Phylica ericoides

Scientific name: Phylica ericoides
Family: Rhamnaceae
Common name: heath, hardebos

Shrub with showy white flowers and erica-like leaves.  

Plant Description

Phylica ericoides is a compact shrub that grows up to 1m in height with needle-like leaves. The leaves are green on top with rolled margins that are greyish underneath. All year long, white, rounded flower heads are borne singly or in clusters. Flowers have a pungent musty scent. When the flower matures, the red seeds appear.

Growing Phylica ericoides

The heath phylica grows on coastal slopes and deep sand. It thrives best in full sun with well-drained soil. In full sun, the flowering rate is much greater than in partial shade. It does better in soil that is rich with good drainage. It can be grown as a cut flower, filler plant and in water-wise, coastal and fynbos gardens. It withstands salt spray and does well in good compost.

Propagate by seeds sown in autumn (Mar-May) and by cuttings.

Seeds

• Sow seeds in autumn.
• Sow the seeds in a well-drained medium.
• Cover seeds lightly with soil and keep moist.
•  A sufficient amount of light is required until seed germination occurs. 
• It takes three to four weeks for the seeds to germinate.

Cuttings

• Spring and summer are ideal times for taking cuttings.
• Collect cutting early hours of the day.
• Take semi-hardwood tip or heel cuttings from healthy new growth.
• Remove the leaves from the lower third of the cutting.
• Dip cuttings into a rooting hormone and place them into a tray filled with super fine bark and polystyrene.
• Rooting usually takes four weeks. 
• Hardening off for two weeks before potting.

Crassula ovata undulata

Common name: c

urly crassula

Family: Crassulaceae

Origin: South Africa

Plant description: evergreen succulent, branching shrub with curly fleshy leaves. It grows up to 60cm. 

Use: Wonderful sculptural plant for pots indoors and outdoors.

Light and position Prefer full sunlight tolerates semi-shade.

Water requirement: This plant requires a small amount of water so water sparingly in summer and reduce water in winter if over-watered it will rot. Allow the soil to dry out before watering. The plant tolerates long periods of drought.

Special care: Re-pot every third year. Grows well in well-drained soil and in loam soil. Fertilize in spring. Prune to remove unwanted material growing on the stem. 

Pest and diseases:  Aphids and spider mites.

Propagation: Tip and leaf cuttings are taken at any time of the year, but the ideal time is summer.

Adding value to your garden

A beautiful garden with the right plants can increase the value of a home, provide habitat for insects and birds, define space, enhance our well-being and create a green corridor. 

Colour

Foliage colour offers an interesting aspect in the garden. Choosing plants with different foliage colours and flowering times create diversity.  Some plants are grown primarily for their foliage, whereas some are grown for their flowers. Play around with foliage colours to define separate areas in the garden. Choose different foliage colours to light up dark corners. For example, shaded areas benefit from plants with bright colours like blue, pink, yellow and white.

Height

For the garden to become established, it takes 3-5 years and lots of patience. Please keep in mind that plants might grow for an extended period before they reach their full potential. Investigate the ultimate height of the plants before planting. The plants that grow tall should not be planted near the house or window.

Shape

The variety of shapes provides visual interest in the garden. The evergreen and deciduous characteristics of plants can significantly contribute to their appearance. Evergreen plants tend to maintain a consistent appearance, while deciduous plants are more likely to vary slightly with seasonal changes. Create focal points with plants that have interesting level shapes like grasses, Dietes sp., Chasmanthes and Arum lilies.

Soil

The condition of the soil is crucial for the plant's survival. It is best to choose plants that can adapt to sandy or clay soil when gardening in these soil types. Adding compost to the garden can also improve drainage and moisture retention.

Texture

Coarse-textured plants have big leaves, while fine-textured plants have small leaves, flowers and often look soft. The finer elements provide a calming background, while coarse-textured plants can enhance contrast in the garden. The visual impact of tiny leathery grey leaves is very different to that of large dark-green glossy leaves. 

Water Requirements

The requirements for water varies according to the type of plants. For a couple of weeks after planting, water the plants regularly. It is advisable to select plants that tend to cope with their surroundings. The water requirement of plants growing under shade is commonly less than those in full sun. Group plants according to their water and light requirements together.

Propagating Zantedeschia aethiopica

 

Propagate by seeds sown in spring, late summer or autumn and by dividing clumps of tuberous stems.

Seeds

• Sow seeds in spring, late summer and early autumn.
• Peel the pulp from the fruits and let them dry.
• Sow the seeds in a well-drained medium.
• Cover seeds lightly with soil and keep moist.
•  A sufficient amount of light is required until seed germination occurs. 
• Fresh seed germination usually occurs within two to three weeks.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Plant with bright yellow spadixes, beautiful, long-lasting white spathes, ripe yellow fruits, and striking leaves resembling arrows.

Plant Description

Zantedeschia aethiopica has dark glossy green, arrowhead-shaped leaves. It grows up to 20-60 cm tall and 45-60 cm wide forming large colonies in marshy areas. White flowers that look like a trumpet appear from August to January and attract birds and butterflies. The spathe turns green after flowering shelter ripening berries.

Growing Zantedeschia aethiopica

The arum lily grows best in swampy and marshy areas that receive full sun or partial shade. In full sun, the flowering rate is much greater than in partial shade. It does better in soil that is rich with good drainage. It can be grown as a cut flower, along the streams, ponds, indoor plants, in water-wise, coastal and fynbos gardens. It withstands salt spray and does well in good compost.

Propagate by seeds sown in spring, late summer or autumn and by dividing clumps of tuberous stems.

Seeds

• Sow seeds in spring, late summer and early autumn.
• Peel the pulp from the fruits and let them dry.
• Sow the seeds in a well-drained medium.
• Cover seeds lightly with soil and keep moist.
•  A sufficient amount of light is required until seed germination occurs. 
• Fresh seed germination usually occurs within two to three weeks.