Veld to garden

We often see a gem of a plant growing in nature or in botanical gardens and wish we could grow them at home too.

Pink dragon scale combo

Some indoor plants are destined to be together, like this Alocasia 'Dragon Scale Pink' with its pink stem and this Fittonia sp with its pink spotty leaves.

HOW TO GROW Summer Cabbage

Cabbage is a cool season crop that does best before the full heat of summer. Choose a spring or summer variety that matures quickly like ‘Cape Spitz’ (sugarloaf type) ‘Copenhagen Market’, ‘Glory of Enkhuizen’ or Chinese cabbage ‘Michihili’.

Get your daisies in!

It's osteopermum time again.

Everblooming Begonias

Houseplant enthusiasts looking for flowering colour indoors can look no further than Begonia elatior.

Be your own lavender princess

Lavender brings life to the garden with its vibrant purple hues and a fragrance that puts perfumes to shame.

Become a lavender boss!

In South Africa, if your lavender has been in your garden for more than two years, well, you're a botanical boss! If not, we have some suggestions.

Pie in the sky? Why not grow your own?

The idea of window box farming sounds delightfully quixotic. Actually, it's an invitation to those who look longingly at other people's veggie patch and think, 'I wish I had the space.

Pelargoniums fit for a King

The indigenous Pelargonium grandiflorum (regal pelargonium) is a gardener's delight with so much visual interest, it can be hard to know where to look.

RHS Plant of the Year Agapanthus 'Black Jack'

After 18 years in development, all the hard work has paid off and Agapanthus 'Black Jack' has made it to the top of the heap by winning the prestigious Plant of the Year award from the Royal Horticultural Society.

Dynamite comes in small packages

Perennials may be the backbone of garden beds, but trees should be considered the backbone of the entire garden.

CHILLING @ CHELSEA

Chelsea was back in all her glory this year, with 36 spectacular gardens, from show gardens to balcony and container gardens, as well as a feast of horticultural delights in the main pavilion.

Splendid Mimetes

You can plant this rare species in pots or in your fynbos garden to enjoy something really special...

Parsley

This herb is not only a very healthy, all-purpose garnish, it is an excellent companion plant. Sowing parsley from seed will provide plenty of plants for spreading around the vegetable garden or for under roses.

Christmas in July

One of the most striking succulents at Christmas time in the Northern Hemisphere has to be the very attractive Schlumbergera buckleyi. Its common name Christmas cactus says it all, as it will flower just in time for Christmas in the north. In South Africa it will be flowering now for a beautiful Christmas in July.

Pack a punch with pansies

The velvety-petalled smiley faces of pansies are perfect to pop in a garden bed for a bit of instant colour, or plant in pots for long-lasting pleasure with minimum care.

POLYCULTURE...taking companion planting to the next level

An ancient practice that makes sense for today's environmentally conscious gardener.

HEAVYWEIGHTS for dry shade

Do not let a lack of sunlight combined with dry soil get you down. There are solutions to create vibrant life in these 'problem' areas in a garden and flowering time for most are just around the corner.

WHAT'S NEW in the world of indoor plants?

There is no doubt that indoor plants have exploded in popularity in recent years, with millions of people now calling themselves houseplant parents. Far from a fleeting trend, interest in indoor gardening only continues to grow year by year, with new developments every season to look forward to.

An African Sunset in Aloes

Aloes in flower can only be described as spectacular. Vibrant colour that glows in the twilight to inspire all to garden with these tough, rewarding plants.

Homegrown NOSTALGIA

Thoughtful selection of plants and a eye for placing pots and décor together, make this garden full of interest and full of life.

Wonderful in winter!

With this trio of trusty old-timers growing in your winter garden, you will have no shortage of colour or visits from sunbirds.

Perennial herbs for winter

Although growth slows down during June and July in cold, Highveld areas, perennial herbs like rosemary, thyme, lavender, and oregano are frost-hardy and can continue to be productive throughout winter with a little bit of care.

Play boxwood ball!

See the simplicity of boxwoods when cut into balls...

Heart-shaped leaves for the home

Winter colour to brighten up any room of the home

All your VEGGIE QUESTIONS answered

Whether you are an old hand or a starter gardener, when it comes to growing veggies, there are always questions.

FIGHT BACK against FROST

When temperatures drop to 0°C or lower, we like to bundle up inside with a blanket or around a fire to keep us warm. Unfortunately, the plants in our garden don't have that luxury. They have to brave the elements and face possible serious damage in the process.

Pruning vs Wiring

There are a large number of ways to get a bonsai tree to grow in a desired direction.

Fern up your shade

When environmental factors such as too much shade limit the success of flowering plants, opt for tough ferns and remember that green is a colour too!

PLANT FOCUS - 5 best bracts and cones Ham

We were looking for the most colourful foliage to plant and asked fynbos grower, Arnelia, to identify the five top performing leucadendron varieties for us.