These indigenous plants are show stoppers in a hanging basket

Crassula expansa subsp. fragilis

In today's smaller gardens, hanging baskets have become the new wall art. In the garden, the hanging baskets add a touch of beauty to the walls that would otherwise be blank. There are many diverse types of baskets available, including big baskets that can be filled with a mixture of plants. 

• Choose your hanging baskets according to the number and size of plants you wish to use. 
• Baskets need to be filled with excellent quality potting soil. 

• 

  Plectranthus madagascariensis

  If you decide to mix plants in a basket, choose plants that need similar water requirements. 
  
• Select trailing plants such as Senecio macroglossus. 
• Use plants that have interesting such as Plectranthus madagascariensis.
• Place the hanging basket in a spot suitable for the chosen plants' needs. 
• Water hanging baskets every day for the first month after planting and every second day after that. 

• 

  Chlorophytum comosum

  Remove old flowers and dead branches to keep the basket looking tidy. 

Some of the best indigenous plants to use in a hanging basket

• Asparagus densiflorus
• Chlorophytum comosum
  
• Cissampelos capensis
• Crassula expansa subsp fragilis
  
• Crassula multicava
• Crassula muscosa
• 
  Crassula pellucida
  
• Crassula radicans
• Crassula rowleyanus

• Crassula sarmentosa
• Crassula spathulata
• Ledebouria socialis
• Plectranthus ciliatus
• Plectranthus verticillatus
• Plectranthus strigosus
• Senecio macroglossus

Plectranthus strigosus

Crassula sarmentosa

Muraltia spinosa

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by Admin | January 10, 2022, | Plant of the month | 0 comments

Scientific name: Muraltia spinosa
Family: Polygalaceae
Common name: tortoise berry

Purple tiny flowers cover a beautiful Muraltia spinosa shrub when in season.

  

Plant Description

Muraltia spinosa is a thorny shrub with spike-like side branchlets and stiff branches. The shrub can grow up to 1, 2m tall and has small oblong leaves. Purple, pink and white flowers appear from July to August and resemble dainty sweetpeas flowers. During summer, fleshy fruits are borne which are red and edible. The berries are a favourite among children, fruit-eating birds and tortoises.

 

Growing Muraltia spinosa

Tortoise berry is best suited for coastal, water-wise gardens. Thrives in sunny, well-drained soil and can tolerate both sunny positions and frost. Commonly, used for controlling sand on the coast. Plant it in a border to attract birds and enjoy its beauty when flowering. Add compost and water well to nourish this plant; however, it has low water requirements.

Propagate by seeds sown in spring or early summer and by cuttings.

Seeds

• Sow seeds in spring or early summer.
• Wash and remove the fleshy covering of the fruit until only the seed remains.
• 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

• The cuttings root with difficulties.
• Spring and summer are ideal times for taking cuttings.
• Collect cutting early hours of the day.
• Take 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 or longer. 
• Hardening off for two weeks before potting.

References

• Joffe, P. 2003. Easy guide to indigenous shrubs. Briza Publications, Pretoria.
• http://pza.sanbi.org/muraltia-spinosa

Happy Holidays

 

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.