With South Africa being a drought-prone country and water a scarce resource, we are all affected as gardeners. The rains have been scarce this spring and it seems likely that we will be experiencing a dry season this year. Yet there are ways to keep the watering down to a minimum (mulching being one of them). Indigenous and water-wise gardening seem to go hand-in-hand. However, there are certain indigenous plants that are a must for the garden.
Some of the benefits of growing indigenous plants are:
- Good source of food and shelter for birds and wildlife
- Waterwise and better adapted to our drier conditions
- Creates a habitat for wildlife
- Often thrives in poorer quality soil
- Needs less care and attention
1. Kiggelaria africana –Wild peach
- Fast-growing evergreen tree
- Host to the Acraea ‘horta butterfly’
- Great for attracting birds and wildlife
- Colourful seed pods
- Ideal for small gardens
2. Halleria lucida – Tree fuchsia
- Evergreen tree or large shrub
- Arching drooping branches with glossy bright green foliage
- Tubular orange flowers that are rich in nectar
- Great for attracting birds and wildlife
3. Chondropetalum (Elegia) tectorum – Cape thatching reed
- Evergreen restio grass
- Great for flower arrangements
- Excellent in mass plantings or on its own as a specimen plant
- Can be used in bog or marsh gardens
- Works great with fynbos plants like proteas
4. Felicia amelloides – Kingfisher daisy
- Fast-growing bushy ground cover
- Long flowering striking blue flowers
- Acts as a pioneer plant
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Looks amazing in pots and containers
- Fun fact: used on our stamps
5. Plumbago auriculata – Cape leadwort
- Tough evergreen scrambling shrub
- Grows up to 2-3m in height
- Bears masses of light blue flowers during
- There is also a lovely white form
- Host plant to the common blue butterfly (Cyclyris pirithous)
- Great for hedging and screening
- Prune to rejuvenate
6. Tulbaghia violacea – Wild garlic
- Wild garlic is a quick growing bulbous plant
- Drought resistant and easy to grow
- Excellent repellent plant
- Brilliant pink to lavender coloured flowers during spring and summer
- Leaves can be used in salads or to add a garlic flavour to dishes
- Split and divide every five years
7. Plectranthus ecklonii ‘Mona lavender’
- Evergreen small shrub
- Perfect for under trees and shaded areas
- Attractive foliage with stunning flowers during summer
- They are known for their aromatic leaves
- Cut back after flowering
- Excellent for pots and containers
8. Tecoma capensis – Cape honeysuckle
- Fast-growing evergreen scrambling shrub
- Can grow up to 2m in height
- Protect from frost in winter
- Flowers regularly
- Colour varies from yellow, salmon to red and orange
- Can be used as a hedge or trimmed to make a neat shrub
- Tubular flowers attract nectar-feeding birds
9. Gazania krebsiana – Botterblom
- Tufted evergreen groundcover
- Easy to grow and waterwise
- Great for pots and containers
- The more sun, the better
- Flowers come in stunning variety of colours
10. Osteospermum hybrids – Cape daisy
- Easy to grow evergreen small shrub
- Cape daisies are waterwise and provide an abundance of colour
- Excellent for pots and containers
- Available in a stunning range of colours
- Prune back after flowering
- Great for sunny warm areas
Gardening with indigenous plants allows you enjoy all the colour and reward of gardening without the shock of a hefty water bill at the end of this month.