Recipe for an award winning garden

When we think of colour in a garden naturally our first thoughts turn to flowers, and although flowers certainly play a vital role in providing seasonal colour, the best and easiest way to create an attractive and continuous display in your garden is to first plant a framework of trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers, around which you can plant annual colour.

This is the recipe for an award winning garden as the various trees and shrubs will support each other visually creating a rich patchwork of texture and colour, and a perfect backdrop for your flowering bedding plants or bulbs.

Create interest throughout the seasons

If you carefully select shrubs and trees to include interest throughout the seasons, either in the form of colourful foliage, flowers, attractive seed pods and showy berries, you can rest assured that your garden will always be exciting and colourful, no matter the season.  

Include shrubs to attract wildlife

Modern gardeners will all agree that the best way to add excitement and interest is to include some shrubs to attract wildlife to the garden, as nothing can compare to the sound of birdsong or the movement of a butterfly flitting over your blossoms. Therefore, many of the plants suggested below are planted not only for their beauty, but also to support wildlife in our urban gardens.

Limit seasonal colour to smaller sections

Trays of flowering seedlings and instant colour bags are fairly expensive if you want to plant large beds of flowering plants, and although sowing your own seed is a good option and certainly economical, it takes a lot of time and effort, so to save both time and money limit your seasonal colour to smaller sections of the garden where the plants will highlight focal points or lead the eye through the garden.

Do your own research to avoid costly mistakes 

Taking time to do your own research will save you a lot of time in the long run and avoid costly mistakes. Gardening in South Africa will help you do just that as we have a vast plant library and a handy articles section for your convenience, so if you are passionate about gardening and love to read about the plants you buy, click here to sign up today to find all the information you need to know about growing and caring for your plants, plus a whole lot more.

Polygala fruitcosa Shrub List for Winter Colour

Below you will find some wonderful exotic and indigenous medium-sized to large shrubs to brighten up your winter landscape, and also some to sustain wildlife in winter when food is scarce.

Why do flowering times vary within the same species?

It’s good to bear in mind that the flowering times given are only a guide, as plants seem to have a mind of their own, and even if they have been growing in the same garden for years, will often flower weeks sooner or later than expected, depending on prevailing climatic conditions.  

Flowering times will also often be different if the plant is grown in the summer or winter rainfall regions of the country. For example, our gorgeous Honeybell Bush (Freylinia lanceolata) bears its masses of drooping, creamy-yellow flowers sporadically throughout the year. However, its main flowering season will depend on whether it is grown in the winter or summer rainfall regions of South Africa. In the winter rainfall regions, flowering is from late summer (February) through autumn and winter to early spring (August);  and in the summer rainfall regions it may bloom mainly from mid to late winter and spring (June to September).

September Bells (Polygala myrtifolia), which grows wild in both the summer and winter rainfall regions, will also flower at different times depending on climate and rainfall patterns, as will our popular Pom-pom Tree (Dias cotinifolia) which is planted in gardens throughout the country, and can be seen blooming at various times of the year, starting from early spring through summer, depending on the Province.  

Therefore, it’s always best to first check with your local garden centre for advice before purchasing and planting as they will know which plants do best in your region, and their flowering times. Plants are certainly not cheap anymore and gardeners are spending more time researching and planning their garden before purchasing anything.

Strelitzia reginaeStrelitzias

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Strelitzias are a unique group of plants indigenous to South Africa, and there are 5 different species: Strelitzia reginae, Strelitzia juncea, Strelitzia nicolai, Strelitzia alba and Strelitzia caudata. They used as a bold structural plants and will give a tropical look to your garden.

Mature strelitzia plants are very floriferous, with flowers in autumn, winter and spring. Birds are attracted by the nectar filled flowers, and when they perch to have a drink, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen.

Crane Flower, Bird of Paradise, Kraanvoëlblom, isigude (Strelitzia reginae)

The crane flower is the most commonly known garden strelitzia with its large evergreen clumps of stiff grey-green leaves and startling flowers that resemble an exotic bird species. The flowers stand out above the foliage, at the tips of long stalks, and are bright orange with purple edges and bright blue tongues. The ever popular hybrid ‘Mandela’s Gold' is a very handsome yellow variety, and an asset to any garden. The crane flower is a slow grower, but is long-lived, and can eventually reach 1.5m tall and 2m wide.

The Rush Leafed Strelitzia

This is a rare and sought after variety which occurs naturally in only six locations in the Eastern Cape in an area north of Port Elizabeth, to Uitenhage and Patensie. It is extremely drought tolerant, and often found growing on harsh rocky outcrops amongst other drought-resistant shrubs. It makes a handsome feature plant in the garden with its long, needle-like leaves, and looks wonderful if planted in large groups. Although the leaves are very different to the crane flower (Strelitzia reginae) the large orange or yellow flowers look the same and are borne on long leafless stems, generally in winter and early spring (May to October). This species can withstand light frost and grows from 1 to 2m tall, with an equal spread.

Nandina domestica berriesNandina, Heavenly Bamboo, Sacred Bamboo (Nandina domestica)

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Heavenly bamboo is one of those remarkably handy garden plants which always look’s gorgeous. Throughout summer the lovely lacy foliage of this shrub emerges pinkish-purple and turns a lovely soft green before maturing to a darker green, and it produces a profusion of flower spikes in arching panicles at the tips of the branches, adorned with small white flowers and showy yellow anthers.

The flowers are followed by large bunches of bright red berries which persist right through summer and well into autumn and winter. In autumn the lovely lacy foliage of this shrub starts to turn purple to reddish-purple, and if it is planted in full sun and your climate is cold, the colder it gets the more the leaves will intensify until they become a fiery red. It is an erect shrub about 2 to 3m tall, with numerous straight, usually un-branched stems, which spread by suckering from the roots and spreading slowly to about 1 to 1.2m in diameter

Nandina domestica cultivars include:

‘Fern Flame’

 ‘Fern Flame’ is a variety which grows around 2m tall and has lovely yellow-green leaves in summer, turning red in winter.

‘Golden Flame’

 ‘Golden Flame’ is a variety which grows about 2m tall and has lovely green foliage in summer which turns yellow in winter.

Aloe arborescensKrantz Aloe, Kransaalwyn, ikalene, inkalane, umhlabana (Aloe arborescens)

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The beautiful krantz aloe is a valuable garden asset and possibly the most widely cultivated aloe in the world. It is cherished for its profusion of warmly coloured flower spikes during the drab winter months (May to July). The flower come in fiery shades of deep-orange, which is the most common colour, but there are also forms with colours like salmon pink, a deep orange-red, and a lovely butter-yellow colour.

Plant breeders have also developed striking bi-coloured hybrids which are sure to delight.

The flowers produce copious amounts of nectar, attracting many birds, especially sunbirds, as well as butterflies, bees and other insects.

The krantz aloe is easy to spot in the wild, but even when not in bloom it still stands out in the landscape with its stately form, up to 2 to 3m tall, and its spreading habit, producing a multi-headed shrub of striking green leaves armed with sharp teeth at their margins, and arranged in attractive rosettes.

Polygala myrtifoliaSeptember Bush, Butterfly Bush, Augustusbossie, ulopesi, umabalabala (Polygala myrtifolia)

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Polygala myrtifolia is the most well-known garden polygala and is loved by gardeners because it is an attractive shrub with a rounded crown and an almost equal spread. This polygala varies in height and spread, but in the garden it generally forms a medium-sized shrub 1 to 3m tall.

Its glossy, myrtle-like leaves are variable in shape, and the flowers come in shades of magenta and mauve, to white. It can be found growing wild in both the summer and winter rainfall regions, occurring in a wide variety of habitats. Flowering can occur intermittently throughout the year, but is especially prolific in late winter to early spring and summer (August and September) hence the names Augustusbossie and September Bush, but in some areas blooming may only peak in October. Polygala is known to attract seed eating birds and bees to the garden.

Polygala myrtifolia cultivars include:

'Glentana'

Glentana is a variety which produces purple flowers, but is much shorter than Polygala myrtifolia, with a more compact growth habit, and smaller leaves.

‘White Feathers'

White feather’s bears an abundance of white flowers and its leaves are also slightly greyer than Polygala myrtifolia, making it a perfect contrast plant for many other flowering shrubs.

Poinsettia RedPoinsettia, Karlienblom, Crown of the Andes, Flor de Pascua, Noche Buena (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

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Today there are over 100 cultivated varieties of poinsettia and they are widely grown and immensely popular garden plants in tropical or subtropical gardens. In these regions the plant becomes a woody perennial that can be pruned into a shrub or small tree up to 4m high. The dark green leaves are dentate and the coloured bracts are most commonly red but can be orange, lime-green, cream, pink, white or marbled. The small clusters of yellow flowers are unassuming and do not attract pollinators.

Poinsettia is indigenous to Mexico where it grows wild in deciduous tropical forests, at moderate elevations, and in the wild it flowers in winter and the colouring  of the bracts is created through photoperiodism, meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least 5 days in a row) to change colour. At the same time, the plants require abundant light during the day for the brightest colour.

To force them to flower in summer, and especially at Christmas time, South African growers trick them into believing its winter by blocking out all light in their growing tunnels early in the afternoon to simulate the longer nights and shorter days of winter.

Leonotis leonurus Wild Dagga, Wildedagga, Umunyane, Umfincafincane, Lebake, Umhlahlampetu, Imvovo (Leonotis leonurus)

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This outstanding indigenous plant has become an extremely popular garden subject because of its brilliant orange flowers in late summer, autumn or winter. White, light orange and peachy orange forms are also available. It is also fast growing, and adapts to a wide range of climatic conditions throughout the South Africa.

Best of all wild dagga does not have aggressive roots and is perfect for gardens small and large. This multi-stemmed shrub can reach 2 to 3m tall with a spread of 1 to 1.5m wide, and has long, slender, aromatic green leaves with toothed margins, and rough upper surfaces with velvety undersides.

The flowers will attract bees, butterflies and moths to your garden and they secrete a plentiful supply of nectar for sunbirds, including the lesser double-collared, olive, black, and malachite sunbirds. The flowers also attract many other insects, which in turn will attract a variety of insect eating birds.

Leptospermum 'Sunraysia'Tea Bush, Australian Tea Tree, Manuka Myrtle (Leptospermum scoparium)

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Tea bushes are old time favourites for cold South African gardens because they can be depended upon to produce a show stopping abundance of flowers. Depending on climatic conditions, it can start blooming in early winter (May) and is most prolific in spring (August and September). The delicate flowers can be single or double and come in all shades of pink, red or white. The fine, needle-like foliage is highly aromatic when crushed, and the flowers are followed by small but attractive woody capsules containing tiny seeds that persist on the tree for a long time after the petals have dropped.

In the garden, depending on climatic conditions, the tea bush generally grows anything from 1.5 to 3m tall with a spread of 1.5m to 2m. It adds ornamental appeal to the landscape all year round, looks beautiful in a mixed shrub border, and can be planted close together to form a screen.

Tea bushes are available as standard plants; and miniatures like 'Cherry Brandy' are perfect for growing in containers and small gardens.

Freylinia lanceolataHoneybell Bush, Heuningklokkiesbos (Freylinia)

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The most enchanting attribute of the Yellow Honeybell is its lovely weeping habit which gives the plant a less formal look, and the soft flexible branches and long thin leaves give it a willow-like look as they sway in the breeze, creating movement within the garden. 

It grows quickly and varies in height and spread, depending on climate, rainfall and soil type, but in the garden it reaches anything from 3 to 5m tall with an equal spread, and under optimal conditions it can even reach 6m. If you retain the lower branches the honeybell is an excellent choice for an informal windbreak or screening plant. For smaller spaces, it can be pruned up into a traditional, small, single stemmed tree, suitable even for tiny gardens, or for planting into pots on balconies.

It bears its masses of drooping, honey-scented sprays of creamy-yellow flowers sporadically throughout the year. However, its main flowering season will depend on whether it is grown in the winter or summer rainfall regions of South Africa. In the winter rainfall regions, flowering is from late summer through autumn and winter to early spring (February to August);  and in the summer rainfall regions it may bloom mainly from mid to late winter and spring (June to August).

The flowers attract hosts of butterflies and a variety of insects, which in turn become food for insectivorous birds such as the black-headed oriole, pied and crested barbets, Cape robins, and thrushes.

Protes 'Pinita' Picture courtesy Madibri Proteas (Proteaceae)

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Proteas are ideally suited to low-maintenance and water-wise gardens, and are indispensable in the wildlife garden as they magnets for nectar feeding birds which pollinate the flowers. Bees and beetles like scarab beetles and protea beetles, as well as a myriad of other insects are also attracted to the blooms, which in turn, attract insect eating birds.

Don’t be put off by the reputation proteas have of being tricky to grow, if you follow a few simple guidelines they can thrive in your garden, and if space is limited, many also do very well in pots. Over the years local and international plant breeders have developed an outstanding variety of hybrid proteas and many of these will even flower at different times of the year, which is ideal for gardeners who plan to colour their garden throughout the seasons.

Your local garden centre will stock those hybrids which are most suitable for your region - another good reason to visit an accredited garden centre for the best advice.

King Protea, Koningprotea, isiQwane esincinci (Protea cynaroides)

The King Protea was given its name because of its enormous flowers which resemble a large crown, and is also the largest of all protea flowers. It has one of the widest distribution ranges, and can be found growing at all elevations, from sea level to 1500 meters. The combination of the different climatic conditions, and the large range of localities, has resulted in a large variety of leaf and flower sizes, as well as flower colours and flowering times.

Generally it flowers anytime from mid-winter to early spring (July to October) and the colour of the bracts can vary from a creamy white to a deep crimson, but the soft pale pink bracts with their silvery sheen are still the most prized. Established plants produce six to ten flower heads in one season, although some exceptional plants can produce up to forty flower heads on a single plant.

Protea cynaroides 'King Pink' Picture courtesy Madibri Protea cynaroides cultivars include:

'King Madiba'

King Madiba is a gorgeous hybrid loved for its striking dark pink to red flowers. It grows 1 to 1.5m tall and up to 1.5m wide, and tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

'King White'

King White produces large creamy-white flowers. It grows 1m tall with an equal spread, and tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

‘King Pink’ 

King Pink produces delightful bright pink and creamy white flowers. It grows 1.5m tall with an equal spread, and tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

'King Redrex'

King Redrex is a gorgeous bright red and grows to +-1.5m with an equal spread. It tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

'Little Prince'

Little Prince was selected specifically for small gardens and containers and is a beautiful compact hybrid with red and white flowers. It grows 1m tall and 1m wide, and tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

Protes 'Lady Di' Picture courtesy Madibri Queen Protea, Bearded Protea, Wolbaardsuikerbos (Protea magnifica)

The queen protea has the second largest flower heads after the king protea and is one of the most attractive and sought after proteas with gardeners. The massive woolly flower head is cup-shaped, and in nature the colour range of the floral bracts is broad, including cream and greenish-cream, pink, salmon-pink, and rosy-red to deep carmine. The beards are also variable in colour and may be white, purple-black or tawny-brown, with the central tip being black, tawny-brown or even white. Flowering times differ from locality to locality, but is abundant from mid-winter and into summer (June to January), peaking in September.

In the garden the shrubs generally grow into rounded bushes, ranging from 1.5 to 2m in height and 2 to 4m in diameter, and there are many magnificent garden hybrids.

Protea magnifica cultivars include:

'Pinita'

Pinita is a hybrid between Protea magnifica x longifolia and produces lovely pinkish-red floral bracts which fade to cream at their bases, and a black beard. The large, prominent flower heads are well displayed on a bush that reaches around 2m in height with a similar width. Flowering is mainly from winter through spring (June to October) and the shrubs will withstand the occasional frost and temperatures as low as -4°C.

'Lady Di'

Lady Di is a beautiful hybrid between Protea magnifica x compacta, with pink blooms topped with a white fringe, blooming from winter to spring (July to October). It grows approximately 2m tall with a spread of 1.5m, and tolerates light to moderate frost once established.

Protea 'Liebencherry' Picture courtesy Madibri Long-leaf Sugarbush, Long-leaf Protea, Langblaarsuikerbos (Protea longifolia)

Protea longifolia grows quickly but varies vastly in size from 50cm to 1.5m tall, depending on location, with branches which sometimes touch the ground, and spread up to 2m wide. In the wild it is easily recognized when in full bloom in winter (June and July) because of its noticeably long, black-beard on the central peak of the flowers. The flower bracts come in lovely shades of yellow-green, creamy-white and light orange-pink, and contrast perfectly against the curved, grey-green leaves.

According to the Red List of South African Plants, Protea longifolia is assessed as vulnerable, meaning that it is threatened in the wild. It is also one of the most promiscuous proteas, frequently forming natural hybrids both in cultivation and in nature with neighbouring protea species like: Protea compacta, Protea magnifica, Protea repens, and Protea neriifolia, resulting in many hybrids like ‘Liebencherry’ (Protea repens x longifolia), and ‘Pinita’ (Protea magnifica x longifolia).

Protes 'Carnival' Picture courtesy Madibri Protea, Duinesuikerbos, Botrivier-protea (Protea compacta)

Sadly the Bot River protea is classified as NEAR THREATENED in the wild. It is found on a relatively narrow zone along the southwestern Cape coast and extends from Kleinmond, Houw Hoek, Hermanus, Elim, Napier, Bredasdorp to Struisbaai. Populations mostly occur on the foothills of mountains close to the sea, and coastal forelands and sandy flats close to the sea. It seldom grows at high altitudes with virtually all plants found between sea level and 100m

This single-stemmed, sparsely branched shrub which grows 2 to 3.5m tall, and is ideally suited to larger coastal fynbos gardens where, if planted in masse , will provide a pink or white splash of colour for most of the year. Because of its long flowering period spanning autumn to summer (May to October) it is popular with florists and cultivated on a massive scale.

'Carnival'

Carnival is a hybrid between Protea compacta x neriifolia and produces lovely salmon-pink blooms which blooms from autumn and into winter (April to June). It grows 2.5m tall and 1.5m wide, and tolerates light to moderate frosts.

Protea 'Brenda'Burchell's Sugarbush, Blinksuikerbos (Protea burchellii)

Burchell's sugarbush is a medium-sized shrub which grows 1 to 2m tall with a spread of up to 3m. The branches are produced from a single stem and are covered with lovely long, olive-green leaves with fine black points. In winter, and spring (June to August), cream-coloured to deep carmine flowers appear, making it a delightful addition to any garden.

Protea burchellii cultivars include:

'Brenda'

Brenda is a lovely hybrid between Protea compacta x burchelli which produces brilliant red flowers from autumn and into winter (May to July) and grows 2.5m tall with a spread of 1.5m. It is tolerant of light to moderate frosts inland.

'Sheila'

Sheila is a beautiful hybrid between Protea magnifica x burchelli which produces its red flowers with white fringes in winter (May to July). It is a compact shrub, growing 1.5m tall with an equal spread, and it tolerates light to moderate frosts when established.

'Lady Yasmin'  

Lady Yasmin is a hybrid between Protea burchelii x obtusifolia, and a lovely new addition with beautiful glossy red flowers in autumn and winter (April to June). It grows 1.5m tall with an equal spread. It does not tolerate frost.

Leucospermum cordifolium Pincushions (Leucospermum)

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Most pincushions bloom in spring but there are those which start blooming in middle to late winter, extending the season. Before deciding which pincushions you wish to plant, visit your local garden centre first for the best advice on which species or cultivars will do best in your region.

Typically Leucospermum are neatly rounded evergreen shrubs, and free-flowering, bearing a flower head at the end of each branch. The flowers are not self-pollinating and produce an abundance of nectar to attract pollinators like the Protea scarab beetle and many insect and nectar eating birds, including the Cape sugar bird and three species of sunbirds.

(Leucospermum cordifolium)

This is one of the most decorative of the pincushions and its long-stemmed cut flowers are cherished by florists around the world for their unusual form. Hybrids and cultivars of this plant come in colours ranging from pale yellow and orange to deep orange-red and orange. The flowers can appear at any time from late winter to early spring, and summer (July to the end of November) and a mature plant can carry as many as 300 or more flowers at one time.

This pincushion makes an excellent focal point in a large garden or park, and has great impact if planted in groups.  When young it has a rounded, spreading shape, growing about 1.25 to 1.5m tall and 1.5 to 2m wide, although mature specimens may spread 4m. The stems tend to curve upward, giving the whole plant a rather elegant form.

Leucospermum cordifolium cultivars include:

'Soleil'

Soleil is a hybrid between Leucospermum cordifolium x glabrum and has unusual yellow to apricot coloured flowers from winter to spring (July to October). It grows quickly to 1.5m tall with an equal spread, doing well in pots. It is both frost and drought tolerant once established.

'Succession'

This is one of the best salmon-pink pincushions which will bloom for a long time in winter and spring (June to October). It is a hybrid between Leucospermum cordifolium x lineare, and grows 1.5m tall with an equal spread, doing very well as a container plant. It is frost and drought tolerant once established.

Leucadendron 'Safari Sunset' Picture courtesy MadibriConebushes (Leucadendron)

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Over the years local and international plant breeders have developed an outstanding variety of hybrids and cultivars of conebushes, and many of these will even flower at different times of the year, extending the season. Because flowering times may vary slightly from year to year and region to region, bear this in mind when planning your garden. Your local garden centre will stock those which are most suitable for your region - another good reason to visit an accredited garden centre for the best advice.

Common Sunshine Conebush, Geelbos (Leucadendron salignum)

The common sunshine conebush is the most widespread species of the family Proteaceae, occurring in a large parts of South Africa. It is common from Port Elizabeth in the east, to north of Ceres in the west, where it occurs on a wide range of soil types, from sea level to an altitude of 2 000m, and is also quite variable in leaf size as well as in the colour of the involucral leaves. In the wild it is also very variable in its growth habit, ranging in height from a mere 75cm to 2m tall. The common sunshine conebush has a long flowering season (May to December) and the colourful leaves surrounding the flowers vary in colour from greenish-yellow to a vivid orange-red, making this species an attractive and popular garden plant.

‘Safari Sunset’

Safari Sunset is a hybrid between Leucodendron salignum x laureolum, and a valuable export flower crop in several countries because it produces its large deep-red bracts on long stems, flaring open to reveal lovely cream centres when in full bloom. Flowering can occur all year but its main flowering season is from autumn through to late spring. Safari Sunset is a tall, erect and vigorous shrub growing up to 2.5m high and 1.5m wide, and is frost and drought tolerant once established.

Golden Conebush, Laurel-leaf Conebush, Louriergeelbos, Louriertolbos (Leucadendron laureolum)

The golden conebush is a large shrub with a single stem at the base of the plant, growing about 1 to 2m tall. The male bushes have a yellowish hue and are compact with a rounded shape, while the female bushes are greenish and less symmetrical, with fewer branches. Their oblong leaves are hairless when mature and end in a blunt, recurved, fine point.

During their flowering season in midwinter to early spring (June to August) both the male and female bushes turn a gorgeous bright yellow. The male flower-heads have small yellow flowers, and the female flower-heads are made up of green scales with fewer flowers.  After flowering, the male flowers turn brown and drop off, but the female ones continue to grow, forming greenish yellow cones which become hard and woody and are retained on the bush for several years.  It thrives in a wider range of soils than other Leucadendrons which require acidic soil, and once established it is frost and drought tolerant.

Although this species is not widely cultivated for the cut flower market, it is one of the parents of many commercial hybrids such as 'Asteroid', 'Chameleon', 'Red Gem', 'Silvan Red', 'Safari Sunset', 'Inca Gold', 'Magenta Sunset', 'Laurel Yellow', and 'Wilson's Wonder' to name but a few.

Camellia sasanqua 'Aimee' Picture courtesy horti.co.zaCamellia sasanqua

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Camellia sasanqua is an evergreen shrub that, with maturity can reach up to 5m tall. It has broad, glossy leaves with finely serrated margins and an elegant yet open growth habit which allows it to blend in effortlessly with other shrubs in the mixed border, without dominating the landscape in the way the denser and more formal and upright growing Camellia japonica does.

Sasanquas bloom earlier than Japonicas, and depending on the cultivar, can start anytime, from early autumn, through winter and into spring (March to September. The blooms are mostly single or semi-double and although they may not be quite as showy as the double Camellia japonica hybrids, they have their own special charm, and are born in profusion.  The lightly scented blooms feature fluted, ruffled petals, adorned with a central burst of bright golden-yellow stamens, and their colours range from white to shell-pink, and rosy red to cherry red, with some even sporting blooms with bold splotches of colour on the petals.

Sasanqua hybrids grow quicker than Camellia japonica hybrids and vary in height and spread. The taller varieties grow about 3m tall and 1.5m wide, maturing into large plants about 5m tall with a 2.5m wide spread. Camellia sasanqua is still very hardy, but is less resistant to low temperatures than Camellia japonica, and although it enjoys filtered shade it can take a lot more sun than camellia japonica, even growing in full sun in cooler climates.

Camellia sasanqua cultivars include:

‘Aimee’

 Aimee is a garden hybrid which is a smaller, more compact shrub that produces a profusion of small, single pink flowers.

‘Marianne’

Marianne has a bushy, more upright growth habit and produces a profusion of smaller double white, slightly ruffled blooms with a light musky fragrance.

'Marie Young'

Marie Young is an upright medium-sized shrub with single blossoms that are a lovely soft light pink.

‘Henrietta’

Henrietta is a medium-sized upright shrub which produces an abundance of small, loose, peony-shaped blooms of soft rose pink, with a light musk scent.

‘Jennifer Susan’

Jennifer Susan is a large, bushy and upright shrub with a profusion of small soft pink, double peony blooms with a light musk scent

Camellia japonica 'Debutante' Picture courtesy horti.co.zaCamellia japonica

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Camellia japonica is the most widely grown of the camellias and depending on the variety, it can start blooming from late in winter through spring (July to September) and there are thousands of hybrids available in a wide selection of flower sizes, from miniatures only 4cm across to huge blossoms reaching 12cm across. The petal forms range from single to semi-double and very formal doubles, and come in delightful single or bicoloured shades of soft pink to dark red, pure white and cream.

Camellia japonica has a pyramidal to upright oval shape that is very regular and formal in appearance, and grows slowly to 3m tall and 1m wide but can mature into a large shrub about 5m tall with a 3m spread, depending on growing conditions and climate. It makes a magnificent, formal focal point in the garden.

Camellia japonica will grow in coastal, subtropical and frosty regions, so ask your local nursery for help in selecting cultivars that will thrive in your area.

Camellia japonica cultivars include:

'Brushfield’s Yellow’

Brushfield’s Yellow is a large, upright growing shrub with beautiful blooms with white outer petals and a creamy yellow ruffled centre.

‘Debutante’

Debutante is a medium-sized, bushy shrub, with light pink, peony shaped blooms.

‘Hakurakuten’ 

Hakurakuten has upright growth and produces large, pure white, semi-double blooms.

Camellia x williamsii 'Pink Lace' Picture courtesy horti.co.zaCamellia x williamsii (Hybrid Camellia)

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Williamsii hybrids are highly recommended for the garden as they bloom for an exceptionally long time, with some varieties flowering for about 4 to 5 months, starting in mid-winter right through to mid spring (June to October). Their upright growth habit and abundance of blooms makes them even more attractive than the older Camellia japonica varieties.

These garden hybrids are very vigorous growers and free-blooming, and their large blooms generally open after Camellia japonica, and are the result of crossing Camellia japonica and Camellia saluensis. And, like Camellia japonica the flowers are available in shades of pink, red, and white, and come many shapes and sizes, from semi-doubles to formal doubles.

Camellia x williamsii cultivars include:

‘Anticipation’

Anticipation is very free flowering, producing large peony-formed, deep rose blooms.

‘Donation’

Donation has semi-double, orchid pink blooms and performs very well in cold climates.

‘Baby Bear’

Baby Bear is a delightful dwarf camellia with masses of tiny, single pink flowers. 

'Pink Lace'

Pink Lace is a compact medium sized, rounded shrub with formal blooms of mid to deep pink.

‘Black Lace’

Black Lace is a compact, medium sized shrub with upright growth. It produces formal double flowers with a deep blackish red colour and a paler centre.

‘Lavender Prince’

Lavender Prince has an open upright growth habit, and large semi- double, orchid pink blooms.

Viburnum tinus Picture courtesy Wendy Cutler see her Flickr PageViburnums

Members can click here to read more about Viburnums

The versatility of viburnums is legendary, as they tolerate a wide range of growing conditions, and there is no limit to the ways in which they can be used in the landscape. They are truly the ‘backbone’ of the garden, adding structure and form, around which the flower garden can flourish. Viburnums are available as standard or ‘lollipop’ plants, and grow well in pots or above ground planters, making them perfect for gardens both large and small, even balcony gardens.

Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)

The beautiful evergreen Viburnum tinus has long been prized in cultivation and is very ornamental evergreen with large flattish heads of pink buds which start appearing from mid-winter to mid spring (June to September) opening up to display masses of fragrant, star-shaped white flowers that are rich in nectar and will attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. The blooms give way to clusters of small metallic-blue berries which mature in autumn.

The shrub is bushy, vigorous and fast growing, and young shrubs grow mostly upright, eventually spreading slightly to form a vase shape, with a dense rounded crown of glossy, dark green leaves. Generally it will grow 2 to 3m tall, with an almost equal spread, but mature specimens can reach a height of 5m or more.

Viburnum tinus cultivars include:

'Variegatum'

Variegatum is a compact, spreading shrub with mid-green leaves which are irregularly margined in yellow.  It grows about 1.5 to 2.5m or taller, with an equal spread, and the leaves provide a superb backdrop for the flattened clusters of reddish-pink buds, opening to small, fragrant white flowers that bloom for a long period, followed by blue-black fruits.

'Lucidum'

Lucidum is a dense and fast growing shrub with glossy, leathery leaves, and generally grows about 2.5 to 4m in height, with an almost equal spread. Clusters of strongly fragrant, pinkish-white flowers are followed by showy clusters of bright berries, varying in colour from blue to black, or red.

'Compacta'

Compacta remains popular for its ability to be a perfect evergreen specimen for a small garden, or even in a pot on a balcony, as it has very compact growth and responds well to clipping in order to keep it even smaller. If grown in the garden it will reach a height of 1.5 to 2m with an equal spread, but with maturity can reach 3m. It produces flattish heads of pink flower buds which open into tiny white flowers. Clusters of small but showy metallic-blue berries mature in autumn.

‘Gwenllian’

Gwenllian is very beautiful with its flattened clusters of rosy-pink buds that open into very fragrant starry-shaped, creamy-white flowers that are tinged with pink. The flowers are followed by metallic blue berries. It grows moderately to 1.5m tall and 1m wide, but can mature to a height of 2.5m.

'Purpureum'

'Purpureum' is a fast growing large shrub, 2.5 to 3m tall with an equal spread. It has glossy, dark green leaves with lovely bronzy-purple new growth.  The clusters of small white flowers are often tinged with pink when in bud, and are followed by blue-black berries.

Grewia occidentalis fruit. Picture courtesy Random Harvest NurseryCross-berry, Kruisbessie, Mokukutu, Mogwane, iLalanyathi, Mulembu, umNqabaza (Grewia occidentalis )

Members can click here to read more about the Cross-berry

The cross-berry is a most decorative garden subject, and although it is grown for its starry, mauve or pink flowers in summer, the distinctive four-lobed, square-shaped berries that follow the flowers in late summer, turning a shiny reddish-brown to light purple when ripe in winter, are quite attractive and remain on the tree for long periods.

The fruit is edible and is relished by humans, and in certain areas the ripe fruit is collected to brew beer, or to dry for later use.  This shrub is essential in every bird and butterfly garden as it attracts fruit eating birds like bulbuls, barbets, louries and mousebirds. The larvae of the rufous-winged elfin butterfly (Eagris nottoana) and the buff-tipped skipper (Netrobalane canopus) feed on the leaves. The shiny, dark green leaves are also browsed by game and livestock.

This attractive branching, woody shrub or small tree is widely spread and can be found growing in all the provinces. It varies greatly in height and spread, according to the climate of the region in which it is grown, and can reach anything from 2 to 6m tall and is normally well-branched. It does not have an aggressive root system, making it perfect to plant near paving, and buildings, and it also grows easily in containers.