Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2023 i The Gardener Magazine

I am reading a book about plants at the moment that I am finding fascinating. The book is The Plant-Hunter’s Atlas: A World Tour of Botanical Adventures, Chance Discoveries and Strange Specimens by Ambra Edwards. It’s a lot about the history of when plants started to grip the interests of explorers, soldiers, sailors, merchants, pilgrims and even refugees. We know that plants were around long before these guys really got into the swing of things around the 1800s and long before spices, seeds and bulbs were transported to new lands along the silk routes of the Mediterranean and China. They have even discovered records that date back to the 2nd century BC. But Ambra, an award-winning journalist and garden historian, takes us on a journey that circles the globe, with…

Liriope muscari ‘Royal Purple’ Dark green, slightly broader leaves with dark purple flowers on purple stems. Size 30 x 40cm. Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ Slightly arching bright green leaves with golden-yellow edges and purple flowers. Size 40 x 40cm. Liriope muscari ‘Evergreen Giant’ A large and very popular variety with thin ribbon-like leaves somewhat hiding the pale violet flowers. Size 70 – 90 x 50cm. Way before ornamental grasses like sedges and later veld grasses became popular, we planted liriope or lilyturf (as it is commonly called) as‘ornamental grasses’ – technically not a grass, but a tuberous perennial. A major reason for their popularity then and today still, is a willingness to grow in deep shade and around the base of large trees, covering bare soil with their ribbon-like leaves arranged…

It’s a massive achievement for plant breeders Andy De Wet and Quinton Bean from De Wet Breeders (Hartbeespoort) and an exciting one for horticulture in South Africa. From “a very complex array of many quite different breeding parents”, according to Andy, comes a magnificent plant that has stood the Society’s stringent tests and come out on top. ‘Black Jack’ will now be sold in Europe, the United Kingdom and America this summer. ‘Black Jack’ has all the normal characteristics of agapanthus, except it grows much more vigorously. It multiplies quickly and flowers profusely for about three months in early summer. The buds are numerous and almost pitch black and the open flowers are velvet-purple and face outwards, giving the umbel a striking appearance. Plant in rich, well-prepared soil with loads…

The ultimate cut flower for a contemporary look is one with a straight stem and symmetrical flowers. Bring out Craspedia globosa with their yellow balls of sunshine. They are easy to grow from seed and sowing time starts now until April. They make excellent annuals for a sunny garden bed and can be cut and dried with impressive results. Water regularly until established and then they are fairly drought-resistant. They are also known as billy buttons which sums up their quirky nature. Harvesting for the vase takes place when the florets are fully opened and a bright yellow colour. Order seed online from www.gropak.co.za or www.adeneflowers.co.za…

Lavenders love warm and dry conditions, plus they are relatively hardy against the cold and can withstand light frost. Plant them in a sunny spot where they can soak up the sunbeams all day long. Don’t plant them too close to each other, to give them some room to breathe. Common Lavender problems • Lavenders need a good drink to quench their thirst, but be careful not to drown their delicate roots as they don’t like having wet feet. Water regularly until their roots are strong, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between watering sessions.• Overwatering and too much humidity can cause fungal diseases. Use a contact fungicide as a foliar spray to treat your lavender and keep them happy and thriving – just make sure to read the…

These semi-tuberous hybrids are known to be everblooming, producing flowers for a long period of time and continuously. The flowers themselves come in a variety of colours from pink, red, white and orange with lighter and darker shades giving the double or semi-double petals a unique depth that is captivating. These beauties are perennials, but are often used as annuals and after their flowering time from late winter though spring and summer, make their way to the compost heap. However, with proper care, they can last for many seasons. What they need Soil – potted plants will come fully prepared for the growing season. However, if you fancy repotting these plants, use a good potting soil with added drainage materials like perlite or coarse sand and a few handfuls of…

The design rule for designing a bowl like this, is to select several of the same type of succulents in complementary colours. Multiples and repetitions of succulents, are visually very stimulating even in a small container. Echeverias are a diverse family of succulents with their natural habitat around Mexico and surrounding areas. They generally grow higher up in the mountains, on cliff faces and do not require full sun all day. Most species do not grow in full desert sun, which is a general misconception. This pot recipe was designed and implemented by John Sauer from Ngena Succulents Wholesale Nursery. Look out for these succulents at your local nursery or garden centre. What you need • Concrete bowl 500mm in radius• Potting soil• Stones or bits of broken clay• Plants…

These vibrant plants are largely grown for their aesthetic appeal. The flowers come in a wide range of hues, from delicate pinks and deep reds to brilliant whites and royal purples. Their patterned leaves and strong growth habit also contribute to their charm – a picturesque addition to any garden. Pelargoniums are also the epitome of versatility. They thrive in a wide range of conditions, from sunny flower beds to partially shaded balconies, and can be planted in containers, hanging baskets, or directly in the ground. This adaptability means that they’re well-suited to different garden types and sizes, from city balconies to sprawling cottage gardens. Another compelling reason to welcome pelargoniums into your garden is their enduring blooming period. Unlike many other flowering plants, pelargoniums boast a prolonged flowering season.…

Some types of primulas are cold-tolerant and make hardy perennials, while other varieties are a bit fussier and can be considered long-flowering annuals. They also make wonderful pot specimens that can be sheltered and protected from very cold. While we love the bright colours of Primula acaulis and the light fairy-like Primula malacoides, we have in the past talked about them often, so let’s see what else there is to brighten up a garden. Primula obconica These primroses have a completely different colour range from the other primroses and come is such lovely shades of salmon, purple-blue, white, orange, rose and magenta. They have a rounded shape with masses of flowers packed together on short stems. The bright green leaves form a mounded base from which the flower stalks pop…

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We often see a gem of a plant growing in nature or in botanical gardens and wish we could grow them at home too. An example, is certain pretty members of the Selago genus. The good news is that some beautiful species are in cultivation and available for you to plant. Selago corymbosa (flat-topped bitter bush) This is an evergreen herbaceous shrublet of about 60cm high with a natural distribution in the Western and Eastern Cape, Karoo, and KwaZulu-Natal. Hairy, upright side branches are covered with light green, narrow leaves with edges curling down. They form dense tufts, clustered in the stem axils. The lacy white flowers produced in compact clusters at the top of multiple shoots, appear from December to late winter. Selago canescens (bitter bush) This species takes…

Unfortunately, as garden sizes continue to shrink, few have space for large and towering trees in their backyards. That doesn’t mean you should give up on your tree growing dreams – small trees are the solution. Small trees – ideal for small spaces Buddleja saligna (false olive) This small, fast-growing evergreen tree can reach a height of 3 - 5 meters, making it ideal for small gardens or large pots. The dense canopy of narrow, grayish-green leaves, resemble an olive tree and it also produces small white flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. This drought-tolerant and low-maintenance tree is perfect for urban gardens. Dais cotinifolia (pompon tree) The popular pompon tree is deciduous, reaching around 4 - 6 meters in height. It is most well-known for its spectacular display…

The magic mathematics of a good-looking pot, starts with a thriller, a filler and a spiller. This ratio of plants is the beginning of potted success. Our contrasting colour combination here will brighten up any spot in need of a makeover. You will need • A pot with drainage holes• Pebbles for drainage (you can even use smaller broken up pieces of an old clay pot).• Fresh potting soil• Compost• Slow-release fertiliser• Bonemeal• Decorative bark or wood mulch Steps • First prepare the soil with half potting soil and half compost and add in 2 handfuls of fertiliser. Add in some bonemeal to provide extra calcium for the plants. Give this a good mix.• Add your drainage pebbles to the bottom of the pot.• Fill the pot halfway with your…

Remember: If you take a few minutes to deadhead spent flowers diligently, you will get rewarded with many more. From our indigenous species of Osteospermum, glorious varieties of plants with daisy-like flowers in a multitude of bright colours and flower shapes were bred. The world calls them‘Cape daisies’. They are classified as semi-hardy perennials with either a trailing or upright growth habit and are also called Cape marguerites. The foliage is dark green and the plants produce a mass of blooms. Look out for these varieties in your local nursery: ‘Akila’ range The drought-hardy species Dimorphotheca ecklonis (previously called Osteospermum ecklonis) with its spreading shape and glistening white flowers with their deep-blue centres, is the parent plant of many modern ranges such as Osteospermum ‘Akila’ with lavender, purple and white…

The combination of the two houseplants is a decorator’s dream and yet, the plants don’t really like to be grown together. As a solution to this problem, we kept the alocasia in its pot and planted the fittonia around it so that we could water the fittonia more regularly without drowning the alocasia. Fittonia Also called the nerve plant, because its leaves look like a depiction of a nervous system, fittonias come in a variety of leaf colours with veins in white, red pink and green on contrasting backgrounds. They like to be kept moist without being waterlogged and love humid environments in a brightly lit area. Avoid direct sunlight which can scorch the leaves. Feed once a month in spring and summer with a liquid plant food. Alocasia The…

Keep on top of those weeds! It’s not just your beautiful lawn and ornamentals that start to stir in spring – weeds will also be itching to make their presence felt. It’s important to stay one step ahead of them – get into a routine of walking around your garden every evening with your weeder, cultivator or hand fork. As you walk, dig out every weed you see so that they don’t get the chance to grow, flower and set seeds. Also keep on top of weeds in your paving using a paving weeder or a small pressure sprayer filled with an organic herbicide. Grow a lekker lawn Lawns will be making a return from the brown, desiccated state of dormancy they endured through winter, but they might need a…

In my world, I have learned not to think out loud, that I might intend to stop doing something that’s bad for me or that irritates others. My clan tends to pick up on it immediately and then I am continuously scrutinised to see how I am faring with my resolve to change for the better. What they don’t know, which I know since I listened to a workshop dealing with stress relief lately, is that we experience negative emotions triggered by stressors for which you need to find a solution for, by calibrating yourself with the help of some insightful external factors. The presenter said her husband is her‘calibrator’ (and it sounded like sometimes her‘external factor’ as well). Just condensing such a bit of psychological first-aid in a nutshell,…