best in positions where they receive dappled or bright shade. Varieties with green leaves will tolerate more shade than those with bronze leaves. In deep shade the plants will become leggy and less floriferous.

Members can click here to read more about the various garden Begonias

 

Browalia 'Bell Blue' Picture courtesy Ball Horticultural CompanyBrowallia, Bush Violet

Browalia is a lovely mounded, sprawling plant which is related to petunias, and flowers just as profusely all summer and into late autumn. Hybrid varieties are available in vibrant shades of purple, blue, violet or white, and are cultivated as a summer annuals, growing quickly to around 25 to 35cm tall.

It grows beautifully outdoors in sheltered positions, and its sprawling habit lends itself to hanging baskets, window boxes and containers of all kinds, where it can spill over the edges

Browalia grows well at the coast and inland, taking both heat and humidity. It does best in a warm, bright, semi-shaded position, or morning sun. In very hot and dry regions midday shade is essential. Also, ensure that it is sited where it is protected from strong winds.

Members can click here to read more about Browalia

 

ColeusColeus, Painted Nettle

Coleus is cultivated in shady gardens worldwide because it is durable and easy to grow. Hybridization has produced compact, dwarf varieties, and an almost infinite number of leaf shapes and colour combinations which include most colours of the spectrum, except true blue.

The lower growing dwarf varieties will create a colourful border, while the taller types provide a dramatic background planting, livening up any corner of the garden they are planted in. Coleus is also the perfect container candidate, so fill your balcony boxes, hanging baskets and pots with them.

Most varieties prefer bright semi-shade and good, moist, well-drained soil. Plants grown in too much sun may wilt, and those grown in too much shade may become leggy.

Members can click here to read more about Coleus

 

Forget-me-notForget-me-not

This charming plant is treated as a spring and summer flowering annual in South Africa, and produces an abundance of tiny azure-blue flower spikes. It grows quickly to about 20cm tall and 15cm wide, and has small hairy, green leaves.

Forget-me-not seed is sown directly into prepared garden beds in spring. Germination can take 7 to 14 days and the plants should bloom within 90 days.

Even though the individual flowers are very small, the overall effect is a lovely carpeted effect in the garden which is the mainstay of the English cottage garden, and Forget-me-not's also blend beautifully with bulbs. Plant them in rock and pebble gardens, in woodland gardens and as a border plant.

Forget-me-not grows throughout SA but is sensitive to humidity. Although it can be planted in semi-shade or sun, in hot and dry regions it must be grown in semi-shade, and it must be watered regularly throughout summer.

Members can click here to read more about Forget-me-not

 

Foxglove 'Dwarf Foxy' Mix Picture courtesy Ball StraathofFoxglove

Seedlings of modern foxglove varieties that bloom in their first year are usually planted out in spring or autumn. The main bloom time is in spring and early summer but occasionally additional flower stems are produced later in the season, especially if the main flower stalks are cut after blooming.

There are many cultivars available which vary in height, but most of the modern strains are quite compact and grow about 60 to 90cm tall and 25 to 30cm wide.

Foxgloves are particularly effective when planted in groups to bring dramatic and richly coloured vertical accents to garden beds and borders, and they make excellent cut flowers if picked when the blooms are half open. 

Foxgloves prefer cool climatic conditions where rainfall is good. They will grow in semi-shade to sun, but in regions where it gets hot very early in summer, its best to plant them in a cool position. They are hardy to cold and frost, but also do well in sheltered coastal gardens.

Members can click here to read more about Foxgloves

 

New Guinea ImpatiensImpatiens, Busy Lizzy

Gardeners have relied on the common old Busy Lizzy Impatiens for generations for their ease of growth in difficult shady areas, and  their wide range of colours. Busy Lizzy thrives in semi-shade to light sunshine, and in hotter regions they will need protection from the fierce midday sun and excessive winds, which will cause the flowers and leaves to scorch.

Today gardeners are spoilt for choice when it comes to Impatiens, and breeders continue to surprise us with brilliant new garden hybrids.

The irresistible 'New Guinea Impatiens' is taller growing than the common Busy Lizzie, with large flowers in vibrant colours, and often with colourfully variegated leaves. And, although they can take a lot more sun than ordinary Impatiens, they still need some shade, especially in very hot and dry regions. 'New Guinea Impatiens love full morning sun or bright shade throughout the day, and really don't like total shade. In very hot regions, protect them from the fierce midday sun and excessive winds, which will cause the flowers and leaves to scorch.

Today we are also blessed with 'Sunpatiens' which grows in full sun or semi-shade, and even thrives in hot, humid weather, greatly expanding the area in which Impatiens can be grown in South Africa.

Members can click here to read more about Impatiens

 

LobeliaLobelia

Lobelia has been bred to produce a profusion of tiny flowers in shades of blue, lilac, purple, pink, carmine and white. Some varieties have bronzy foliage and others bright green leaves. These easy-to-grow little plants deserve a place in every garden, large or small.

They vary slightly in height but the modern varieties are very compact and will grow about 15cm tall, making them invaluable edging plants, and because of their dainty, compact growth, are perfect combined with bulbs.

The cascading varieties produce billowing masses of flowers up to 30cm long and are favourites to mix with other plants in hanging baskets and containers.

Lobelia can be grown almost throughout the year in South Africa and is semi-hardy to moderate frost. It will grow in semi-shade or full sun but in hot regions the plants do better if planted in semi-shade. Water regularly, especially in dry regions and plant in good, well-drained soil.

Members can click here to read more about Lobelia

 

Mimulus 'Magic Blotch' MixMimulus, Monkey Flower

These cheerful and rewarding little plants are moisture loving and thrive in semi-shade, making them ideal to plant at water-side margins, and in moist areas of the garden. They are also stunning if planted into hanging baskets, window boxes and pots, or as a border to the flower garden.

Monkey Flowers grow about 30cm tall and 25cm wide but there is a smaller variety that only grows about 15cm tall. Their gay summer flowers are available in single or mixed shades of bright scarlet, pink, white, yellow, ivory, and orange, and there are clear and bi-colours available.

Monkey Flowers are tender to frost and are generally grown as summer annuals in South Africa. They do extremely well in the summer rainfall regions and are not suited to very hot, dry, or humid regions. Plant in semi-shade, and protect them from the hot midday sun.

Members can click here to read more about Mimulus

 

Hypoestes Mix. Picture courtesy Nu-leaf NurseryPolka Dot Plant

Polka dot plants have tons of personality and their brightly spotted leaves stand out in the crowd. They grow just as easily in bright light indoors as they do outdoors.

New garden cultivars are very compact and bushy, growing to a height of about 20cm and spreading 15cm, and there are several spotted or mottled varieties available in shades of blush, pink, rose, red, and white. In summer the bushes may produce tiny, solitary pink or purple flowers at the nodes, and the fruit is a many-seeded capsule which splits open to release the seeds.

In subtropical regions the plant is a spreading perennial, which may become quite rampant. In cold and frosty regions it is grown outdoors as a summer annual, and is planted once all danger of frost is over.

These plants are not especially difficult to grow, but require a protected spot in the garden where they will receive filtered bright light, but not too much direct sunlight which can burn the leaves.

Polka dot plants are perfect little ‘filler’ plants for mixed plantings in garden beds or pots, and are used to accentuate parts of the garden in much the same way as flowers would

Members can click here to read more about Polka Dot Plants

 

SalviaSalvia

The beautiful Salvia splendens is available in vibrantly coloured flower spikes, from bright red to pink, purple, scarlet, rose, cream, and white. Tall and dwarf varieties are available ranging in height from 15 to 90cm tall.

Although salvias can be grown in full sun, in our hot climate they do very well in full morning sun or partial shade. In areas with very hot summers, protect them from the harsh midday sun.

If watered well they will flower all summer and autumn. Cut your plants back after each flush of flowers and new growth will soon emerge, keeping them blooming continually.

The taller varieties will add accent to flowerbeds, and the dwarf varieties make excellent border plants and work well in containers, mixed with other summer flowering annuals.

Members can click here to read more about Salvia

 

Bacopa Sutera, Bacopa

Sutera remain firm favourites with gardeners for their ease of growth and profusion of flowers throughout spring and summer. This short lived perennial plant is tender to frost and is most often grown as a summer annual. It can be grown both inland and at the coast.

Sutera are vigorous low-growing plants which can spread 50 to 60cm, while only reaching a height of 15 to 20cm. Plant breeders have developed many new and improved strains which not only flower even more profusely, but also have larger blooms. Sutera are available in beautifully delicate shades of blue and pink, to lavender and white, with some varieties even sporting lovely yellow foliage.

They are perfect to plant in hanging baskets, window boxes and pots for a colourful summer display. Planted in mass they make a wonderful groundcover and will stabilise the soil on slopes. They also make lovely rockery and edging plants for the garden.

Members can click here to read more about Sutera

 

ToreniaTorenia, Wishbone Flower

These delightful flowers have an intense colour range, from light and dark blue, to burgundy, pink, lavender and white, and they will bloom consistently all summer, and through autumn until the first frosts.

Torenia are wonderful edging plants and if planted in groups will make a charming display. They are also very showy in window boxes, pots and hanging baskets, as long as you don't allow them to dry out.

Torenia can take heat, humidity and shade, and there are not many annuals that can accomplish that! They do not like very much hot sun and require rich well-drained soil and regular watering, especially during hot, dry periods. They will grow quickly to about 20cm tall and 15cm wide

Trays of seedlings are sold at some nurseries and seeds are also available. Seed can be sown in seedling trays in spring and early summer. Germination will take 7 to 18 days, and flowering will start about 12 to 14 weeks after sowing. Grow your seedlings in a cool place.

Members can click here to read more about Torenia

Click here to read under Herbs & Spices

Murraya koenigii berriesDescription, History & Interesting Facts:

The curry leaf tree (Murraya koenigii) is a tropical and sub-tropical tree native to India & Sri Lanka. It belongs to the Rue family (Rutaceae), which includes rue, citrus, and satinwood.

The documented history of curry leaves dates back to the early 1st to 4th century AD, and in Tamil and Kannada literature it was listed as ‘kari’ and its uses were described as a flavouring agent for vegetables. The name curry actually originated from the Tamil word “Kari” which means ‘spiced sauce’.

The genus name “Murraya” commemorates Swedish physician and botanist Johann Andreas Murray who died in 1791, and the species name "koenigii" commemorates the botanist Johann König.

In its tropical native habitat the curry leaf is a lovely small tree, growing anything from 4 to 9m tall, with a trunk 40 to 80cm in diameter, and a spread of about 1.2 to 3.6m. The aromatic leaves are pinnate, having leaflets arranged on either side of the stem, in pairs opposite each other.  They are popularly called “curry leaves” or “sweet neem leaves”.

In tropical and subtropical regions it is evergreen to semi deciduous, dropping its leaves for a short while during its winter resting period. In late spring to early summer fresh new growth appears together with beautiful clusters of small, scented white flowers. The flowers are self-pollinating, and followed by drupes of shiny red berries that mature to black and contain a single black seed.

The pulp of the berry is edible and has a sweet but ‘medicinal’ flavour. However, neither the pulp nor seed is used for culinary purposes, only the aromatic leaves.

Today, commercial plantations have been established in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Spain, Australia, the Pacific Islands, and Africa.

Curry Image by Iril Kolle from PixabayIn the Kitchen:

Curry leaves are an important food flavouring in many dishes from India, Sri Lanka, and neighbouring countries, where the subtly delicious flavour of the leaves is used along with other herbs and spices like, turmeric, chilli, cloves, cumin, coriander, ginger and garlic. Although the dry leaves can be used, their flavour is better when used fresh.  

In India they are most widely used in southern and west coast Indian cooking. The fresh leaves are usually fried in vegetable oil, with mustard seeds and chopped onions in the first stage of the preparation for many dishes. The leaves can also be finely chopped or minced before they are added to curries, masalas, marinades etc.

If the leaves are added whole to dishes, they should be removed before serving.

The leaves are often stewed to flavour Gulai, a spicy and rich stew commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The main ingredients of this dish are usually poultry, goat meat, beef, and mutton, various kinds of offal, fish and seafood, as well as vegetables such as cassava leaves, unripe jackfruit and banana stem.

The leaves are also often dry-roasted and then ground in the preparation of various powdered spice blends or masalas, such as South Indian sambar masala, the main seasoning in the popular vegetable stew called “sambar”, made with lentils, mixed vegetables, tamarind, herbs, spices, and the aromatic spice powder known as “sambar powder”.

Curry leaves have a short shelf life and do not keep well in the refrigerator, so if you love to use them a lot, it would be worthwhile to grow your own tree in the garden or in a pot.

Health Benefits:

The leaves, bark and root of Murraya koenigii are used in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine as a tonic and to aid digestion, an anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and  anti-carcinogenic.

Due to the high folic acid found in the leaves, which is responsible for aiding in the absorption of Iron, it’s a great supplement for alleviating anaemia. Eating 3 leaves a day is also excellent for diabetics as the nutrients in the leaves help to control natural insulin levels.

The leaves are also used to stimulate the cardiovascular system, protect the liver, and help treat low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol. Eaten raw they cure dysentery, and an infusion of the leaves is said to stop vomiting.

The leaves contain fibre, carbohydrates, copper, magnesium, phosphorous, antioxidants, nicotinic acid, iron, calcium, amino acids, flavonoids, and vitamins A, B and C. The fruit pulp contains Vitamin C, ash, protein, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.

In India the leaves are used to make a hair conditioner that leaves the hair silky smooth. 

Warning:

The berries are edible, but the seeds may be toxic to humans.

Always consult with your physician before embarking on a home treatment programme.

In the Garden:

In subtropical gardens this little tree can be planted in the garden where it can grow 6m tall or more, but in other regions it will remain smaller, and its ultimate size is dependent on several factors like rainfall, temperature and soil conditions.

In cold and frosty areas it should be planted in a pot which can be covered, and moved to a warmer spot in winter.

Murraya koenigiiCultivation:

Where does the curry leaf tree grow best?

This tropical and sub-tropical plant thrives in warm and humid regions. Growth is more robust when temperatures are at least 18°C.

Is the curry leaf tree cold hardy?

The curry leaf does not tolerate frost or very low temperatures, but in regions with light to moderate frost it will survive outdoors over winter if it is grown in a pot placed in a warm, sheltered spot. Cover with a frost protector and mulch the roots to protect them from cold. The pot itself can be covered with bubble wrap to keep the roots snug.

Is the curry leaf tree evergreen?

The tree will become semi-deciduous or may drop all its leaves in winter, but will re-sprout again in early spring. Stop feeding and keep watering to a minimum during the coldest months.

How much sun do curry trees require?

This tree will grow in full sun or semi-shade, and if grown in pots it often does better with a bit of shade.

What soil type do curry leaf trees prefer?

The curry leaf tree will adapt to most fertile, well-drained soils but thrives in well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH.  If your soil does not drain well plant into a pot, or dig plenty of washed river sand and compost into soil before planting.

Mulch:

Mulch is always great for keeping weeds away and for retaining moisture in the soil. In the case of curry leaf trees, it is essential in cold conditions as a nice thick layer of mulch protects the roots from frostbite.

How much water does a curry leaf tree need?

In summer water your tree regularly, ensuring that the soil never becomes too dry. Potted plants will need more frequent watering than those growing in the ground.

In cold and frosty winter regions, cut back on watering in winter and make sure that the soil never becomes waterlogged. Therefore, in our winter rainfall regions the tree will need regular watering in summer, and protection from excessive winter rainfall.

How to fertilise a curry leaf tree

Feed your curry leaf tree every 6 to 8 weeks in summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser. Regular granular or slow-release fertilisers also work well in pots or garden beds.

Do not fertilise in winter during the plants resting period.

Iron deficiency

Because this tree is prone to a lack of iron you can also give it a monthly dose of 1 teaspoon of iron chelate. This will yield some impressive foliage.

Symptoms of iron deficiency in plants first starts with yellowing of the new leaves near the ends of the  branches or the tops of the plant, progressing to large mature leaves where they also show a symptom known as ‘interveinal chlorosis’ where the veins running through the leaves will still be green and only the areas in between are yellow.

How to prune curry leaf trees:

The tree does not require much pruning except to pinch or snip out dead leaves and branches as required. It can be left alone to grow naturally, or kept more compact by shortening long side branches.

Harvesting:

Fresh leaves are tastier than the dry ones, so it’s best to pick them as needed for a deliciously aromatic dish. Before the leaves drop in winter, collect and dry some to use in those comforting winter dishes.

Propagation:

The trees can be propagated by stem cuttings taken in spring or summer and treated with a rooting agent.

Seeds must be ripe and fresh to plant, dried or shrivelled fruits are not viable. The hard outer coating on the seeds will make germination very slow, so peeling it off is recommended before planting. If peeling is too time consuming, sanding off a small piece of the shell will help speed up germination.

Plant the seeds into small pots or trays using a well-drained potting mix that is kept moist but not wet.

Warning:

The information contained within this website is for educational purposes only, recounting the traditional uses of specific plants as recorded through history. Always seek advice from a medical practitioner.