Life is a Garden picks eight of the best summer-flowering shrubs to add vitality and colour to your garden design at this time of the year.
In summer, brightly coloured shrubs add colour and vitality to the garden. Shrubs with light coloured flowers show up well in the twilight, making the garden a pleasant place in which to relax when the heat of the day has passed.
Hydrangeas
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Hydrangeas can be depended on to produce a long-lasting display of white, pink, blue and lavender flowers throughout summer. Older varieties need plenty of space to spread, but newer cultivars have a compact growth habit that suits small gardens. The best known are hortensia hybrids, often referred to as mopheads because of their rounded inflorescences. Lacecap hydrangeas come in similar colours but are daintier, with flattish heads of fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of ray-florets. Grow hydrangeas in rich moist soil in dappled or filtered shade.
The oak-leafed hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia, does best in inland gardens. It forms a large, rounded deciduous shrub with an eventual height and spread of two metres and is of great garden value throughout the seasons, with panicles of white flowers that show up well among the green leaves in summer, followed by rich red and burgundy leaves in autumn.
Gardenias
Gardenias are grown for their richly fragrant flowers. Gardenia augusta from China and Japan has dark green shiny leaves and waxy white flowers, and the cultivar 'Florida' has double white flowers. Compact growing G. 'Radicans' is ideal for pot culture.
Gardenia thunbergia is an indigenous forest species that does best in warm climates. It grows to a height of 3m and has large, sweetly scented white flowers followed by egg-shaped fruits. Gardenias prefer a semi-shaded position and rich, slightly acidic soil. A mulch of pine bark or acid compost will help keep soil most. Water regularly when in flower and fertilise monthly.
Chinese lantern
Chinese lantern (Abutilon hybridum) is a soft-wooded upright shrub with brightly coloured, bell-shaped flowers that can be grown as a bush or standard. It belongs to the hibiscus family and is evergreen except in frosty areas. Many attractive cultivars are available in a variety of colours, such as 'Lemon Queen', 'Pink Bell' and 'Red Emperor'. Grow in full sun and water regularly.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Chinese rose, Rose of China) is ideal for sub tropical gardens. This fast growing evergreen has glossy green leaves and single or double flowers in shades of pink, yellow, orange, red and white, some with contrasting centres. 'White Butterfly' is a tall and erect hibiscus with dainty white flowers with prominent stamens. Grow hibiscus in full sun or semi shade and shelter from wind. Cut back in spring and remove any weak or crossed branches to encourage strong healthy growth.
Freylinia
The tropical freylinia (Freylinia tropica) is an indigenous evergreen shrub that produces white flowers with a hint of blue. New hybrid varieties such as the Freylinia 'Blue Splash' have distinctly blue flowers with petals the texture of crystals. Nectar loving birds, such as the collared sunbird, love the freylinia, more particularly as the flowers appear all year round. In nature, the shrub is found in dry woodlands, which means that it is ideally suited to a water wise garden. It will also thrive in a corner of the garden that has no irrigation or has been set aside as an undisturbed wildlife haven. The shrub makes a good 2m high screen and will thrive in a large container.
Pride-of-De Kaap
Many gardeners will be familiar with the Pride-of-De Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii) a large scrambling shrub that is indigenous to the Barberton area. When planted as a host plant, the Pride-of-De Kaap will attract butterflies, in particular the Charaxes jasius and Deudorix diocles.
Natal bauhinia
A lesser known, but equally attractive indigenous bauhinia is the Natal bauhinia (Bauhinia natalensis) is a fast growing 2m shrub that produces delicate bell-like flowers in summer. The blooms are white with faint red stripes on three of the petals to attract birds and butterflies. The small leaves are cleft and look like the footprint of a camel, hence the common name of 'camel's foot'. Growth is to 2metres in width and height. Grow as a single specimen in small gardens, or in groups in larger gardens.
Pink mallow
Pink mallow Anisodontea scabrosa is a rewarding indigenous shrub with a height and spread of 1.5m is covered in dainty pink flowers from early spring into autumn. This fast growing evergreen shrub grows in sun or semi-shade and that attracts butterflies. 'Miss Pinky' is more compact than A. scabrosa with larger light pink flowers with darker pink veining towards the centre.
Lion's ear
Lion's ear, lion's tail or wild dagga are common names for our indigenous leonotis that has distinct orange tubular flowers. Leonotis leonurus 'Alba' is an unusual white flowered variety with the curved flowers arranged in circular whorls up the stems. It is drought resistant and attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. Grow this slender upright shrub in full or part sun at the back of a border.
