Angelonia angustifolia Waterfall Mix
Angelonia or summer snap dragons are perfect for hot summer gardens. Their cool and refreshing colours range from lilac to purple and then to white. They handle hot conditions well and so are perfect for summer South African gardens!
Angelonia have a mounded, upright growth habit with a spread of approximately 30cm. Ensure they are planted in full sun. They need little water to establish and then are quite waterwise as they are able to cope in the heat.
Summer snap dragons are care free, continuous bloomers – a cool must for summer!
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
North West Stockists:
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Gaura ‘Belleza’
Gaura’s are commonly known as the Butterfly Bush, Bee Blossom, Angel Wings, Butterflies in the Wind or Wand Flower.
Gaura ‘Belleza’ is a gardener’s dream as it is easy to grow, is fast growing and has a long lasting display of blooms.
It is a perennial plant with green foliage and has a clumping, upright, airy habit. It is a compact grower that can reach a height of 30-45cm.
Gaura plants enjoy growing in the sun. They are tolerant of poor soils, but will give better results if planted in well drained compost enriched soil. Gaura needs regular water but once established it is water wise and hardy.
The Butterfly Bush flowers from early summer right through autumn. The stems of Gaura ‘Belleza RED’ are lined with delicate open five petaled red/ flowers that have long prominent anthers.
Gaura ‘belleza WHITE has clear white flowers which form a contrast against its attractive green foliage. Gaura blooms open a few at a time with the fading flowers falling neatly from the stems as new ones open. They are butterfly and bee magnets.
Gaura’s are trouble free, low maintenance plants. A quick cut back of old flower stems when untidy you will encourage new growth and flowers.
Plant them in masses in the garden or with other perennials in your mixed border. In containers they are a delight with their continuous flowers.
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
North West Stockists:
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Lobelia ‘Curacao’ (Blue)
It is said that plants and colour are hugely influenced by fashion, if this is so then the trend for Curacao blue is going to be huge. It will be a must have for gardens as shades of blue and sea green are currently a fashionable trend.
Lobelia Curacao ‘Blue’ is part of a versatile series of Lobelia. Its colour is absolutely striking. This little plant not only looks good planted by itself but also will create great contrasts with white and yellow. One just has to look at the colourful gardens at Disney’s Epcot centre to see what fun Curacao blue and any bright yellow flower can create.
This Lobelias intense, brilliant blue flower have a bright, white eye and very good flowering characteristics. It becomes covered in blue flowers from spring through summer amd right into the autumn months .Although Lobelia ‘Curacao Blue ‘ will grow in sun or semi-shade remember there will be less flower/ leaf ratio in shaded spots.
‘Curacao’ has a mounding habit and grows to a height of 15 to 25cm. It has a spread of 20 to 30cm. It is fast growing, so keep your plant neat and tidy by giving it a trim when necessary. The trim will also do wonders in generating new growth and of course new flowers.
Plant your Lobelia in well drained, composted enriched soil to ensure it is happy and healthy. An even longer flowering performance will be guaranteed by adding extra fertiliser to the soil. Be cautious of over watering as this will encourage root rot…. Lobelia has excellent heat tolerance.
Plant Lobelia Curacao in garden beds, in containers or in hanging baskets. Its strong performance and brilliant colour will give you months of pleasure……and you’ll be high fashion in the gardening arena!
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
North West Stockists:
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Cheeky Chillies
Chillies are the most rewarding plants to grow. They are as hot on the eye as on the tongue, with glossy, multi-coloured fruit that glows against the dark green leaves.
Interestingly, chilli peppers are not actually peppers. They belong to the capsicum branch of the plant family, which includes the potato, the aubergine and the tomato. Their cultivation stretches back as far as 9000 years to Mexico where the first wild varieties were used. The Spaniards and Portuguese introduced the chilli to the rest of the world in the mid-15th century.
Chillies proved easy to grow in most climates and were readily assimilated into the varied regional cooking styles. Since then chillies have become an essential part of the culinary landscape throughout Latin America, Indonesia, South East Asia, China, Japan, India, the Middle East and all parts of Africa.
Growing tips
Chillies are easy to grow. All they need is a sunny, sheltered spot, rich, well-drained soil and lots of water. Watering is critical because if chillies wilt they tend to drop their flowers and that means no fruit.
Feed monthly with any pot plant food or fertiliser, and harvest the chillies when they turn red or yellow. If planted in pots use the normal commercially available potting soil. Pots should not be smaller than 20cm in diameter and bigger is better. Water daily, especially those in pots, and when it is very hot this can be increased to twice a day.
The hottest health food around
Have you ever wondered why “heat” is such an important factor in chillies? The white fibrous membranes contain capsaicin, which gives the chilli its ‘bite’ and also helps to clear the lungs, improves circulation, acts as a painkiller for rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, has anti-inflammatory properties, relieves constipation and acts as an antioxidant.
When the capsaicin is eaten it stimulates the brain to release endorphins into the bloodstream, creating a natural high similar to that which athletes experience.
Erecta Gold
Botanical Name:
Duranta erecta
Benefits:
An eye catching hedging shrub used for borders in the garden. The bright golden colour may bring lovely contrasts in the garden. Also ideal to be made into standard lollypops.
Description:
Duranta erecta is an ornamental plant originating in the tropical areas of America. Also commonly known as the Brazilian sky flower. The foliage of the variegated varieties are most well known for their golden leaves and providing contrasts especially with red tones. The flowers formed on the plant droop down with clusters of tubular, lavender-blue flowers and will appear when conditions are favourable and attract butterflies. In some literature, the fruit of Duranta are described to have poisonous fruit containing hydrocyanic acid.
Light Requirements:
Full sun or semi shade
Water Requirements:
Well drained soil will be ideal as when established can be drought tolerant but can be grown in moderated watering schedule
Frost Resistance:
Frost tender
Free State Stockists
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Hecker Nursery – Boksburg
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Nicolas Plants – Northriding
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists
Mpumalanga Stockists
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg
North West Stockists
Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Phalaenopsis Orchid
Numerous elegant flowers gracefully wreathed over one or two arching stems resemble moths in flight, and give this orchid its name – the moth orchid. It is a plant which gives the home or office owner double delight. The first joy is to see the beautiful moth orchid for the first time, and the second is in the realisation that it is still flowering after up to three months.
Care instructions
Put in a little and get back a lot!
The moth orchid needs no special care, despite its movie star looks. Keep the plant in the see-through plastic container in which it is supplied. Notice that it grows in a special free-draining orchid medium, which looks like big bark chips.
Watering:
Run water through the pot for one minute to wet the potting mix thoroughly. Avoid getting water on foliage. Do not water again until the potting mix is almost dry. This wet to dry process can be 3 to 10 days – depending on the season and the humidity. Moth orchids are supplied in clear plastic pots, so check the moisture levels visually. If you see moisture inside the pot – wait another day before watering. In most cases watering is once every 7 days.
Light:
Bright but indirect sunlight is required to grow and to flower a phalaenopsis. Use leaf colour as a guide to measure if enough light is obtained by the plant. Leaf colour should be medium olive-green. Yellow or dark green usually indicates too much or too little light.
Ideal Indoor Temp:
Phalaenopsis grows best with high humidity. Stand the plant on a tray filled with pebbles to help with catching run-off water after watering and to increase humidity. Keep the bottom of the plastic pot above water level.
Usage:
Bedroom, Bathroom, Kitchen, Study, Office
Flowering Period:
3 months from date of purchase
Availability:
Year round
Special Points:
Draughts – keep your moth orchid out of the breeze.
January in the Garden
Although our purses are thin after the festive season and our energy levels still at a low ebb after the holidays, our dreams and passion for our gardens never dwindle. So, take a moment to reflect on a few international gardening trends which were noted in 2016, to see if you missed out. Then, make some resolutions and form some proudly South African trends of your own for 2017…
Trend 1: ‘Coloured structures’
Trendy homeowners paint bold elements like house walls, garden gates and solid fences in very dramatic colours against which to provide a contrast for either very architectural or subtly coloured plants. It is not unusual to see black or navy house walls complementing the lime-green branches of a fever tree.
Resolution: Use bold background colour on hard elements, to set off focal plants. You can even try mid-summer annuals in single colours like Portulaca – available in red, yellow, white or orange.
Trend 2: ‘Use the subtle characteristics of plants’
Appreciate the fact that slow growing, but long-living plants like trees and some shrubs can be beautiful and giving all year long – even if you see only bare branches in winter.
Resolution: Plant a tree today – even if it’s only a little ficus in a pot in your lounge! (This appears to have come into fashion again, as have shrubs like Philodendron selloum, with its huge leaves, dramatically displayed indoors in large glass vases!)
Trend 3: ‘Small scale landscapes’
Vertical gardening (with culinary herbs), terrariums, baby veggies (like cherry tomatoes) in pots, mixed herbs with colourful foliage (like purple-leaved basil and variegated thyme), are in! Another trendy option here is a potted garden with different salad types, combined with edible flowers.
Resolution: Don’t despair at your lack of space for a military style veggie garden – start getting your hands dirty and play around with pretty veggies and herbs in containers of all kinds.
Laurus Nobilis (Bay Leaf Tree)
Common Name:
Bay leaf
Benefits:
It is mostly used in cooking but also has medicinal properties.
Description:
Evergreen tree which may grow up to 12m. The tree or woody potted shrub bears dense, pointed, elliptical leaves, rather leathery in texture. Bright green when young and darker green when fully grown.
Light Requirements:
Full sun
Water Requirements:
Water regularly but sparingly during growing season. Do not overwater.
Frost Resistance:
The plant is frost hardy but frost and cold winter winds may damage the foliage.
Feeding:
Standard liquid feed every two weeks
Free State Stockists
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Hecker Nursery – Boksburg
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Nicolas Plants – Northriding
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists
Mpumalanga Stockists
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg
North West Stockists
Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Cyathea Australis
The rough tree fern is native to south eastern Australia. It grows naturally in the moist shady forest areas. It can grow up to 12m tall. It is tolerant to short periods of frost if the humidity is high. It is commonly used for a container plant and landscaping.
Free State Stockists
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Hecker Nursery – Boksburg
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Nicolas Plants – Northriding
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists
Mpumalanga Stockists
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg
North West Stockists
Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Vertical Summer Planting!
No one ever said that gardening needs to only be done horizontally - so onwards and upwards this summer - let’s get vertical with our plants! This is a great activity, particularly if you have limited space to garden.
This is such an easy-peasy idea to do with the kids and it makes use of recycled products, so it is definitely a winner this summer. Most of us will have some old 2 litre plastic cooldrink bottles lying around, but if not - raid the neighbours or throw a party so you have an excuse to buy some!
Once you have completed this fun DIY project, place it on the verandah or somewhere the kids can keep an eye on their project while it grows - this is the most exciting part.
Be sure to keep little hands away from the sharp objects, but let them get those little fingers nice and dirty with the planting.
What you will need:
- 2 or 3 x 2L plastic cooldrink bottles with lids (depending if they stand easy or not)
- Sharpened screwdriver
- Craft knife
- Permanent marker
- A medium-sized rectangular stencil
- Well-composted potting mix, enriched with fertiliser
- Weed barrier cloth
- Tomato seeds
- Spray bottle of water
Indoor Plant of the Month for January Philodendron Varieties
Philodendron Varieties How to choose water wise lawn alternatives
First, have a look at your garden and decide where you have ‘silly pieces’ of lawn, like:
• Bits of lawn between pavers
• A garden where the shape is rather tight
• Lawn under the eaves of a house
Visit your local GCA garden centre and ask for their advice on the best options of organic and inorganic alternatives
Try these:
Aloes
Clivia
Gazania
Vinca
Vygies
Paving
Gravel
Still want lawn? Plant types of lawn suitable for your site and region. Choose types that don’t guzzle water, but still remain lush. These include:
LM Lawn
Buffalo Lawn
Princess Lawn
For large open areas of land, choose indigenous, bird friendly grasses
Visit lifeisagarden.co.za for more!
Top Plants for January
A list of the top plants per region, for January, to order for your garden centre
Preview
Download here!
Esther Geldenhuys Rose
Since its release in 1987, it has become a standard variety for both gardeners and florists when produced outdoors & in greenhouses.
It combines vigour, a pleasing coral colour, an absolutely superb shape of bud & open bloom plus the ability to stay fresh on the bush & in the vase.
The Esther Geldenhuys rose was named after her in 1986 at the National Rose Congress by Wilhelm Kordes & Ludwig Taschner, in recognition of her enormous contribution to promote roses in South Africa.
She was a founding member of the World Rose Society, three times president of the South African Rose Society and a lifelong honorary president. She was editor of the world newsletter on roses, a co- author and translator of many rose and hosting books and writer for garden magazines. In 1998, she received the Gold Rosepin at the World Rose Conference in Belfast, Ireland and in 2002 she received an honorable mention from the American Rose Society.
Plant Height: Above Head Height
Colours: Coral Pink , Peach
Uses: Bedding, Cut-flowers, Spire
Free State Stockists:
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:
Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Ludwig’s Star Roses – Hillcrest
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
Garden Pavilion – White River
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg
North West Stockists:
Garden Pavilion – Geelhout
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort
Western Cape Stockists:
Ludwig’s Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Basil: Columnar
Ocimum basilicum var. (Columnar Basil) is also known as Greek Basil. Columnar Basil is a perennial plant that is strongly aromatic and is classified as a herb. It has a stately columnar appearance with lush green leaves.
Columnar Basil grows in the full sun to part shade in well-drained moist soil. It has average water needs and one should be aware of overwatering as this will cause it to rot.
Columnar basil is a strong flavoured basil. It is a culinary herb that can be used in the same way as Sweet Basil and therefore goes well in Italian, Mediterranean and Asian dishes. It is an excellent herb for pesto.
Basil can be used to repel Aphids, flies and mites and is a good idea to plant outside kitchen doors.
Columnar Basil does not seed and die as other Basils do and will last a lot longer in your herb garden .Ensure you make regular use of the leaves as this will encourage new growth and keep the plant fresh and happy. This Basil can easily be cut back later in the season to promote a second growth that will allow you to have the Basil over a longer period. In frost free areas, you can harvest leaves throughout the year as it does not die down.
Columnar/Greek Basil copes well in containers or when used in general garden beds.
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
North West Stockists:
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Rudbeckia ‘Denver Daisy’
For cheery yellow masses of show stopping colour one must plant Denver daisies.
These easy to care for compact plants produce large golden-yellow daisies with a black centre cone framed by a mahogany-red eye. They flower for months on end, starting in late summer and easily extending into the autumn months. Removing spent flowers regularly will greatly increase the flowering time.
Although the plants are fairly drought tolerant once established, their heat tolerance and strong stems guarantee success in extreme conditions.
Place them in a full sun position where their large flower heads will bloom at their best. Flowering stalks should reach between 45 and 50 cm in height.
Wonderful in mixed containers or use as bold mid bed colour where they will attract an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Great for use as cut flowers and awesome farmyard gardening alternative as they are said to not be a favorite of rabbits and buck!
Now is the perfect time to plant them for great festive season colour. They will also make unique gifts with Festive personalised tags!
Eastern Cape Stockists:
Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth
Free State Stockists:
Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein
Gauteng Stockists:
Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Safari Tuinsentrum – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg
Limpopo Stockists:
Mpumalanga Stockists:
North West Stockists:
Western Cape Stockists:
Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Builders Express – Kenilworth
Builders Express – Knysna
Builders Express – Stellenbosch
Builders Express – Willowbridge
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – George
Builders Warehouse – Helderberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg
**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**
Scabiosa Columbaria Butterfly Blue + Pink Mist (Pincushion Flower)
(Common name: Pincushion Flower)
A winner for all gardens!
Scabiosa is a stunning perennial addition to sunny gardens! This hardy, low growing plant produces an abundance of delicate pretty flowers, on thin wispy stems that brighten up the summer garden for months on end.
The Scabiosa (or Dipsacacease) family is large and found in Africa, Europe and Asia. Scabiosa columbaria is unfortunately not indigenous to South Africa, however it has been developed to become one of the most popular Scabiosa garden varieties that perform extremely well under our local conditions.
The delicate ‘pincushion’–type flowers are held high above the plant on sturdy stems. ‘Butterfly Blue’ blooms are a stunning lavender blue or lilac colour, whereas ‘Pink Mist’ blooms have delicate baby pink hues. The petal formation of the Scabiosa flower is varied and unique. A combination of large and small petals, are combined perfectly to attract butterflies and other insects that love the sweet nectar produced.
Scabiosa is a low maintenance gem.
As an herbaceous perennial they thrive in well drained soils, in sunny locations. The grey, green foliage remains relatively low growing, with the tall flower stems extending up to 30 or 40cm in height. They have normal watering requirements and can tolerate dry conditions if watered deeply and thoroughly between dry spells. Scabiosa are best planted in large groupings amongst a border and are an excellent rockery addition.
Scabiosa may also be referred to as the ‘Butterfly plant’. During Spring & Summer, butterflies regularly visit Scabiosa flowers, which are believed to be one of their favourite nectar plants.
Scabiosa flower from spring right through summer and well into autumn. Regular dead-heading of the blooms is extremely easy to carry out on the long stems and encourages additional flower formation. As such the ‘Pinchusion Flower’ adds colour, character and nectar to your garden for the entire growing season!
Cool Cucumbers
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are one of the few vegetables that can be sown in December in most areas – their planting window generally stretches from September to December. They are a quick crop too, with those sown at the beginning of this month having their first fruit ready for harvesting by the end of January. That’s good timing because cooling cucumbers are a mainstay of salads in the hotter months. They may not be the most tasty of the vegetables, but they are always refreshing, whether mixed with other salad ingredients or eaten on their own with a delicious dressing. They can also be juiced together with celery to produce a cooling drink that helps to stabilise the body temperature during dry and hot weather.
Types of cucumbers
Cucumbers belong to the same family as watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin and other types of squash. There are two basic types of cucumbers. The cucumber that is generally known as the English or Dutch cucumber is long and cylindrical, with a thin edible skin that may be slightly ridged or smooth. The shorter, fatter ‘Beta alpha’ or mini cucumber is still popular because of its quick yield. It has a better flavour than the English cucumber but some people like to peel it because the skin is thicker and may have small spines or prickles. It can be pickled to produce gherkins. Thinner cucumbers generally have fewer seeds than the thicker varieties.
Growing cucumbers
Cucumbers are ‘upwardly mobile’, so they don’t take up too much space in a small garden. The best way to support them is to make a frame consisting of poles at either end of the bed with additional poles placed by each plant. Wires are extended between the poles so that the growth from each plant can be wound around the wires.
Blueberry (Cyanococcus)
Could Blue berries be the world’s healthiest food? Blue berries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fruits!
Blue berries are easy garden plants and are generally trouble free from pest and and diseases. They should be planted in and open sunny position and will grow to 1, 5 m in height with a 1 – 2 m spread. They enjoy a moist acid soil, so ensure you mulch them well with a pine bark mulch.
Attractive white small cup shaped flowers are followed by delicious bunches of berries that are generally harvested in midsummer.
Prune your blue berry bush back in winter by cutting back old dry stems. When doing this keep in mind that blueberries fruit on the tip of the previous season’s growth. Pruning will encourage new growth and will result in larger earlier fruit
Gauteng Stockists:
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A Succulent Festive Gift
This year, give a gift that is practical, gorgeous, and super affordable!
Holiday season is upon us and we all know that shopping can be exhausting - not only the physical part of it, but the actual gift ideas and trying to find something that the receiver will love. It is also an expensive time of year, so gifts that don’t break the bank are absolute winners. That’s why this cute terrarium is the perfect DIY present this season.
This activity is fun and easy to do with the kids, and would be great for those end-of-year teacher gifts - even more so, if they make it themselves.
What you will need:
- A glass jar
- Drainage stones
- Activated charcoal (for a jar that has a lid)
- Potting mix / well-draining succulent soil if using succulents
- Plants (we used 1 large echeveria succulent)
- Decorative white stones
- Moss or Old Man’s Beard air plant
- Festive ribbon
- Scissors
