We are immeasurably rich in indigenous plants, especially cool season flowers like the Cape daisy (Osteospermum), Kingfisher daisy (Felicia), the delicate trio of diascia, nemesia, and bacopa as well as the ever dependable pelargoniums, amongst others.
Are these plants that we see in such colourful profusion in garden centres truly indigenous? Yes and no, or maybe ja/nee!
Indigenous plants are defined as the original species that occur in nature and survive without human intervention. However, breeders and growers have hybridised these indigenous plants to make them more compact, with a greater range of flower colours and more adaptable to home gardens.
But, like the original species they carry the same hardiness, are as drought tolerant and attract pollinators.
Dainty diascia
As the hybrid of the original indigenous pink spur-flower, Diascia ‘Diamond’ is a neat, more compact plant, with larger flowers and a full range of flower colours: apricot, orange, red, fuchsia, dark pink, light pink and white. It flowers best during the cooler months, from autumn through to spring.
Diascia ‘Diamond’ grows in winter sun as well as partial shade and is an excellent edging plant, a filler for rockeries and in hanging baskets and mixed containers. Plant in fertile, well composted soil that drains well.
Sweet nemesia
Nemesia ‘Nesia’ grows 30 to 40cm high and spreads up to 30 cm. The Nesia range has striking colours, often with two tones, and a yellow, orange or gold centre. The upright growing plants form a mound and are covered in flowers. They are ideal for containers and garden beds and they grow in semi shade. The flowers are lightly fragrant.
Abundant Bacopa
‘Bacopa MegaCopa’ has large white, pink, or blue flowers that are double the size of other Bacopa varieties. The nicely compact plant fills out quickly, and doesn’t fall open in the middle, producing a cushion of flowers.
It likes full sun in winter and if moved into semi-shade from spring onwards will flower well into summer. Keep the soil moist, feed with a liquid fertiliser once a month, then sit back and enjoy the show.
Easy on the eye
Osteospermum are better known to most gardeners as the Cape daisy. It is tough, adaptable and showy in any position. Osteospermum ‘Serenity’ is a neat and compact plant that is frost tolerant and comes in an array of colours which includes the unusual ‘Blue-eyed Beauty’ and ‘Sunshine Beauty.’
These low maintenance daisies grow easily in ordinary garden soil and need full sun with regular watering.
True Blue
Lobelia ‘Curacao’ is a showy lobelia that produces an abundance of flowers in various shades of blue. It is heat tolerant and is available with different growth habits; trailing for baskets and mounded for garden beds and containers. The colours are brilliant blue, blue with white eye and light blue. Plant in full sun or semi shade and in loose, gritty soil.
Pelargoniums have probably been hybridised more than any other South African flower. The most common varieties are the ivy leaf trailing pelargonium and the upright, bushy zonal pelargonium.
‘Tacari’ is an ivy leaf pelargonium that has crisp leaves and large double flowers. It It holds its shape in hanging baskets and containers, without getting scraggly. Plants able to thrive despite poor soil, drought, light frost and even light shade.
‘Turkana’ (with dark green leaves) and ‘Kariba’ (light green leaves) are zonal pelargoniums that are upright, bushy plants with large, brightly coloured single or double blooms, mainly in shades of pink, red, and white. They produce a neat, colourful hanging basket or container and a neat garden plants.
For more info, visit Ball Straathof.
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