Dracaena aletriformis

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

________________________________________________

by Admin | July 10, 2024 | Indigenous indoor plants | 0 comments

Common name: large-leaved dragon tree
Family: Ruscaceae
Origin: South Africa 

Plant description: an evergreen, usually single-stemmed small tree that grows between 2 to 5 metres tall. It is tan-coloured bark marked with leaf scars. The leaves, crowded near the top of the stems, are glossy green, leathery, strap-shaped, and slightly drooping, reaching up to 1 meter in length. During summer (November to February), tall spikes of sweetly scented, tiny, yellow-green flowers bloom, followed by striking orange berries.

Use: Ideal for containers, a great filler piece, or as a stand-alone plant in the shade or on forest grounds. Beautiful outdoors under the tree canopy and indoor spaces like offices, glasshouses, and reception areas.
Light and position: prefers shade

Water requirement: medium water requirement (water consistent during the growing season and less during winter).

Plant care: plant in well-drained fertile soil and composted soil. Keep it out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf burn. Re-pot only every 18 to 24 months, ideally during the growing season. When re-potting, choose a pot with good drainage 5 to 10 cm larger than the root ball. The pot will give the plant enough space to grow.

Pest and diseases: generally disease-free, but look out for snails as they can cause damage.

Propagation: to grow more Dracaena aletriformis, use seeds or cuttings. It grows easily from fresh seeds. Remove the sticky, orange pulp before sowing as it contains a growth inhibitor that will slow germination. Sow seeds in spring or summer in a compost-rich medium. Place seeds in the shade. Cuttings should be taken from the stem. Stem or side-shoot cuttings will root well in a sand/fern fibre mix.

Trichilia emetica

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

___________________________________________________

by Admin | June 19, 2023 | Indigenous indoor plants | 0 comments

Common name: Natal mahogany
Family: Meliaceae
Origin: South Africa

Plant description:  a tall tree that stays green all year. It can grow up to 25 meters high and has separate male and female plants. It has a lot of leaves that form a thick, broad crown. The leaves are shiny and dark green on top, and the tips are round or pointed. The undersides of the leaves can be covered in a few too many hairs, and there are 11 to 18 pairs of veins that are close together. The flowers of Trichilia emetica are a creamy green colour and have a sweet smell. They bloom from August to November. The fruit is a capsule that opens up, and it is about 18 to 25 millimeters wide. The capsule has a long neck that is 5 to 10 millimeters long. Inside the fruit are black seeds surrounded by a bright red covering called an aril.

Use: Ideal for containers, a great filler piece, or as a stand-alone plant in full sun or on forest grounds. Beautiful outdoors under the tree canopy and indoor spaces like offices, glasshouses, and reception areas.
Light and position: prefers full sun to shade

Water requirement: medium water requirement (keep the soil moist always, but avoid waterlogging).

Plant care: plant in well-drained, sandy, and composted soil with a high water table. Only need to be re-potted every 18 to 24 months, and this should be done during the spring growing season. When repotting, choose a planter with good drainage that is 5 to 10 cm larger than the root ball. This will give the plant enough space to grow.

Pest and diseases: brown leaf scale, fungal attack, and the larvae of the white-barred charaxes butterfly feed on the leaves of the tree.

Propagation: To grow more Trichilia emetica trees, you can use seeds. When the seeds are ripe, remove the red covering around them by soaking them in water. Then, plant the seeds right away. You can plant them directly into small nursery bags or pots. It usually takes around 10 to 20 days for the seeds to start growing. After 6 to 8 months, you can move the young plants to a permanent spot in the ground. Another way to propagate Trichilia emetica is through cuttings. Cuttings should be taken from 

Rumohra adiantiformis

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

___________________________________________________

by Admin | March 06, 2023 | Indigenous indoor plants | 0 comments

Common name: seven weeks fern/leather leaf fern
Family: Dryopteridaceae
Origin: South Africa

Plant description: For those who love lush plants, this is a dream plant. The leaves of the seven-week fern are dark green, lacy-looking, finely cut, glossy, and triangular in shape. This evergreen perennial fern is spread by rhizomes. In nature, it grows up to 75 cm to 1,5 m. It is a slow grower therefore it can take up to 5 years to reach its potential height. 

Use: Ideal for hanging baskets, containers, and cut flower arrangements, near water features, and forest grounds. Beautiful outdoors under the tree canopy and indoor spaces like offices, glasshouses, and reception areas.

Light and position: prefers semi-shade to shade
Water requirement: medium water requirement.
Plant care: plant in well-drained and composted soil.
Pest and diseases: mites, scale insects, mealybugs 
Propagation: through spores or rhizomes divisions. Sow spores on the sterilised moist medium.

Senecio macroglossus

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

________________________________________________

by Admin | May 16, 2022, | Gardening tips | 0 comments

Common name: Natal Ivy
Family: Asteraceae
Origin: South Africa

Plant description: a semi-succulent, hardy evergreen ivy like climber. It has glossy ivy shaped leaves. As a climber is grows 2m and 20cm as a groundcover. Around Spring to Summer it bears lemon-yellow daisy like flowers.
Use: Ideal for hanging basket, containers, groundcover and as a climber. Beautiful outdoors and indoors spaces such a, sunroom, and reception areas.
Light and position: prefers full sun or semi-shade.
Water requirement: medium water requirement.
Plant care: plant in well-drained and composted soil.
Pest and diseases: whitefly, aphid, red spider mites and rust.
Propagation: sow seeds in spring and cuttings in summer.

Strelitzia reginae

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

________________________________________________

by Admin | May 09, 2022, | Gardening tips | 0 comments

Common name: Crane flower
Family: Strelitziaceae
Origin: South Africa

Plant description: striking architecturally perennial that forms sturdy clumps of grey-green banana-like
leaves. It has beautiful orange and blue flowers that resemble a bird in flight appearing in spring. It grows up to 1.8 m tall. 
Use: Ideal for indoor garden, cut flowers, modern landscapes, sunroom, and reception areas, makes a stunning focal point by grouping 3-5 plants.
Light and position: prefer full sun to semi-shade.
Water requirement: medium water requirement
Plant care: plant it in good rich fertile soil, and add lots of compost.
Pest and diseases: soft scale, mealybug and red spider mites.
Propagation: sow seeds in spring/summer or division 

 

 

Asparagus densiflorus

• UWC NATURE RESERVE UNIT
• ABOUT US
• NURSERY
• CONTACT US

___________________________________________________

by Admin | February 24, 2022 | Indigenous indoor plants | 0 comments

g" alt='Asparagus densiflorus' width='1080' height='675' />

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.

Plectranthus verticillatus

Common name: gossip spurflower

Family: Lamiaceae

Origin: South Africa

Plant description: beautiful perennial semi-succulent groundcover that grows well indoors and outdoors. The plant grows up to 10 cm high and is aromatic. It bears white, pale, or pale pink flowers throughout spring and autumn.

Use: it is ideal as an indoor plant, groundcover outdoors, and in a hanging basket. 

Light and position: It grows best in shade, semi-shade and full sun. 

Water requirements: Water-wise, avoid over-watering as it does not tolerate standing water.

Special care: Fertilise monthly in summer.

Pest and disease: root rot.

Propagation: stem cuttings or by division. 

Sansevieria pearsonii

Common name: spiky Mother-in-law's tongue

Family: Ruscaceae

Origin: South Africa

Plant description: an evergreen, sculptural succulent (fan-like) that can reach 1 metre tall. The leaves are spike-like and cylindrical. It produces a terminal spike-like cluster of creamy pinkish, fragrant flowers that open at night after the large orange berries that birds eat.

Use: it is a great indoor plant, a good container plant outdoors in a water-wise garden and rockery. 

Light and position: It grows best in shade, semi-shade and full sun. 

Water requirements: Water-wise, avoid over-watering as it does not tolerate standing water.

Special care: Make sure to handle the plant carefully because of its pointy leaves.

Pest and disease: root rot.

Propagation: take cuttings or divide the plant at any time of the year.