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Did you know that there are good plants and bad plants for your garden? Good plants promote biodiversity whilst bad plants are defined as the 198 invasive alien plants (IAPs) that are harmful to the environment (and are listed in the Conservation of Resources Act, 2001).
This August, Working for Water Nurseries Partnership Programme in association with Life is a Garden, the marketing arm of the South African Nursery Association and Rand Water, launches the 'Plant Me Instead' - Water Wise Campaign in local garden centres.
Plant me instead of what? Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are responsible for invading over ten million hectares of South Africa - or 10% of the land -- and sucking up 7% of all available water resources. This is approximately the same quantity of water needed for domestic homeowners, industry and agriculture. They also invade and destroy natural habitats, affecting South Africa's biodiversity negatively.
The national 'Plant Me Instead' campaign encourages gardeners to remove IAPs and plant good plants instead of bad plants. Category 1 IAPs are the worst and by law they must be removed and destroyed by law. These highly invasive weeds include trees such as the long-leaved wattle (Acacia longifolia), wax tree (Toxicodendron succedeana syn. Rhus succedeana), and bugweed (Solanum mauritianum).
Other undesirable environmentally damaging trees that will become Category 1 IAPs when new legislation is passed next year include the silver wattle (Acacia dealbata), the black wattle (A. mearnsii), the green wattle (A. decurrens), beefwood (Casuarina cunninghamia) horsetail tree (C. equisetifolia), many gum trees, honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), many pine species, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and certain weeping willows (Salix babylonica).
Plant trees
In the lead up to National Arbor Week (September 1-7), local garden centres are promoting the importance of planting a range of environmentally friendly 'Plant Me Instead' trees rather than allowing invasives to perpetuate in your garden.
What are the good trees and plants that you should be planting in your garden this month? Choose from the following frost tolerant trees:
- Monkey thorn (Acacia galpinii). Growing to 15m this indigenous bird- and butterfly attracting indigenous tree is for large gardens only.
- Tree aloe (Aloe barberae). At 10m tall with a narrow spread the architectural tree aloe is perfect for a modern small garden.
- Tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus). Growing to a height and spread of 5m, this graceful indigenous tree is covered with purple blooms in spring.
- Leopard tree (Caesalpinia ferrea). Although tender to frost, this graceful tree, with its yellow blooms and spotted bark, does well in gardens with a warm micro-climate. On the Highveld it typically grows to 4m tall.
- Wild laburnum (Calpurnea aurea). With its trusses of golden blooms in spring and height of 4m this eco-freindly indigenous plant is ideal for small gardens.
- White stinkwood (Celtis africana). The fruits of this slow growing 10m tall indigenous tree attract wildlife into the garden, while the bark is attractive when the tree is bare in winter.
- Pompom tree (Dais cotinifolia). The pink summer blooms of this 4m tall indigenous tree are highly ornamental.
- Ornamanental figs (Ficus benjamina & cvs.). Grow these frost-tender evergreen small trees in containers on the patio. Their attractive variegated foliage creates a tropical mood.
- Tree fuchsia (Halleria lucida). No bird garden is complete without the 5m tall tree fuchsia, which has nectar-rich red blooms in autumn, followed by berries.
- Lavender tree (Heteropyxis natalensis). The narrow growth habit of this 6m tall indigenous tree makes it an ideal choice for a small garden. The foliage turns red before falling in autumn, and the attractive bark makes for winter interest.
- Wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana). No Mediterranean-style garden is complete without the distinctive grey foliage of this 6m tall indigenous and water smart olive.
- Palms. The large evergreen foliage of all palm species adds a lush tropical ambience to the garden, and their narrow growth makes them a good choice for small gardens.
- Porkbush, spekboom (Portulacaria afra). With its ability to absorb huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, every carbon conscious gardener will want to plant one of these water smart 4m tall succulent trees. It tolerates mild frost only.
- Karee (Searsia lancea sun. Rhus lancea). The craggy growth habit of this 5m water smart indigenous tree makes an interesting silhouette while the blooms and berries attract butterflies and birds.
- White karee (Searsia pendulina syn. Rhus pendulina). The graceful growth habit of this 6m tall local tree make it a popular choice for small gardens.
- Waterberry (Syzigium cordatum). Growing slowly to 10m x 10m this neat evergreen indigenous tree attracts a host of wildlife. It is best for large gardens, and likes moisture.
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