AN eye-catching invasive grown in many gardens because it is so pretty is the yellow bells or Tecoma stans bush.
This colourful shrub has lovely trumpet-shaped yellow flowers and attractive shiny seed pods. Unfortunately, this species, which hails from America, is one of those aliens whose flowers have seeds that are wind dispersed, so it can quickly escape the garden to settle in the wilds where it is causing problems as an invasive.
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If you reluctantly remove your Tecoma because it is such a focal point in your garden, why not light up your winter garden by replacing Tecoma with a couple of our gorgeous aloes.
When it comes to eye-catching it would be hard to find a more rewarding and showy genus than South Africa’s wonderful aloes. Wherever you choose to garden you will be sure to find at least a few species that would thrive in your green space.
According to Ben-Erik van Wyk and Gideon Smith, authors of the ‘Guide to the Aloes of South Africa’, there are about 125 species that grow within our country’s borders.
My garden plays host to some of the brilliant ones that make their home in KwaZulu-Natal. Perhaps my very favourite aloe is the statuesque Aloe thraskii, not least because this strand or dune aloe is such a noteworthy component or our shoreline vegetation.
It is endemic to a tiny stretch of our coastline, south of Durban and just going into the Eastern Cape. It is flowering now, lighting up our dunes and hopefully signalling the imminent arrive of our sardines.
A lesser known aloe is Aloe pluridens, another single-stemmed species that is an attractive form plant even when it isn’t in flower. What is different about this pretty and rather dainty aloe is that it is quite happy growing in the shade.
Widespread Aloe ferox is another robust single-stemmed species that is commonly spotted in and out of gardens. Somehow, I always think of it as a classic aloe. Like is cousins, it is a magnet for sunbirds when it flowers.
.Aloe marlothii is a rather similar single stem, but its flowers are a little more wayward and it is a rather prickly customer. These striking aloes are such a part of the landscape when you head off to uMkhuse and Ndumo Game Reserves in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Aloe maculata plants in my garden seemed to take ages before they began to flower but now grace my winter garden with their lovely blooms. This retiring species is one of our delightful small, spotted aloes.
I am pleased the way the Aloe barberae, KwaZulu-Natal’s much-loved tree aloe, has taken to my garden. They are such striking form plants and are gorgeous when their salmon flowers develop. These aloes seem to have become very popular with landscapers recently. It’s great to see that as these really deserve attention.
One of my favourite aloes is the multi-stemmed Aloe vanbalenii from northern KwaZulu-Natal. I love its striking yellow flowers but even when it is not in bloom, its long, channelled leaves make it a winner.
Best of all, the leaves change colour from bright green to a dull red, depending on how much water it receives. It is a great form plant.
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I love my Aloe tenuior plants with their miniature flowers of orange, red and yellow. It really is a no-fuss garden subject that grows easily from a cutting, then matures into a scrambling bush, happily filling up spaces where it is needed. It always seems to be in flower,
Finally, what would a garden be without Aloe arborescens, or krantz aloe.
A much-branched, shrubby aloe that bears orange, pink, yellow and scarlet flowers, its natural home is pretty rugged and, as its name suggests, it is not adverse to flourishing in exposed, rocky areas.
At the moment mine are beginning to flower nicely and a couple of corners where I have mixed and matched the colours are starting to look great.
Widely distributed, they are easy to cultivate and really are a no-fuss species once they are established. I’ve often seen then used as hedges.
The little care you give these aloes will be amply rewarded when they put forth their profusion of beautiful flowers as a warm winter celebration.
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