Autumn Archives - Life is a Garden

Fern Fountain DIY

DIY, March DIY, greenry, ferns, hanging baskets, Handy, Creative, Do it yourself, life is a garden

Assembling the fountain

First, conceptualise how many tiers your space allows. The idea is that each basket hangs below the previous one. As your ferns grow, this will create a stunning fountain display as they spill over the edges and almost blend in with each layer of the fountain. We recommend having at least two tiers, about 30 cm apart.
Once you have your spacing sorted, secure your chosen hanging material goodies to your beam/pillar/railing. We recommend a set up with hooks or easy links that can be removed if needed (for watering or relocating). In other words, avoid permanently securing the baskets to their chain/cord.
Transplant your tenacious textures and be sure to add a good helping of potting soil and compost. You may also want to add a little liquid fertiliser to help reboot plants after transplant shock. Water well and admire for years!

All-the-feels landscaping Industry Expert

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March Topic: Tenacious texture
Theme: All-the-feels landscaping
Industry Expert: Jimie Malan
Garden Centre supplier: Malanseuns https://www.malanseuns.co.za/

Their stellar reputation and quality plants over the past 110 years in the industry, have put Malanseuns on top of the list as one of South Africa's best Garden Centre suppliers. Life is a Garden met with Jimie Malan to get the best advice on how to bring in bold texture into your garden this March. Come find out how to add movement, contrast, and sound to your backyard and reap all the feels before winter arrives!

1. We loved reading the origin story on your website and how Danie Malan founded your family business all the way back in 1913! Can you tell us a bit about your personal gardening journey and how you have come to fit into the Malanseuns Pleasure Plants story?

Since I can remember, I enjoyed being in the garden. You can basically say I was brought up by plants. Some of my fondest memories are walking with my late grandma through her garden. She taught me all about plants and shared so many lovely stories about her favourite flowers. The love for plants runs through the Malan family’s veins and I too realised that my absolute passion is plants! You can almost say we have green blood and not red.

It is truly a big honour for me, as the leader, to work with this amazing Malanseuns team. Every day is a new adventure with plants. To me, it is very fulfilling to see new growth and also to follow the process of a plant growing into something beautiful!

I always say that you can be an artist with plants, simply by using their many different colours, shapes and textures.

Tenacious Texture Botanical Boss

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Texture in gardening is not only about the physical appearance of plants, although this is an essential element. It’s easy to create texture with bold spikey plants paired next to delicate and flowy flowers, for example. Let’s take this a step further! Life is a Garden invites you to come and explore the tenacity of specific mood-generating plants and accessories that extend a theme, create movement, and cultivate depth around the garden.

“Think of texture as the relationship between the physical appearance, colour, and growing habit of certain plants that together, create layers of atmosphere and dramatic diversity in the landscape”
– Life is a Garden

The Shire: Frolicky and friendly

Plant picks

1. For full sun, plant trays of dianthus ‘Dash’ and ‘Bouquet purple’, along with petunia ‘African sunset’, and alyssum. These will add dainty charm in shades of purple, pink, plum, white, and orange-peach throughout the cooler months. Mini pots at the tea table, anyone?

2. Canterbury bells (Campanula medium) like semi-shade to full sun. Their fairytale-like dangling bell blooms will dance cheerfully in the breeze, adding movement and a whimsical feel. They reach around 60 cm in height and are frost-hardy.

3. The white stinkwood (Celtis africana) is loved for its sculptural shape. This stunning indigenous tree also attracts birds, creating a sweet soundscape to your Shire. Plant this tree for the perfect picnic spot and enjoy its flowers in spring. In winter, you can look forward to its illuminating bark that turns white like the wizard’s beard!

The Autumn Harvest

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Biodiversity – All things that Fly and Crawl

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Life is a Garden invites you to become eco-custodians to South Africa’s heralding wildlife, right from your backyard! Reap the rich rewards and fall in love with our vibrant biodiversity that flies, swarms, and crawls with life.

Local is the lekkerste: Growing indigenous plants means more habitat creation for our local wildlife, while also increasing our native plant species reduced by urbanisation and deforestation. SA’s critters and greens have a lekker advantage of being naturally adaptive to our environment, meaning less maintenance and more life in your garden!

Bring in biodiversity by

Planting for pollinators: Attract bees, butterflies, birds, and eco-barometers like frogs and lizards by planting salvia, borage, lavender, and antirrhinum.

- Companion planting: Get your edibles elated, your flowers flourishing and seeds spreading by adding pentas, echinacea, marigolds and sunflowers to the veggie patch.
- Organic pest-control: Naturally repel a variety of pests by planting basil (for flies), citronella grass and rosemary (for mozzies), as well as chrysanthemum (for spider mites).
- Helpful predators: Avoiding pesticides attract natural predators such as ladybugs, spiders, dragonflies and praying mantises who make quick work of mealybugs, aphids, scale, and more.
- Wonderful water: Give your garden critters a drink with water features and birdbaths. Enjoy watching all your favourite friends come to visit.
- House wildlife: Install bird, bat, bee, and owl houses around your garden for fewer rodents, mozzies, and locusts. Become a beekeeper and harvest your own honey too!
- Indulge in indigenous: Clivias, vygies, African lily (Agapanthus spp.), crane flowers and salvias attract colourful indigenous flyers for your viewing pleasure.

Evade the invasive: Remove invasive plant species from your garden. Aliens may overconsume water, negatively transform the land, and hinder our local biodiversity.

Happy soil = happy plants: Make sure you’ve got good drainage, use compost, mulch up, and fertilise.

Water Wise Watch: May 2019

'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health'

International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is an annual event that takes place on 22 May. This initiative was declared by the United Nations (UN) in 2000, and has been celebrated throughout the world ever since. The theme this year is 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health', which focuses on the dependency of our food systems, nutrition, and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. The aim of IDB is to increase the understanding and awareness of worldwide biodiversity issues. Biological diversity, known as biodiversity, is formally defined as the the number and variety of living organisms on Earth. This includes the millions of plants, animals, and micro-organisms, as well as the genes they contain, the evolutionary history and potential they encompass, and the ecosystems, ecological processes, and landscapes of which they are integral parts. Overall, biodiversity is the life-support systems and natural resources upon which all living organisms depend. There are three main components of biodiversity, namely genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. Sometimes, landscape diversity is included in the definition.

What relevance does biodiversity have to you and me? Biodiversity is not something important to scientists and environmentalists only. Biodiversity is essential for the survival or each and every one of us. A healthy environment provides what is known as critical ecosystem services. These include food security, clean and secure water supply, clean air, flood attenuation, building material, and biomass energy. Natural ecosystems provide the foundation of our economy and society, without which neither would function.

Unfortunately, the growing human population and subsequent pressure on the natural environment through urbanisation, water demand, agricultural needs, pollution, habitat destruction, over-exploitation of natural resources, and invasive alien plant and animal species has severely impacted biodiversity across the globe.

Juncus Effuses (Common rush or Soft rush)

Juncus effusus is an evergreen perennial plant with a striking vertical habit. It is highly ornamental with a fanning growth pattern and is often used in landscaping which includes sunny water gardens and freshwater wetlands.

Juncus effuses produces multiple culms (hollow stems) arranged in dense tufts that grow about 1 metre tall. These narrow, smooth stems are rounded with pointed tips and no obvious leaves. The lustrous green culms are strong but flexible making them perfect specimens to provide cover and nesting sites for wetland birds and other wildlife.

Summertime months bring on unobtrusive coppery clusters of small flowers which appear along the side of the culms. These florets are arranged in loose umbrella-like clusters and while they are not showy they do add interest to the plant.

This ornamental rush adapts to a wide variety of growing conditions and it performs well in a full sun or partial shade location. It can be planted in standing water to approximately a 10cm depth or in water saturated mulch like soils. It will however also adapt to normal garden soils with fluctuating water levels. For extra radiant specimens ensure that Juncus are planted in acid soil if possible. One can create this by using products that lower the PH of the soil. Cut back old foliage in early spring to encourage healthy growth.

In garden situations, where plants have not been planted in wetland areas, plants may need irrigation during extended dry periods. Juncus plants spread in the landscape by rhizomes and self-seeding.

Juncus effuses can also be grown indoors as a house plant or outdoors in containers that have a regular supply of water. They can be used along small streams or in water gardens and natural pools where their soft rush stems will be the perfect nesting place for water birds and insects. Juncus’

Container gardening on the balcony with Poppies and Petunias

Balconies are the meeting point for the great outdoors and the comforts of the home. Fresh air and shelter coexist in one space. As day turns to night with a sky of beautiful colours, the balcony is the perfect place to enjoy the golden hour. Making your balcony a happy area to relax is as simple as inviting nature’s most treasured pops of colour to join you. Petunias and Poppies are the perfect flowers to grow on your balcony for year-round colour and brightness.

How to grow Petunias in pots

Petunias are available in a range of colours – each as bright as the next. Place Petunias in a mostly sunny position, and ensure they are never completely dry. In terms of watering, perform the “finger test” to see when to water Petunias – poke your fingers gently in the soil around 2cm down and only water if the soil is dry. If you’ve sightly underwatered, they will recover, so steer towards water.

Soil: Petunias require well-draining, aerated and slightly acidic soil. Potting soil works well, especially if you mix it with a little peat moss, to lower the pH levels.
Fertiliser: Petunias love lots of food. Most potting mixes have the right amount of nutrients. To be sure, you can use a slow-release fertiliser when you plant them. Alternatively, compost will give them the nutrients they need – just remember to ensure the compost doesn’t interfere with the soil’s drainage abilities.
Deadheading: Deadheading encourages the plant to direct its energy into creating more flowers, rather than wasting it on fading flowers. It also keeps your plant looking neat and tidy. Remove flowers that are beyond their prime, ensuring you pinch off the bottom area that produces seeds, too.

How to grow Poppies in pots

Poppies are a timeless classic we’ve known and loved for generations.

May in the Garden

Tie a knot somewhere to remind you that it is Mother’s Day on Sunday 12 May. Take Mom to a GCA garden centre to spoil her with graceful Phalaenopsis and stunning Cyclamens – both in flower now!

Top of the pops

Here are some recommended top sellers for autumn:

Obsession – Get totally obsessed with the glorious Nandina domestica‘Obsession’, an intensely coloured upright growing nandina with fiery red young foliage which is retained all year while the plant is actively growing. Mature foliage is deep green. Nandinas are known for their striking autumn colours, hardiness, and many uses in a garden. Use ‘Obsession’ as a low hedge, in pots, or as a filler shrub in a border and remember that they are very giving and forgiving plants. Mature size is approximately 60 x 70cm.

Trending: Grow your own coffee tree indoors! The coffee plant (or rather tree!) botanically known as Coffea arabica, can earn you kudos from coffee snobs if you can manage to grow it successfully in your sitting room as an indoor plant.

Why should you try it?

It is a very ornamental novelty plant with dark, shiny leaves and fragrant white flowers. If all goes well, it can soon become a large plant, but it can luckily be pruned into a manageable level which commercial coffee growers often do. If you want to try your hand at this pretty plant simply for bragging purposes, (you will only get a harvest of beans after a number of years), plant it in a good-sized pot in slightly acidic soil, which drains very well. Water well and spritz it regularly in hot weather, as it loves high humidity. Keep it in good light but not in hot spots, as it likes cool growing conditions. If you are still unsure about the right growing conditions, just remember that the coffee tree naturally grows in the shade of other trees in tropical East Africa.

Cheeky Chimeni (Plectranthus chimanimaniensis)

Plectranthus chimanimaniensis is one of the lesser known Plectranthus varieties and is a firm favourite amongst gardeners!

Plectranthus varieties are indigenous. Plectranthus varieties have forest as well as savannah origins. With a natural ability to cope with difficult conditions, they tolerate a wide variety of growing conditions from cold and wet to extremely hot and arid. However, possibly their most sought after ability is their affinity and ability to perform well in shaded areas.

Plectranthus chimanimaniensis is an evergreen shrub reaching 80cm to 1m in height. The delicate small green leaves are plentiful and support a mass of flower spikes that start bloom from Spring and reach their peak colour display during Autumn and early winter. From a distance, the plants present a beautiful and consistent pink haze in the garden!

The individual flowers are soft pink in colour, with the darker buds opening into delicate soft pink wings with a white lip. The individual flowers are carried on pink flower spires which ensure the flower to foliage ratio is particularly high – the tall flower spikes are both striking and stunning!

Plectranthus chimanimaniensis performs well in either sun or semi-shaded positions and requires well composted soil. These plants are shallow rooted and need adequate watering, however once established they can withstand periods of drought.

Plectranthus ‘Cheeky Chemenii’ are frost tender but if grown under trees they are afforded some frost protection. Frost protection measures are advised during their first winter, however in their second season the plants will be much stronger.

Plectranthus ‘Cheeky Chemenii’ require low maintenance and have no specific pest control measures. To maintain a neat shape and lush foliage, this variety should be pruned after each flowering period.

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

April in the Garden

Folks in South Africa are lucky to have two ‘spring’ seasons every year – the traditional spring in September when plants from the Northern hemisphere flower, and another one in April when many of our own flowers abound. Now is the time to spend long hours in our gardens, planting and sowing with abandon!

On the menu for sunbirds

Keeping the theme for Earth Day on 22 April 2019 in mind, which is to “protect our species”, we give you an annual menu to encourage sunbirds to your garden all year long. The plants suggested are naturally indigenous and April is a perfect time to plant them:

For summer: Plant a dwarf coral tree (Erythrina humeana) which covers itself with scarlet red “pokers” drenched in nectar. Also go for summer flowering aloes like the very pretty Aloe cooperi, with apricot flowers with green tips.

For autumn: Wild dagga (Leonotus leonurus) – the velvety bright orange flowers resemble huge rain spiders sitting at the ends of each stem. Their rich nectar is irresistible to butterflies, bees and sunbirds. This large shrub will supply colour throughout autumn. There is also a form with creamy white flowers, which is well worth planting.

For winter: Any winter-flowering aloe specie or hybrid will do to attract many other bird species as well, but the centerpieces should be the other coral trees. The coastal coral tree (Erythrina caffra) is a large tree, producing magnificent flowers smothered in nectar. The smaller, common coral tree (E. lysistemon) is equally generous with spectacular flowers, but more suitable to smaller gardens. The broad-leaved coral tree (E. latissima) will produce its pretty blooms from late winter to spring. Every frost-free garden should at least have one of these species. For colder gardens there is the local mountain bottle brush (Greyia sutherlandii) and woolly bottlebrush (Greyia radlkoferi) – perfect and showy for small gardens with well-drained soil.

Water Wise Watch: Mar 2019

March is the month of water!

This month we celebrate water, nationally and internationally, with National Water Week from 17-23 March, and World Water Day on 22 March. National Water Week 2019 will be driven by the theme 'Water is Life - 20 Years of Water Delivery for Social and Economic Development". The theme for World Water Day 2019 is 'Leaving no one behind' and refers to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which states that as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit.

All over the world, people are experiencing water stress. In fact, more than 2 billion people worldwide still live without clean, accessible water today. It is an international human right to have access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation. This is an important issue to highlight, especially as we celebrate Human Right's Day on 21 March!

The water situation in South Africa is already critical. The Institute for Security Studies indicates that water demand in South Africa will exceed supply by 10% by 2035, if good governance is adhered to. If planned water schemes and other urgent matters are not addressed, this gap could increase to 21%. However, we need to be aware of the impact future technologies such as groundwater extraction and new water infrastructure can have on our natural water supply. South Africa is already over-using its renewable water resources. Research shows that only a third of South Africa's rivers are in a good condition, while 60% of them are currently over-exploited. In addition, it is expected that climate change will cause a decline in average precipitation across the country, increasing the risk of severe droughts.

The key is to look for sustainable, low impact, environmentally-friendly solutions to the country's water crisis. The focus should be on water conservation and water demand reduction measures, and this is where you come in: South Africans must use water more efficiently.

How to encourage bees in the garden

Symptoms/Signs

“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden” Elizabeth Lawrence. You may hear the buzz of bees and see them buzzing around in the garden.

What does this mean for me/my plants?

Bees collect pollen and in their travels, carry this pollen with them to other flowers. This results in cross-pollination, which is critical for flowers produce more seeds. The process allows for more plants to grow, and the garden to become full of flowers.

Suggested Action

Enjoy the hum of bees and plant flowers which bees will be attracted to. Examples of these include Sweet Alyssum, Monarda, basil, sage, thyme and lavender. Visit your local GCA Garden Centre for the most beautiful plants and expert advice!

Pride of India/Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Black Diamond)

This new and very dramatic Crape myrtle (Pride of India) has dark black leaves forming a vivid contrast to its vibrant purple blooms.

It is a deciduous shrub that performs best in the full sun, however will cope in afternoon sun areas too. Clusters of bright purple flowers appear in summer.

Black Diamond ® will grow to an approximate height of 3 meters and can reach a width of 2, 5 meters if left unchecked. That being said, it is easily pruned and shaped if desired and works well in small gardens.

Black Diamond ® has an excellent resistance to mildew, it is wonderfully low maintenance and very cold tolerant. It grows in most soils but prefers well drained, compost enriched soil. Feed with an organic fertilizer when new leaves appear in summer, try ‘Atlantic Flower and Fruit’ for excellent results. When first planted, water regularly to establish. Once established it is water wise and drought hardy.

Black Diamond® Purpley Purple™ is wonderfully versatile. It is a fabulous specimen for containers or it can be used to create a flowering hedge. Prune late winter or early spring to achieve desired height and shape.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Brandmullers
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Keith Kirsten Waterfall – Midrand
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom

Western Cape Stockists:

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 – Knysna
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Lily Turf (Liriope Evergreen Giant)

Liriope provides a strong, regular shape and evergreen colour throughout the year. They are an ideal specimen for containers or mass plantings.

Liriope is classified as a clump-forming, ornamental, tuft like grass. It is a perennial and is commonly referred to as Lily Turf. Once planted the clumps gradually spread to a width of 30cm, the various species differ in height according to the variety planted.

Lily Turf tolerates a wide range of light conditions which make them easy garden specimens. They grow in sun, part shade and full shade. They prefer to grow in well drained soil but will adapt to most soil types if need be. They need a medium amount of water.

Liriope are classified as hardy perennials once established due to their tolerance of frost and cold conditions, heat, humidity and drought.

In late summer small but showy flowers in purple shades occur on erect spikes, these form a beautiful contrast against the strappy leaves. The flowers are followed by black berries.

In spring cut back the leaves if the plant looks ‘tired’. Adding mulch and regular water will ensure that a new set of healthy leaves appear soon.

Use Liriope in mass plantings or as an edging to garden beds. They make excellent groundcover specimens under trees in dry shade. On slopes they can be used to help prevent soil erosion and in containers they make dramatic fountains of evergreen colour.

Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’ has dark green strap-like leaves. It grows to a height of 80cm and has violet-purple flowers. These are great in pots!

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Brandmullers
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Keith Kirsten Waterfall – Midrand
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom

Western Cape Stockists:

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 – Knysna
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Blue Echeveria (Echeveria secunda)

Echeveria is a large genus of succulent rosette like plants that are spectacular in flower beds and pots. They are evergreen and very rewarding.

Echeveria are drought resistant and can handle periods of no water at all. They however do perform better with regular deep watering and fertilizing.

Echeveria form low growing rosettes about 10 – 15 cm in diameter. They have a fleshy pale blue- green leaf which is edged in light pink and is extremely attractive especially when planted en mass. They do produce a colourful bell shaped flower on a protruding pink stem in the summer months but this does not attract as much attention as the dramatically shaped leaves, growth pattern and colour do.

Echeveria is easy to grow and produces “offspring” in abundance. They are perfect to use as pot fillers or in the front of garden beds where they will form a thick cover. This thick ground cover means easy weed control and low maintenance gardens!

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

Colourful Splendour – Craighall Park
Garden Pavilion – Brandmullers
Garden Pavilion – Eckards
Garden Pavilion – Sunkist
Keith Kirsten Waterfall – Midrand
Lifestyle Home Garden – Randburg
Plant Paradise Garden Centre – Pretoria
Schaffler’s Nursery – Johannesburg

North West Stockists:

Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom

Western Cape Stockists:

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 – Knysna
Builders Warehouse – Cape Gate
Builders Warehouse – City
Builders Warehouse – Constantiaberg
Builders Warehouse – Table View
Builders Warehouse – Tygerberg

**Please note that not all stockists will have every plant featured**

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis grandiflora ‘Boreas Yellow’

The perfect island dream. Spectacular long lasting large bright yellow flower with a burgundy centre. Shrub that flowers throughout the year. Evergreen. Plant in a sunny to semi-shaded position. Plants cannot tolerate cold and frost. Mature plant size may vary due to growing conditions and climate, ±2m x 1.5m. (N) Registered Plant Breeders Rights. Superior Selection TM. TM Trademark pending.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Harrismith Kwekery – Harrismith
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Plant Nursery – Bluff
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane
Greener Tidings – Polokwane
Hardekoolskroon Kwekery – Phalaborwa

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Fever Tree Nursery – Nelspruit
Garden Pavilion – Montana
Garden Pavilion – White River
Imbali Garden Centre – Lydenburg
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Clarks Tuinsentrum – Lichtenburg
Countryside Kwekery – Brits
Geelhout Gardens
Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Ludwigs Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Tulbagh Kwekery – Tulbagh
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**

Carex Eversheen

This ornamental grass forms a low cascading clump of leathery dark green leaves with cream margins. It is easy to grow, low maintenance and forms a neat, easily controlled mound. Mature plant size may vary due to growing conditions and climate, ±30cm x 30cm

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Harrismith Kwekery – Harrismith
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Plant Nursery – Bluff
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane
Greener Tidings – Polokwane
Hardekoolskroon Kwekery – Phalaborwa

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Fever Tree Nursery – Nelspruit
Garden Pavilion – Montana
Garden Pavilion – White River
Imbali Garden Centre – Lydenburg
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Clarks Tuinsentrum – Lichtenburg
Countryside Kwekery – Brits
Geelhout Gardens
Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Ludwigs Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Tulbagh Kwekery – Tulbagh
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**

Edible Gardening for March – 6 ways to improve your exotic pet’s health with fresh greens

Dogs and cats make loving pets, they’re always ready to greet you when you arrive home.

Not all hearts crave something soft and fluffy, many of us are drawn to the grace and the beauty in the detail of exotic animals.

Snakes, spiders, lizards, toads and the other weird and wonderful creatures seem to hold a magic that is unique to them. It’s not the kind of magic that makes you want to kiss them, it’s more like a fascination. You can examine these creatures closely and find yourself in awe of them, over and over again.

As with all who choose the path less travelled, there are challenges associated with caring for exotic pets. Health is a primary concern, and the cornerstone to good health lies in nutrition. While well-meaning shop attendants may suggest a particular type of feed, all creatures require greens to assist with digestion and to provide essential nutrients, like chlorophyll.

Herbs and greens also have powerful healing properties, knowing which herbs to use for which problems can offer a natural and DIY-friendly way to keep your exotic pet happy and healthy. Here is a handy guide, providing the names of specific greens to include in your exotic pet’s diet – these tips apply to dogs and cats, too.

1. Grasses for phytonutrients

Dog grass, cat grass, and lemongrass will give your exotic pet, especially reptiles, a good dose of healthy phytonutrients (raw plant nutrition that feeds each cell in the body). These grasses also assist with good digestion, and digestion is the point at which vitamins and minerals are absorbed. Assisting digestion is a crucial step to good health.

2. Herbs for digestion

Speaking of digestion and its importance, try to include a wealth of coriander, thyme, fennel, rosemary and mint to mealtimes to give your pet the best digestion for the best nutrition absorption.

Aloe Peri-Peri var. ‘Peri Peri’

A dramatically long flowering period, with its masses of sizzling hot orange-red flowers. Small suckering aloe. Ideal for mass planting as well as containers. Sculptural plants with succulent leaves. Attractive flowers on long stems. Drought resistant. Suitable for garden or pots. Evergreen. Plant in a sunny position. Water wise. Attracts butterflies and birds. Highly resistant to aloe cancer. Mature plant size may vary due to growing conditions and climate, ±20cm x 40cm. (N) Registered Plant Breeders Rights.

Eastern Cape Stockists:

Floradale Nursery – Port Elizabeth
Builders Express – East London
Builders Express – Jeffreys Bay
Builders Express – Newton Park
Builders Express – Queenstown
Builders Express – Uitenhage
Builders Express – Walmer
Builders Express – Walker drive
Builders Warehouse – Port Elizabeth

Free State Stockists:

Alma Kwekery – Welkom
Bruwer Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Builders Warehouse – Bloemfontein
Greenside Kwekery – Bloemfontein
Harrismith Kwekery – Harrismith
Plants@Preller – Bloemfontein
Platberg Nursery – Harrismith
Pretty Garden Tuinsentrum – Bloemfontein
Urth Garden Centre – Bloemfontein

Gauteng Stockists:

KwaZulu-Natal Stockists:

Blackwood’s Home of Gardening – Pietermaritzburg
Garden Pavilion Halls – Kingsburgh
Hingham Nursery – Durban North
Plant Nursery – Bluff
Builders Express – Amanzimtoti
Builders Express – Ballito
Builders Express – Hillcrest
Builders Express – Pietermaritzburg
Builders Express – South Coast
Builders Express – Umhlanga
Builders Warehouse – Riverhorse

Limpopo Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Polokwane
Greener Tidings – Polokwane
Hardekoolskroon Kwekery – Phalaborwa

Mpumalanga Stockists:

Builders Warehouse – Emalahleni
Fever Tree Nursery – Nelspruit
Garden Pavilion – Montana
Garden Pavilion – White River
Imbali Garden Centre – Lydenburg
Ninfa Tuinsentrum – Middelburg

North West Stockists:

Clarks Tuinsentrum – Lichtenburg
Countryside Kwekery – Brits
Geelhout Gardens
Garden Pavilion – Potchefstroom
Sittig’s Nursery – Hartebeespoort

Western Cape Stockists:

Cape Garden – Joostenbergvlakte
Cape Garden – Somerset West
Cape Garden – Stellenbosch
Ludwigs Roses Winelands – Stellenbosch
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – Rosebank
Starke Ayres Garden Centre – West Coast Village
Stodels – Bellville
Stodels – Constantia
Stodels – Kenilworth
Stodels – Milnerton
Stodels – Somerset West
Tulbagh Kwekery – Tulbagh
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**

Category: Autumn

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Harvesting tips

Preserve your bounty

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1. Grasses for phytonutrients

2. Herbs for digestion

Eastern Cape Stockists:

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