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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.