Ingenious indigenous plants for your garden or home

Hurrah! Summer is on the way, now is the right time to whip your garden into shape! Why not try something new?  Consider adding some indigenous plants and trees to your nursery trolley – there’s an array of native plants that are suited for gardens and a few that are perfect for inside your home. Here are a few options to consider for your garden. Plant and enjoy!

 

One of the two trees that’s specifically been selected to celebrate Arbour Week South Africa 2016. It’s quick growing and reasonably resistant to cold. Best suited for shady gardens with a mild to warm climate.

The clusters of blossoms from this tree are usually in glorious bloom in September (hence the name). It’s fairly fast growing and can tolerate some degree of cold and frost. Ideal for semi-shaded, small gardens.

This is the other tree selected for Arbour Week South Africa 2016 celebration. It’s a medium, straggly shrub that’s perfect for those who enjoy a maintenance-free garden.

As part of the fynbos family, you’ll probably not be able to find a more uniquely South African plant for your garden. It needs coarse, gravelly and deep soil with full sun and a frost-free climate – i.e. ideal for those who live in the Western Cape.

This fast growing indigenous tree can grow up to one metre in just a year! It also has the most fragrant pink flowers and aromatic leaves. Best suited for big gardens with plenty of sun – think: picnic under your Cape Chestnut tree!

If small pot plants with petite purple blossoms make your heart happy, then add an African Violet to your home immediately. It thrives well in moderate to bright indirect indoor light and, if cared for properly, it can bloom almost all year round.

Named after the Mpumalanga town where it grows in abundance, this little plant – as an indoor plant – can bloom any time of the year. It’s also loves direct sunlight, so find a space on a bright window sill for it.

This gorgeous tropical-looking palm tree is often referred to as a ‘Bamboo Palm’ for it’s reed-like stems. It flourishes in warm areas with direct sunlight. Plus, it can also transpire one litre water per 24 hours, making it an effective humidifier!

Also known as the Fiddle Leaf Fig, the Ficus Lyrata is well loved for its large, oval semi-lobbed leaves. It can grow into a big tree, although being a slow-growing plant, it can take up to 15 years to reach maturity. It enjoys a brightly lit spot with no direct sunlight.

The gorgeous yellow blooms from this plant certainly bring a little bit of sunshine right into your home! It’s also one of those plants that grow best in shade and/or no direct sunlight and is drought-resistant (for those of us who can forget to water our plants… *wink-wink*).