Water wise gardening implements the basic principles of Xeriscape gardening, with the most important one being the practice of selecting plants with water requirements corresponding to the local rainfall patterns and climate where they are to be planted, as well as for their drought tolerance. Xeriscaped gardens can reduce water consumption by 60% and will increase property values.

This water efficient method of gardening can be adapted to many different types of gardens and using the principles of Xeriscape gardening will allow you to plant and maintain your annuals, perennials, vegetables, shrubs and trees in the most water-wise manner possible.

Planning a xeriscape, water-wise garden

Planning your garden is vital for success and will only work if you are practical and totally realistic about your design and the needs of your family; so before you pick up your shovel, pick up your pencil first.

Zone your garden

Zone your garden by having high, medium and low watering areas, and group your plants accordingly. Do some research and choose your plants carefully. For the greatest savings in water, and especially if you live in a very dry area, choose mainly drought hardy plants.

Practical climate solutions

Xeriscaping also provides practical solutions to various climate and landscape concerns. It includes placing plantings and structures where they can be used to cool a home in the summer or warm it in the winter. These are also used to block strong winds and to provide shelter from rain and snow, as well as to control surface drainage.

Know your soil

Selecting the wrong plants for your soil type and lack of initial soil preparation are the main reasons for plants not thriving.

No matter what soil type you have, and especially if you have sand or clay, the addition of organic matter, like compost, and gypsum for clay soils, will greater improve your chances for success.

The traditional method of breaking down clay is to incorporate lots of organic matter into the soil and to add gypsum, a powdery natural mineral (calcium sulphate) that is one of the most important soil conditioners. When it's added to clay a chemical reaction occurs and the particles bind together, creating crumbs and thus changing the soil structure over time; from big clods to a fine easily worked texture which makes gardening easier and improves drainage. It is important to use natural gypsum for this purpose and not the white builder's gypsum. Dig the compost, and gypsum in as deeply as you can.

Click here to find my articles and plant lists for gardening in clay soil

The most cost effective way to garden in difficult soil types is to work with what you have, and to find plants that thrive naturally on these soils, rather than amending the soil which is expensive. This often works best for sandy coastal soils, and in heavy clay. The same principles apply to very acidic or alkaline soils.

Mulching

Mulches minimize evaporation; retards weed growth, slows erosion, and helps prevent soil temperature fluctuations. Good mulches include compost, bark chips and straw. Mulch has the added benefit of decomposing over time, thus improving the soil.

Efficient Irrigation:

Gardeners tend to water more than we need to, and installing the correct irrigation system will water your plants efficiently and reduce water evaporation, saving you a fortune on water bills. Water deeply but less often, as deep soakings encourage deep root growth.

There are several ways to water your garden, from various sprinkler systems to drip irrigation and soaker hoses.

Sprinklers

 Sprinklers are good for covering larger areas like lawns but remember that up to 70% of fine droplet water applications will simply evaporate, so rather use coarse droplet sprayers that spray close to the ground. Avoid watering on windy days when evaporation rates are higher and always water in the cool of the day.

Drip Irrigation

A drip irrigation system will supply a continuous drip for a longer period than if you were to run your regular sprinkler heads. It is used mainly to irrigate trees, shrubs, flower boarders and vegetable gardens. Drip irrigation works well for garden beds where all the plants have similar watering requirements.

Timers

If you install a timer system, reset it according to the seasons and frequency of rainfall, and check your equipment regularly. Sprinkler heads often spray unnecessary surfaces like driveways and other hard surfaces.

When good rains fall, stop watering for a few days, except where plants or structures such as walls, roof overhangs, and large trees and shrubs have prevented the rain from penetrating.

Weeds

Weeds use a lot of water and keeping your garden weed free will also help to conserve water.

Selecting your plants

By choosing plants that are adapted to drought conditions and those that naturally do not require lots of watering, you can keep your garden looking good and growing well. There is a considerable range of plants that can tolerate dry conditions once they are established. Young plants should be watered regularly until their roots are well established.

The shrubs listed below are water-wise and many are incredibly drought tolerant, but that does not mean they are drought proof. Very few plants are, but during severe droughts they stand a much better chance of surviving.  

Weather you decide to go totally indigenous or want to include exotics in your design, grouping them according to their watering, soil and sun requirements is vital for success. With efficient planning and irrigation even water loving plants like lawns, roses and vegetable gardens can be included in a water wise garden.

Click here to find my other water-wise gardening articles and plant lists. 

Water-Wise Shrubs

Even during times of drought and water restrictions, xeriscape gardens retain much of their beauty while conventional, water-thirsty landscapes suffer.

Garden Spurge, Milk Purslane, Tropical Euphorbia (Euphorbia hypericifolia)

Euphorbia hypericifolia. Image by Heike Frohnhoff from Pixabay

Euphorbia hypericifolia is native to the Americas where it occurs in the tropics and subtropics. It makes a wonderful low maintenance, water-wise plant, and its frothy drifts of small white flowers interspersed amongst the olive green leaves, belie its delicate looks with its hardy temperaments.

Because of the popularity of this plant, it seems exciting new introductions are being brought out every year; all of which have a low, mounding and spreading growth habit.

Euphorbia 'Euphoric White' and 'Glitz' are ideal for containers, hanging baskets and borders.

'Marginata' grows 90cm tall and has white on green foliage.

'Diamond Frost' has slender green leaves and white flowers.

'Diamond Fizz’ produces copious floral bracts, creating the illusion of double flowers.

'Breathless' produces stocky plants covered in a mist of white or pink tinged flowers.

'Breathless Blush' is the first dark-foliaged euphorbia with red-flushed leaves and pink-flushed flowers.

'Breathless White' is a sturdy plant and shows off masses of crystal white blooms.

The plants bloom pretty much continually in summer and need no deadheading. Plant them in borders and along the edges of walkways, planted singly or intermingled with large leaved plants. They are glorious in hanging baskets and containers, with their delicate branches spreading and spilling over 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 that love sunny conditions.

Euphorbias are sensitive to overwatering which can cause rotting. They perform best in dry to medium moisture, moderately fertile, sharply drained soils. Water regularly until the plants are acclimatised to their new home, but after that, allow the plant to dry out before watering again.

Members can click here to read more about Garden Spurge

Veronica (Hebe)

Hebe 'Blue'

By selecting the right varieties, a veronica can be found for almost any situation and season. The small flowers are grouped together in dense spikes, varying in size and blooming time according to the variety. The flower colours include varied shades of purple, lilac, blue, red, pink or white, and most garden varieties will flower throughout spring summer and autumn.

Veronicas are also sought after for their fabulous leaves which vary greatly in size and colour, providing year round interest and texture to the garden, and they come in exciting colours and variegations, including silver and green, creamy white, pink, grey, violet, burgundy, bronze and red.

As a result of their popularity, extensive hybridisation has been done on the species, resulting in many distinctive garden plants which will thrive in various climatic conditions, and today they are available from tiny miniatures only 30cm high to varieties which will grow 1.5m tall. This diversity makes them available for gardeners in most Provinces of South Africa and perfect for gardens large or small.

Although veronica plants are heat and drought tolerant once established, newly planted shrubs are not and require deep, weekly watering through their first summer to allow their roots to anchor deep into the soil. Once the root system matures, the plant has low water requirements, and in hot summers it generally only requires a deep soaking every 10-14 days if there is no natural rainfall. When you do water, soak the area thoroughly, but always allow the soil to completely dry out before watering again, as veronicas hate having ‘wet feet’. While the plant itself won't die easily in a drought, severe and prolonged lack of moisture during a heatwave can drastically cut short its heavy spring and summer flowering period.

Showy Hebe, Showy Speedwell (Hebe speciosa)

Native to the rugged coastal cliffs of New Zealand, this specific species has evolved to withstand harsh winds, salty air, and rocky, fast-draining soils with very low water availability. It is remarkably drought-tolerant once fully established.

Narrow Leaf Hebe (Hebe diosmifolia)

This veronica is highly drought-tolerant because its leaves are much smaller, and narrower than those of Hebe speciosa, therefore, it loses significantly less water through transpiration, making it naturally equipped for hot and dry summer regions.

Members can click here to read more about Veronicas

Coastal Rosemary, Australian Rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)

Westringia fruticosa. Picture courtesy Tatters from flickr

Westringia fruticosa is a hardy fast growing evergreen shrub that is easy to grow and long lived. It is commonly known as coastal Rosemary as in its natural habitat this native of the coast of New South Wales in eastern Australia can be seen hugging the cliffs and also growing near the sand on the beach.

Coastal Rosemary has narrow, lance-shaped, grey-green leaves which are white-felted underneath, with new shoots emerging a pretty silvery-green. The branches are dotted with masses of small, lightly fragrant, white or pale lilac-blue flowers which appear year-round in mild climates, but in colder areas it is a spring and summer bloomer.

It is similar in growth habit to the herb Rosemary we all love and grow, producing a large shrubby bush which forms a tall mound twice as wide as it is tall. The neatly whorled leaves and long flowering time of the coastal rosemary make it very popular in cultivation, and although it is a coastal shrub, it will also tolerate moderate frost inland.

Coastal rosemary responds well to clipping and is therefore very versatile in the garden, as it can be left as a dense rounded shrub, where its relaxed open form and soft colouring, or the plant can be pruned for a more formal look. For this reason it makes a wonderful informal or formal screen or hedge.  It is also a favourite standard or lollipop plant and looks really lovely planted in garden beds, and in containers placed on patios, verandas and balconies.

It needs regular watering during its first growing season to build a deep root system. After that, it is very drought hardy and handles dry periods well. It thrives in well-draining sandy or loamy soils. Good drainage is essential, as heavy or soggy soil can harm the plant. To keep it looking at its best in the garden, water moderately during long hot and dry spells.

Members can click here to read more about Coastal Rosemary

Cape leadwort, Blousyselbos, umabophe, umasheleshele, utshilitshi (Plumbago auriculata)

Plumbago 'Blue'. Image by Brett Hondow from Pixabay

Plumbago auriculata has a natural distribution that spans from the southern and eastern Cape through KwaZulu-Natal, extending inland into Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and parts of the Free State and North West province. It is most commonly found in valleys, growing in thickets and bushveld scrub.

This scrambling plant is grown for its abundant trusses of pale sky-blue flowers; 'Royal Cape' is a wonderful hybrid with dark cobalt-blue flowers, and 'Alba' has pure white blooms which glow in the twilight. Flowers can appear sporadically during the growing season, but is especially prolific in mid to late summer (November to May).

Plumbago is essential in any butterfly garden and is also great to plant in the exclusion area of the bird garden. If left un-pruned it will clamour up existing shrubs and trees, and looks lovely trained along a wire fence or wooden trellis. It also looks wonderful spilling down a bank or over a low wall. It makes a showy informal hedge, and if it is pruned regularly can be trained to form a round bushy shrub for the border. It is also available as a standard plant, and grows easily in pots, making it perfect for small gardens.

Plumbago is highly resilient against heat and is very drought-hardy and water-wise once its root system is established. While it performs and flowers best with regular moderate watering during hot summer months, it can easily handle extended dry periods, although it won’t look at its best.

Members can click here to read more about Plumbago

Cape honeysuckle, Kaapse kanferfoelie, malangula, umsilingi, lungana, molaka (Tecomaria capensis)

Cape Honeysuckle. Image by Bishnu Sarangi from Pixabay

This indigenous shrub remains wildly popular with gardeners in South Africa and around the world for its clusters of tubular flowers. Flowering is sporadic throughout the year in warm regions, and modern garden hybrids have even more blooming power, and the vibrancy of the flowers, which come in shades of orange, red, yellow, apricot or salmon, is shown off perfectly by the plants dark-green, glossy leaves.

In the wild the Cape honeysuckle grows at the edges of evergreen forests and sheltered scrubland as a sprawling, rampant, sometimes vine-like shrub. It is widely distributed throughout the coastal regions of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, the Northern Province and Mozambique.

The Cape Honeysuckle is remarkably drought hardy once established and an exceptional choice for water-wise gardens and xeriscaping. Young plants need regular watering while building their root systems. Mature plants tolerate long dry spells, poor soil, and hot conditions. In fact, less water during dry periods often triggers even heavier blooming.

The Cape honeysuckle is a useful ornamental, screening or hedging plant, and grows easily in pots. Its tubular flowers will attract nectar-feeding birds to your garden, and are a magnet for butterflies. It can be shaped into an attractive shrub and is commonly used for screening. In large areas it can be planted as a groundcover, and on rocky slopes it is marvellous to control soil erosion.

To train it as a climber you will need to tie it to a support, or weave it through chain-link or wooden fences and trellises. It can also be espaliered on a wall, or trained to cascade beautifully down steps or a garden wall.

Members can click here to read more about the Cape Honeysuckle.

Glossy Abelia (Abelia)

Abelia. Image by JackieLou DL from Pixabay

Abelias are renowned for their beauty and good-looks all year round, and also for their reliable performance in gardens around South Africa. The genus Abelia includes some 30 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs from Mexico and Asia, and numerous garden hybrids and variegated sports or mutations are cultivated.

They are available in all sizes, from petite to large, and new dwarf cultivars still have the same graceful form as their parents, forming dense bushes with gracefully arching branches and small glossy leaves. Cultivars come in a wonderful selection of leaf colours, including lemon, gold, cream and pink variegations. The young summer foliage has bronze to golden tints that only intensify as the weather becomes cooler in autumn.

Several bursts of blooms appear throughout summer and into late autumn, smothering the shrubs in clusters of small white to pink, tubular flowers, and in some species the reddish sepals persist long after the flowers have faded, providing additional colour in late summer and autumn.

Abelias tolerate sea air and windy conditions, and are heat and drought resistant once established. Although they don’t like long periods of drought, they aren’t really water guzzlers. Water new plants regularly until established and then reduce the frequency. The soil can be allowed to dry out between watering without the plants suffering damage.

Un-pruned, they naturally create a graceful shape and make wonderful candidates for the mixed shrub border, and lovely informal screening plants to block off unsightly areas. Because they all respond well to pruning abelias also make excellent formal hedging plants. As their roots are not invasive, they are often used to hide exposed foundations of buildings. The dwarf varieties are easy to grow in pots.

An added bonus is abelias are fire resistant and can be planted on the borders of large properties or country estates that are prone to veld fires.

Click here to find my articles on firescaping your property.

Members can click here to read more about Abelia

Bottlebrushes (Callistemon)

Callistemon 'Endeavor' Image by Ralph from Pixabay

Callistemon is a family of evergreen Australian shrubs and trees that are well suited to many of South Africa's growing regions, where heat, drought and variable conditions are common. Once established, they are highly water‑wise and resilient, performing reliably in coastal areas, windy positions and exposed sites.

Most cultivars grown in South Africa have their flowering peak in late spring and early summer. Many cultivars also produce a secondary, smaller flush of blooms in autumn and early winter.

Crimson Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)

‘Endevour’

Endevour is a dense large shrub or small tree 2-3m tall with an equal spread and dark green rigid leaves. Its brilliant scarlet flowers can appear throughout the year. It is an excellent hedging variety or little tree for small gardens; and grows beautifully in large pots.

‘Little John’

 This very free flowering small shrub grows fairly slowly to 1-2m tall, has pretty blue-green leaves and produces masses of crimson flowers. With its dense form and long flowering season, Little John brings bold colour and texture to sunny beds, borders, pathways and modern water‑wise landscapes. It can be trimmed into a small hedge, and its compact size and slow, tidy growth make it ideal for smaller gardens and decorative containers.

Lemon Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus)

The common name lemon bottlebrush refers to this plants distinct lemon-like scent which is released when the leaves are crushed. It is native to the eastern and south-eastern coastal regions of Australia where it is found growing in damp locations near creeks, riverbanks, and swampy coastal areas. However, it is renowned for tolerating both waterlogged and drought conditions.

'Mauve Mist'

Mauve Mist produces large lilac-pink flowers and the new tip growth is pink and densely covered with silky hairs. This cultivar forms a dense shrub to a height of 2-3m with an equal or slightly wider spread. It is a great feature or screening plant.

'Perth Pink'

Perth Pink is a small, fast growing tree with lovely arching branches and attractive silvery pink new leaves and pink flowers. It will grow 4-5m tall with an equal spread, but can be trimmed back and kept as a large shrub or screening plant. 

Members can click here to read more about Bottlebrushes

Spekboom, Porkbush, Elephant’s Food, iNtelezi, isiDondwane, iGqwanitsha, Tshilepwete (Portulacaria)

Portulacaria afra. Image by Forest and Kim Starr

Recent research has shown that this amazing succulent can store more than four tons of carbon per hectare, creating what is called a "carbon sink" when planted in large plantations, and making it one of the best plants to grow in order to combat warming of the earth's atmosphere. In fact, this beautiful yet unassuming succulent has become so famous it even has its own Facebook page!

The spekboom is a great example of how foliage plants can add interest in the garden year round. Various different forms are found in cultivation, most of which originate from the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden in South Africa.

Portulacaria afra

Afra is an attractive evergreen succulent with small round emerald-green leaves, borne on startling-red stems. In the garden it will grow moderately to a height of about 1.5-2m, but can mature into a small tree 5m tall.

'Aurea'

This compact, upright form has rounded leaves that go bright yellow in the sun. It is lovely in containers and a wonderful contrast plant in the garden.

'Foliis Variegata'

This is a popular and highly adaptable variegated form with creamy-yellow mottled leaves and nearly horizontal branches that sprawl on the soil.

'Medio-picta'

This is a ground hugging form which grows slowly and can be planted in full sun to light shade. Its attractive stems are a bright reddish-pink and the small green leaves have wide white stripes down their middle, sometimes with little or no green. This great garden plant makes an excellent ground cover and also looks gorgeous spilling over containers or low walls.

'Variegata’

Variegata has a compact, upright form with white or cream edged, pale green leaves with pink highlights. It does not tolerate bright sun as much as the species and is perfect as a contrast plant in the shade garden, and grows easily in containers.

‘Tricolor’

Tricolor has a lovely pendulous habit and the green leaves are variegated with yellow and pink. It is very striking cascading down almost anything. This form may appreciate some shade, especially in very hot regions.

‘Cork Bark’

This form is slow growing with the main trunk having thick fissured, corky grey bark, from which emerge reddish brown stems holding emerald green leaves. It can be planted in sun or shade and works as a small specimen shrub, or bonsai.

Though native to the drier Eastern Cape thickets, spekboom is now successfully grown in gardens throughout South Africa, and although it is known to be a great drought tolerant plant which is perfect for water-wise gardens, it will even grow in well-watered garden beds as long as the soil drains well.

It is a good soil binder, helping to prevent soil erosion, and the upright forms can be clipped into a hedge or informal screen. The low growing forms make excellent groundcovers and look spectacular if planted in in hanging baskets, or as part of a mixed succulent dish garden. All forms of this versatile plant are easy to grow in containers and the cork bark form makes an excellent and handsome bonsai for indoors or outdoors.

Because it is drought tolerant and also fire resistant, the spekboom is excellent for firescaping properties.

Click here to find my articles on firescaping your property.

Members can click here to read more about the various types of Spekboom

Japanese Spindle Plant (Euonymus japonicus)

Euonymus japonicus Albo marginatus Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

Gardeners love this native of Japan, Korea and China for its compact bushy growth and lovely glossy leaves. Hybrids are available with dark green and gold, and white or cream variegations. They are medium-sized, varying in height and spread, from 1-2m tall.

'Aureus' has long leaves, rounded at their ends. The centre of the leaf is golden-yellow, within a broad, irregularly green outer margin.

'Aureo marginatus' has oval-shaped green leaves, generously edged with gold.

'Albo marginatus' has green leaves with white edges.

'Aureo-variegatus' has gold and green speckled leaves.

'Ovatus Aureus' has broad oval leaves with dark green centres, fading to light green; and bright yellow margins.

Japanese Spindle Plants are popular topiary plants which can be clipped into any shape. Because of their bold variegated foliage they add colour and form to the garden throughout the year. Their dense, upright growth habit makes them an excellent choice for colourful hedges, so if you are looking for privacy or screening to block off your neighbours or unsightly areas like the compost heap or refuse collection area, then consider these shrubs.

The Japanese spindle plant grows well throughout the country, except for those exceptionally hot, dry, and humid regions. It does well in coastal gardens, tolerating wind and salt spray. Newly planted shrubs need regular, consistent water during their first one to two growing seasons to build deep, strong roots.

Japanese spindle plants must have well-draining soil. They resent overwatering and do not tolerate soggy, waterlogged conditions or "wet feet," which can cause root rot. Once fully established the shrub is drought tolerant, and will handle dry spells and hot summer weather well with minimal extra water.

Members can click here to read more about Japanese Spindle Plants

Japanese Laurel (Aucuba japonica)

Acuba japonica. Image by jacqueline macou from Pixabay

Aucubas are a small group of evergreen shrubs that are native to woodlands and mountains all over Japan and China, occurring in the rich forest soils of moist valleys, dense forests, thickets, streams, and near moist shaded rocks. The plants grow slowly to 1.5-2m tall, with a 1m spread, producing tiny maroon flowers in spring, followed by red berries in autumn. Only the female plants bear berries, but many named cultivars like 'Gold Dust' are female and thus bear autumn fruit.

All gardens have problem areas where it seems that nothing will grow, and most often these tend to be in the shade. As too much direct sun can scorch or bleach its leaves, the Japanese laurel prefers shade, and its gorgeous foliage will brighten up even deeply shaded spots. An added bonus is that this shrub will grow remarkably well in dry shade; either under large trees that compete for moisture, next to a wall or under the eaves of a house.

The Japanese laurel is also renowned for its robustness, facing urban pollution, salty coastal winds, and cold. The only thing it can’t handle well is being cold and wet, but whatever the Japanese laurels shortcomings may be, succumbing to most tough growing conditions isn’t one of them.

Its colourful eye catching foliage will add interest and brighten up even the dullest corner of your garden. It makes a compact screening plant that is ideal for city gardens.

Young plants need regular, consistent watering while developing their root systems. Established plants are drought tolerant, but will look at their best in the garden if they are watered occasionally during long hot and dry summer spells. The plant needs well-drained soil and dislikes being waterlogged.

Members can click here to read more about Japanese Laurel

Mirror Bush (Coprosma repens)

Coprosma 'Pink Splendour' winter colouring

Coprosma repens is a shrub or small evergreen tree with glossy green leaves, and this native of New Zealand can be found growing wild on exposed coastal cliffs as well as in more sheltered areas. The bad news is that when the highly adaptive green-leaved Coprosma repens is grown in optimum climatic conditions, like hot frost free regions with an annual rainfall of over 600mm or more, and on good soils, it tends to become a weed. This fact has forced many countries like Australia and South Africa to ban its marketing.

The good news is that thanks to talented plant breeders who saw the potential of Coprosma repens, many wonderful variegated garden varieties are now available in exciting colours. These are not invasive because they are reproduced only from cuttings from selected male or female plants, and many do not bloom at all.

There is an astounding number of named varieties, including larger growing types that can reach 2-2.5m tall, like ‘Variegata’ and 'Marble Chips' with their green and creamy-white foliage, and ‘Taupata Gold’ with its decorative golden yellow leaves with bright green centres.

Medium-sized varieties which can reach 1.5-2m tall include: 'Copper Shine' with dark green leaves overlaid with copper hues, and 'Silver Queen' which is neat and compact with deep green leaves with a silvery sheen and creamy-white margins.

Small varieties can grow 1-1.5m tall. Popular varieties include: 'Pink Splendour' with lovely green, pink and cream leaves, which darken in winter, putting on a spectacular show, ‘Pacific Night’ with purple to burgundy leaves, and ‘Pacific Sunset’  with its wave-shaped leaves with vivid red centres framed by burgundy to chocolate-brown margins. 

The plants resistance to drought, poor soil, wind and salt spray is remarkable, making it suitable for planting in difficult coastal areas and in the interior, except for those regions with harsh winter frost. It is known as a reliable foliage plant that you can plant and then forget about.

Although the mirror bush is drought tolerant and can survive for long periods without water once it is established, to keep it looking at its best in the garden water moderately during dry and hot summer months. Watch out for overwatering as this causes the leaves to drop.

Mirror bushes will grow in sun or semi-shade, and because they have a dense growth habit and can be trimmed into shape at any time, they make lovely hedging and screening plants. They are excellent planted on banks and underneath trees, or as a filler plant underneath palms to create a tropical look. All varieties, but especially the smaller growing types are enchanting when planted in pots.

Also remarkable is the way fire will kill only the top growth but the plant will survive and regenerate from the roots, making Coprosma excellent for windbreaks in windswept coastal gardens.

Members can click here to read more about Mirror Bushes

Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo (Nandina)

Nandina domestica. Image by JamesDeMers from Pixabay

Nandina is native to eastern Asia, from the Himalayas to Japan. It is one of those remarkably handy garden plants which always looks gorgeous in all seasons. It is very easy to grow throughout South Africa, and will grow in full sun or semi-shade.

Nandina domestica is an erect shrub about 2-3m tall, with numerous straight, stems which spread by suckering from the roots and spreading slowly. Sporadically throughout summer and into autumn a profusion of flower spikes appear in arching panicles at the tips of the branches, adorned with small white flowers with showy yellow anthers. In the dwarf types the flowers are smaller and often hidden amongst the leaves. In winter, and especially in cold regions, the leaves turn a fiery-red leaves throughout winter if the plant is sited in full sun.

‘Fern Flame’ has lovely yellow-green leaves in summer, turning red in winter.

‘Golden Flame’ is a variety with green foliage in summer which turns yellow in winter.

Nandina domestica 'Pygmaea'

'Pygmaea' is a dwarf nandina which only grows about 50cm tall with an equal spread. It is prized by gardeners worldwide for its beautiful foliage, which turns red in winter and its neat round shape.

Nandina domestica is one of the toughest and most adaptable plants to add a soft accent to gardens of all kinds. Its dainty foliage contrasts well with bold leafed plants and shows up well against light coloured buildings. It thrives in large containers, and if it is tucked into a corner it can reach the eaves of the roof; making it a valuable vertical accent plant to use near entrances, pools and patios. It can be pruned down to any height, and if planted closely together can be used as a screen or hedge.

Dwarf heavenly bamboo is very trendy as the delicate appearance of this plant makes it a good contrast for bold leaved plants, and if it is planted 50cm apart and pruned lightly in spring, this little shrub makes a wonderful edging plant, low-growing hedge, or a neat groundcover for large areas where there is no foot traffic.

Although well-established plants will tolerate wind and survive short periods of drought quite well, the plants will look at their best in the garden if the soil is kept moist and if they are sheltered from strong winds.

Members can click here to read more about Nandina

Natal Bauhinia, Natalsebeesklou (Bauhinia natalensis)

Bauhinia natalensis. Picture courtesy Bárbol from flickr

Although the Natal bauhinia is easy to grow and well suited to cultivation, sadly it is rare in the wild and its distribution is confined to the Eastern Cape and the southern KwaZulu-Natal coastal strip, where it can be found growing in valley bushveld and scrub, up to an altitude of 1 250m.

It is a fast growing, multi-stemmed evergreen which starts flowering when young, and will reach maturity within a few years. It is the daintiest of the South African bauhinia species with small yet distinctive butterfly-shaped leaves and large, lightly scented white flowers, with some of the petals adorned with delicate maroon-red or deep pink stripes. Flowering times vary according to region. The trees erupt into bloom on a regular basis, normally shortly after rain, but the main flowering time is from November to April and is so profuse that almost the entire bush is covered with blooms.

The Natal bauhinia is suitable for gardens large and small because it does not have an aggressive root system and it can easily be pruned to keep it smaller. It also does well in containers, and is sought after by bonsai growers, so even if you only have a small balcony garden you can grow one.

It makes a statement when grown as a solitary specimen, but looks especially lovely when grown in groups of three of five. It is also a wonderful filler plant for the mixed shrub border, a great choice to plant against fences and walls, and is very effective near water features and ponds. Because of its multi-stemmed growth habit it can make a pretty informal hedge if it is clipped into shape regularly.

It prefers well-drained soil and does well even in poor soil conditions. Young plants need heavy drenching until they are well established, but once established only a moderate amount of water throughout the year is required, and overwatering will actually reduce the flower crop. During severe dry periods, it may drop some leaves as a semi-deciduous survival trait, then re-sprout when the rains return. Because this plant will tolerate almost any given rainfall, it is considered to be quite drought hardy and a great water-wise plant for the garden.

Members can click here to read more about the Natal Bauhinia

September Bush, Butterfly Bush, Purple Broom, Augustusbossie, ulopesi; umabalabala (Polygala)

Polygala myrtifolia. Image by Hans from Pixabay

Colourful and free flowering, polygalas are low-maintenance plants that require very little watering once established, making them ideal to plant in the low water usage area of your garden, and in rock gardens. Because they will grow in sun or semi-shade they are perfect for those difficult garden beds that change from full sun to semi-shade with the seasons.

They grow well inland and at the coast, and are a valuable addition to fynbos or Mediterranean style gardens. Plant them in shrub borders and on the fringes of woodland gardens. Planted closely together they make an excellent fast growing windbreak or informal screen or hedge. In tiny gardens the taller growing species can be trained into a small tree, and the smaller growing species do well on pots and make pretty border plants. 

Because polygalas come in tall and dwarf forms, grow very quickly, and do not have invasive roots, they are perfect for gardens large and small – even a small balcony garden could support one.

September bush, Blou-ertjieboom, Ulopesi, Uchwasha (Polygala myrtifolia)

This well-known polygala grows wild in both the summer and winter rainfall regions; from Niewoudtville in the north-western Cape to the south-western and Eastern Cape, extending into KwaZulu-Natal, and northern Lesotho. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats like dune scrub, grassy slopes, and along the margins of forests and streams. It is saline tolerant and a perfect coastal pioneer plant.

Once established it will withstand long periods of drought and high temperatures. It is also able to survive low temperatures and moderate frost, if protected in winter.

It varies in height and spread, depending on climatic conditions, but generally forms a medium-sized shrub 1-3m tall, with an attractive rounded crown and an almost equal spread. Its glossy, myrtle-like leaves are variable in shape, and the flowers come in shades of magenta and mauve, to white. Flowering can occur intermittently throughout the year, but is especially prolific in late winter to early spring and summer, peaking in October. Some forms have thin, needle-like leaves, and can grow into a small tree, about 4m tall.

'Glentana' is much shorter than P. myrtifolia, with a more compact growth habit, smaller leaves, and purple flowers.

'White Feathers' bears an abundance of white flowers from August to October, and sporadically throughout summer. It’s slightly grey leaves make this polygala a perfect contrast plant.

Butterfly Bush, Ertjieblom, Ithethe, Ulopesi (Polygala fruticosa)

This polygala has a long flowering time during the summer months, but reaches its peak between September and November, carrying its magenta flowers at the tips of its branches. The green-grey leaves are also most attractive. It occurs from the south-western Cape to KwaZulu-Natal; grows up to 2m tall, and tolerates acid or alkaline, sandy and clay soils, as long as they drain well. Because it grows naturally next to the sea it is an ideal shrub for coastal gardens, but it will also tolerate moderate frost once established. When young, protect it in winter, and try to site it in a sheltered part of the garden.

'Southern Shores' was selected by Kirstenbosch horticulturalists for its masses of dark magenta flowers, round compact growth habit, around 1m tall, and its attractive, bluish-green leaves. It is an ideal small shrub or potted plant for coastal gardens, tolerating drought and high temperatures with ease. It does well in a mixed border, in rockeries, on slopes, and in retaining walls.

'Petite' is a hardy, little shrub, growing 40cm to 1m tall, with clusters of magenta flowers from August to May. It is fairly hardy to frost and tolerates quite dry conditions. The shiny, grey-green, heart-shaped leaves have red margins, and the young leaves are a shiny, coppery pink. This beautiful plant is great in a mixed border, rockeries, retaining walls, or pots.

Purple Broom, Persbesem, Ithethe, Hlokoa leleue, Ea moru (Polygala virgata)

Polygala virgata is a slender evergreen shrub with a willowy branched crown, growing 1.5-2.5m tall. It grows wild in both our winter and summer rainfall regions; from the southern Cape to Limpopo, and extending into tropical East and West Africa. It grows naturally along forest margins and next to streams, flourishing in seasonally moist spots. It is common on bushy hillsides, and on sandstone, clay, or limestone slopes. Forms of this species that originate in the Drakensberg are very hardy to frost.

Polygala virgata is moderately drought hardy once established, but looks at its best if given moderate water during long hot and dry spells. It is an outstanding garden plant that produces masses of erect or drooping sprays of purplish-magenta or pink flowers for up to six weeks in spring, and often intermittently throughout the year. Because it is such a slender shrub its ideal for both small and large gardens, and in large gardens it gives a beautiful effect if planted in groups.

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New Zealand Flax, Mountain Flax, Wharariki (Phormium)

Phormium cookianum 'Cream Delight'. Image by K M from flickr

Flax is endemic to New Zealand and Norfolk Island, and there are two confirmed species, Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum. It is an excellent architectural specimen with a striking geometric shape, and the modern hybrids have intriguingly coloured foliage featuring variegated leaves, striped or edged with green, cream, yellow, chocolate-brown, bronze, pink, red, orange, apricot or purple.

They are all wonderful for low maintenance flower and shrub borders, in gravel or rock gardens, or at the edge of a lawn. Use them in featured mass plantings, along roadsides, and in parks. They are also suitable to plant near buildings and in courtyards; and the smaller varieties grow beautifully in pots.

New Zealand Flax, Coastal Flax (Phormium tenax)

This flax is the larger and more common plant in cultivation, with rigid, upright leaves, from 1-3m in length. It naturally grows in coastal areas in seasonally dry or wet soil, and even swamps. It has high drought tolerance once it is established, making it very adaptable. Although it handles dry spells well, it looks lusher with occasional deep watering.

Mountain Flax (Phormium cookianum)

The Mountain Flax is a smaller more graceful plant with drooping leaves which are less than 2m in length. It is drought tolerant, but is not as hardy as New Zealand Flax, as it prefers cooler, moist mountain or coastal climates. Therefore, it requires more consistent moisture and regular watering compared to Phormium tenax and its tougher hybrids.

Both species are hardy evergreens which tolerate heat, drought, frost, and low temperatures once established. They grow well throughout South Africa and are excellent coastal plants, but in humid regions require very well-drained soil.

The hybrids with their colourful leaves are usually less tolerant of cold temperatures which scald the leaves, and extremely hot and dry conditions can result in sunburn. The upright growing cultivars are less affected by these extremes in temperature than the Mountain Flax which is less tolerant. Therefore, it would be wise to use cultivars with drooping leaves in bright shade and where there is protection from the fierce midday sun. Luckily the hybrids are nearly as drought resistant as the species, but to look at their best in the garden they require moderate watering during long dry spells.

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Pincushion Protea (Leucospermum)

 Leucospermum Yellow Image by Chesna from Pixabay

Most Leucospermum species are native to the Western Cape Province, where they hug the coastline and extend up the west coast to Vanrhynsdorp. Their range also spreads eastwards to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). In the wild they can be found growing in a variety of habitats, including scrub, forest edges, and mountain slopes.

The Cape flora thrives under highly variable climatic conditions. A maximum temperature of 32°C is not uncommon during the summer months, particularly in the Sandveld and Cederberg regions. The mountain ranges are cooled in summer with the effects of prevailing winds, mists and cloud, and in winter snow falls regularly, and the minimum temperatures occasionally fall below 0°C, but only for short periods of time.

Many Proteaceae occur in regions where the rainfall is low, varying between 180mm to 2 500mm per annum, and for this reason you will find that many species form large colonies in depressions, gullies, valleys, and on south-facing slopes, where water seeps deep down into the soil, and which the plants utilise during the dry months.

Although pincushion proteas are part of the fynbos floral kingdom, as long as they are planted and cared for correctly they thrive in many provinces of South Africa, and around the world. They adapt easily to our summer rainfall regions, and once the plants are established they will tolerate drought and moderate frost.  In South Africa, you will find pincushions in flower from July to November.

Pincushions area wonderful low-maintenance, water-wise plants which bloom prolifically and are known for their hardiness.  They can be used as filler shrubs or as beautiful, stand-alone specimen plants. Picushions are perfect planted between large rocks and in open bed plantings, together with other fynbos species.

Pincushion, Speldekussing (Leucospermum cordifolium)

Leucospermum cordifolium is one of the most decorative of the pincushions and makes a fine show in the garden. Naturally it occurs only in the winter rainfall region of in the South Western Cape, in a fairly small area from Kogelberg to Soetanysberg near Bredasdorp, where it thrives in the wet winters and hot, dry summers of this region, growing on slopes close to the ocean, in gravely, nutrient poor, acidic soils.

Cultivars of this plant come in colours ranging from pale yellow and orange to deep orange-red. The flowers can appear at any time from late winter to early spring and summer, and a mature plant can carry as many as 300 or more flowers at one time.

Vuurhoutjies, Matches Pincushion (Leucospermum tottum)

Leucospermum tottum is a handsome, much branched shrub which produces an abundance of pale pink to salmon-orange flowers, which give the impression of growing more or less horizontally at the end of the branches. The flowering season starts in mid-October and lasts until the end of December.

It occurs only in the winter rainfall areas of the south-western Cape, from the Cederberg to above Villiersdorp, and particularly in the mountainous regions where it can be found growing on sandstone slopes at altitudes between 300 and 2000m, in acid, nutrient poor soils.

Outeniqua Pincushion, Outeniqua Speldekussing (Leucospermum glabrum)

Leucospermum glabrum has a single stem with a thick trunk, growing quite vigorously to form a neat, rounded shrub.  The lush foliage is a dark glossy green, and the new growth is a soft red blush. This prolific flowering pincushion blooms from late spring to early summer, August to October, producing exceptionally showy crimson flower heads that show up beautifully through the silky white hairs, which cover the buds.  Many lovely compact hybrid varieties are available for gardeners.

Its Conservation status is Endangered (Red Data List October 2007) and it occurs only in the Outeniqua and Tsitsikama Mountains at altitudes of 150 to 500m, where it can be found growing in isolated stands on the cooler southern slopes.

Rocket Pincushion, Perdekop (Leucospermum reflexum)

When in full bloom rocket pincushions will definitely be a talking point in the garden with their unusual shape and fiery, deep orange to crimson, or clear yellow flower heads. The styles of the young flowers curve to start with and then bend back completely toward the stem as they mature. Flowering is from spring to midsummer, August to December. The leaves are a lovely silvery-grey and covered with dense grey hairs.

Leucospermum reflexum is recorded as having a threatened status of NT (near threatened) at present. The plants occur in the Cederberg, from Wuppertal to Pakhuis, and the yellow variety Leucospermum reflexum var. luteum, comes from the Heuningvlei area in the Cederberg. The plants usually occur in groups of a few hundred, at altitudes ranging between 1 000 to 2 000m. In summer temperatures can soar to well over 30°C, and in winter they can drop below zero. These areas are also very dry and arid, but stands of plants can also be found growing on sandstone soils near streams and other water sources.

Modern Hybrids

Species like Leucospermum cordifolium, Leucospermum tottum, Leucospermum reflexum, Leucospermum lineare, and Leucospermum glabrum have been widely crossed with each other to produce a wide range of lovely modern hybrids for the home gardener, many of which are a lot more compact and can be grown in pots. However, for conservation purposes, many gardeners still prefer to plant non-hybridised species, and many indigenous nurseries carry them.

'Annamarie' (Reflexum Hybrid) is a lovely light orange cut flower.  

'Goldie’ (Cuneiform) is a rich yellow pincushion that is suitable for smaller gardens and does very well in a pot.

'High Gold' (Cordifolium x Patersonii) This bright yellow pincushion is a strong grower and good for the garden or as a container plant.

'Scarlet Ribbon' (Tottum x Glabrum) is a vigorous grower and very floriferous, with gorgeous red cut flowers. It grows very well in large pots.

'Soleil' (Cordifolium x Glabrum) has unusual yellow to apricot coloured cut flowers and does well in pots.

'Succession' (Cordifolium x Lineare) is one of the best salmon-pink pincushions available as a cut flower, and it does very well in a pot.

Leucospermum 'Yellow Rocket' (Reflexum) has soft yellow flowers on long stems, which contrast perfectly with its grey leaves. Although tall, it does well in a container.

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Proteas (Proteaceae)

Protea repens. Image by padikel from Pixabay

As the majority of our Protea species belong to the Cape floral kingdom, their main flowering season is during the rainy winter season, spanning late autumn, winter, and early spring (May to October). While winter and spring see the highest activity, certain winter rainfall species may start budding as early as April, or stretch into mid-summer, depending on local climate and rainfall patterns.

The range of some species in the wild transitions from the winter rainfall regions into the summer rainfall regions, and this affects their blooming times.

There are also many notable summer rainfall species that are loved by gardeners for their summer blooms.

Red Protea, Rooisuikerkan (Protea grandiceps)

Protea grandiceps is widespread from the Cape Peninsula and Hottentots-Holland Range to Riviersonderend, Outeniqua, Winterhoek and Kammanassie Mountains, where it can be found growing on dry to occasionally moist sandstone slopes, and is often found on peaks and steep rocky slopes where it is relatively safe from fires.

This protea produces long lasting red flower heads, and with its broad blue-green leaves and compact shape it makes a perfect shrub for the garden. The flower bracts are brick-red and heavily bearded with a thick fringe of hairs. The colour of the hairs of the beard ranges from brown to pure white or maroon, depending on where the species is growing naturally. It begins to flower in spring, and produces flower heads abundantly until mid-summer (December to January).

Sugarbush, Suikerbos (Protea repens)

This sturdy, dense shrubcan be found growing from high in the mountains of the Bokkeveld Escarpment, along the South West Cape, to east of Makhanda (Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape. Although it mostly occurs on the flats, coastal forelands, and lower and middle, mountain slopes. it has been found at altitudes up to 1 500m, scattered in between other fynbos plants, or in dense stands.

Its flowering period varies from winter flowering in the western part of its range to summer flowering in its eastern range. The flowers are fairly large and chalice-shaped, ranging in colour from a creamy-white to white touched with pink, to deep red varieties.

Protea repens is one of the most adaptable and reliable proteas to cultivate because it will grow in a wide range of soils, and growing conditions. There are variants which tolerate frost and temperatures down to -4°C, as well as those for gardens with nearly subtropical conditions.

Protea repens has many gorgeous compact varieties that grow around 2.5m tall with an equal spread.

'White Daddy' produces its creamy-white flowers from May to July.

'Early Daddy' produces its lovely rosy-red flowers appear from December to March.

'Sugar Daddy' produces its lovely crimson-red flowers appear from February to May.

'Red Repens' produces fabulous red blooms from December to February. This dense shrub grows tall and makes an excellent specimen or screening plant.

Narrow-leaf Protea, Baardsuikerbos (Protea neriifolia)

The narrow-leaf protea is a very widespread species which grows on the southern coastal mountain ranges from just east of Cape Town and all the way to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). It can often be spotted growing in large stands, at altitudes from sea-level to 1300m, growing mainly on soils derived from Table Mountain sandstone.

This protea has a wide variation in both flower colour and flowering times, depending on location and altitude. Plants growing in the western part of its range flower anytime from late summer, autumn and into winter (February to July), while the plants growing within its eastern range flower from spring to early summer (August to November).

The colourful bracts vary from creamy-green, through silvery-pink to deep carmine-red, and the beards can be purple-black to pure white.

Protea neriifolia has a wider tolerance than most other proteas and can be grown easily in both the summer and winter rainfall regions of South Africa, even withstanding light, but brief frosts. The shrubs are quite fast growing and can reach a height of 3-5m.

Protea neriifolia has many beautiful hybrids which are compact and grow around 2m tall with a 1.5m spread, and which tolerate light to moderate frost once established.

'Cream Mink' produces creamy, lime-green flowers with dark tufts on top.

'Limelight' produces delightful lime-green flowers with purple-red tufts on top.

'Blackbeard' produces  lovely terracotta-red flowers.

Transvaal Sugarbush, Transvaalbergsuikerbos, segwapi (Protea rubropilosa)

This summer rainfall species from the Northern Province and Mpumalanga, occurs in an arc along the Drakensberg escarpment from Wolkberg in the north to Lydenberg in the south. It is found on south facing slopes at altitudes of between 1 400 to 2 300m, and these high altitudes result in frequent mists and more than 1 000mm of rain in summer. Protea rubropilosa forms open woodlands on acidic soils originating from sandstone or quartzite.

Individual flower heads appear on the tips of branches in spring and early summer (September to December). First to appear are the rich red-brown, velvety buds with white fluffy tips which continue pushing open the bud until the bracts open up flat to reveal bright pink flowers guaranteed to catch your eye.

Wild specimens which are ravaged by a harsh climate become gnarled shrubs only reaching 1m. Cultivated plants have a spreading, rounded shape with foliage touching the ground and can reach up to 8m tall.

Waterlily Sugarbush, Lippeblomsuikerbos, igwanishe, isiqane, isiqalaba (Protea subvestita)

The waterlily sugarbush grows on rocky sandstone slopes in the summer rainfall regions from the Drakensberg Escarpment near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, through KwaZulu-Natal, to Somerset East in the Eastern Cape, with another population in the Klein Swarterg. It thrives in montane, highland sourveld and fynbos at altitudes between 1 200 to 2 300m, were it forms open woodland. It is also seen in infrequently burned areas, often in gullies, scarps, and forest margins.

This protea makes a wonderful large shrub or small tree in the garden, growing 2-5 m tall, with a single trunk. It produces its flower heads in summer and autumn (December to June), but is most abundant from mid to late summer, (January to March). The flower bracts vary in colour from carmine or pink, to orange-pink and creamy-white. The leaves are covered with woolly hairs when immature, becoming hairless when mature. Once established it is moderately hardy to short periods of frost.

Highveld Sugarbush (Protea caffra)

The Highveld Sugarbush produces pale red, pink, and carmine to cream or pinkish-white, blooms, complemented by pale silvery-white or ivory stamens. It is a widespread tree-protea found across the cooler interior grasslands and ridges of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and the Free State. It is well-adapted to seasonal frost and summer storms.

Silver Sugarbush (Protea roupelliae)

This protea is easily recognizable by its hairy silver leaves and pink or red cup-shaped flowers. It is common along the Drakensberg on high-altitude, rocky outcrops.

Waterlily Sugarbush (Protea subvestita)

The waterlily sugarbush forms a large shrub or small tree with pink to creamy-white flower heads. It flourishes in montane sourveld and sandstone slopes from Mpumalanga down to the Eastern Cape.

Drakensberg Sugarbush (Protea dracomontana)

This sugarbush produces creamy white to pink, carmine red or creamy yellow, blooms, and often their tips are flushed in pink. It is a compact, showy shrub found in high-altitude grasslands near the Lesotho border. It survives both intense summer fires and heavy winter snow.

Blyde Sugarbush (Protea laetans)

This sugarbush is endemic to the Mpumalanga escarpment and re-sprouts quickly after grassland fires. The flowers heads are a rich reddish-pink.

Protea curvata

Protea curvata is a rare, localized species native to the hot, subtropical serpentine soils around Barberton. The flowers feature deep pink bracts and pale pink or flesh-coloured to whitish perianths.

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Wild Dagga, Wildedagga, Umunyane, Umfincafincane, Lebake, Umhlahlampetu, Imvovo (Leonotis leonurus)

Leonotis leonurus Image by BudOhio from flickr

This outstanding indigenous plant has become an extremely popular garden subject because of its brilliant orange flowers, fast growth, and adaptability to a wide range of climatic conditions throughout the country. White, light-orange and peachy-orange forms are also available. Blooms are produced in abundant whorls along the stems in late summer, autumn, and even into winter, depending on localized growing conditions. The base of the flowers is filled with sweet nectar, attracting bees, moths, butterflies, birds and insects to the garden.

‘Golden Velvet’ is a wonderful golden orange form.

 ‘White Lion’ is a beautiful creamy-white form which is rare in the wild and propagated from cuttings as it does not breed true to type from seed. It reaches the same height and spread as its orange cousins and performs equally well in the garden.

‘Harrismith White’ is another extremely good white variety.

Wild dagga does not have aggressive roots and is perfect for gardens small and large. Try planting it in groups at the back of the mixed shrub border, interspersed with the white flowered forms to create a brilliant contrast. It is essential in all indigenous wildlife gardens; and a beautiful addition to grassland and fynbos gardens.

Young plants need regular watering until their root systems are established. Mature plants handle dry periods very well, though they look their best with the occasional deep watering during extended dry spells. The plant requires fast-draining soil and can suffer if left in standing water or heavy, soggy clay. Leonotis growing in the wild often die back after flowering, with new growth appearing again in spring; but in warmer gardens where it is watered in winter it will remain evergreen.

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