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Proudly South African

Flowering Bonsai

Although flowering bonsai are very popular in some regions of the world, particularly in Japan and the USA, beautiful flowering bonsai in South Africa are fairly rare. Most our indigenous trees do not produce huge masses of flowers like many of the trees in Japan, and the few that do are not really suited for bonsai. One of the most commonly used exotic species is the bougainvillea, while azaleas are also quite popular.

Rubble Country!

The world thinks we are a rubble nation. So why don’t we realise this ourselves?

Meet Moot House

Soak in the Grandeur of a bygone era in parktown

Water Features: Keeping Them Clean

Water Features: Keeping Them Clean

Living From The Air

Air plants, air ferns, oxygen plants, tillandsias, Spanish moss, old man’s beard, air bromeliad…

Gardenia Care

The delicate appearance and exceptional fragrance of gardenia flowers have earned these plants a place of honour in the hearts of many a romantic – it’s no wonder they’re referred to as the flower of love. But growing a gardenia can sometimes be a challenge.

Ready For Roasting!

Like comedians, vegetables can do with a good roasting.

Ladybirds Industrial Aphid Munchers

It’s a well-known fact that one of the most beneficial insects that can be used in integrated pest management is the ladybird.

Spring At Maasstrom Farm

A vista of 400 rose varieties with the Kaga Mountains as a backdrop welcomes visitors to the MaasstrmFarm Garden.

African Thunder

A SouthAfrican designer took the Singapore Garden Show by storm with his creative show garden.

Just In Time For Christmas

Christmas is a time to go all out with decorating our homes, and the finishing touch is definitely amaryllis in full flower.

Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers

When planting up a large, multi-dimensional container as a focal point that can be viewed from all sides, use the following guide for a perfect mix of plants.

Extraordinary Medusa's Head Euphorbia For Water-wise Gardens

Euphorbia caput-medusae

Beautiful Silver Vernonia – Ideal For Summer Borders

The silver vernonia is a striking member of the daisy family Asteraceae.

Beauty And Creativity

This home by the sea is complemented by a garden that is both practical and gorgeous.

In A Class Of Their Own… Apricot Roses

Apricot roses are a favourite with gardeners who want the best of both worlds – soft pastel colours that also have an intensity of colour that stands up to our long, sunny days.

Nursery School Part 6

Sow the seeds of a lifelong love for nature by introducing your sprouts to these playful and rewarding projects with plants.

Swanky Or Simple...

Seven Herbs For Holiday Entertaining

Cape Hollyhocks Ideal For The Shade Garden

The Cape hollyhock or Kaapse stokroos is a large, ornamental shrub in the mallow family Malvaceae, which includes other South African members like the cross-berry (Grewia occidentalis) and the coast hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus). Named after the Swedish botanist Anders Sparrman (1748 – 1820), there are seven species of Sparrmannia, of which two occur in southern Africa.

Forever Beautiful

GET THE LOOK There are so many times when roses evoke a ‘wow’ from us! This bed, planted up with pale lemon ‘Forever Busy’ together with ‘Bridal Pink’ and ‘Amarula Profusion’ with purple ‘Vodacom’ at the back, is one such instance. These floribunda roses show off what floribundas are known for: a multiplicity of blooms that tumble downwards to create a magnificent border. The effect is enhanced by spot-on placing in terms of height. The lowest-growing rose, ‘Amarula Profusion’ (knee height), has been planted in front, with hip-height ‘Forever Busy’ and ‘Bridal Pink’ both in the middle, and ‘Vodacom’ at the back, growing to shoulder height. Other tall-growing pastel roses lead the eye along the bed, with some deep red added for liveliness. This garden, which was part of last year’s Joburg Rose Garden Bus Tour, was designed by Karen Gardelli.

Highveld Colour At Its Best

When her client, who is a florist, asked her to design a garden that 'vomits' colour , Debbie Smit compiled with a garden straight from a storybook.

Getting To Grips With Galls

Plant galls may be unsightly, but they’re no reason to panic!

3 Glorious Coral Trees Blooming In August

Erythrinas or coral trees are amongst the most colourful and spectacular of our indigenous flowering trees, their vibrant blooms dominating the landscape during late winter and early spring both in the wild and in suburban gardens. The nectarrich flowers are frequented by birds in a wide array of different species, adding to the allure of these magnificent trees. Hybrids and colour variants add to the range found in gardens. Erythrinas propagate easily from seed, cuttings or large truncheons.

Hurry, Up In Hogsback

Take a slow walk through a garden named Hurry.

Chelsea In Pictures

There is a carnival atmosphere at the start of the Chelsea Flower Show.

Get Good Looking Roses This October

Last chance to prune or do corrective pruning

Basic Wiring Techniques

The technique of using wire to change the shapes and styles of bonsai trees developed around the middle of the 18th century in Japan, so as far as the ancient art of bonsai goes it is a fairly new technique.

Fireworks In A Pot

An asymmetrical design helps to create balance in this pot of variegated green and bright red.

Stunning Barberton Daisies

One of South Africa’s most important contributions to world horticulture is the Barberton daisy, a beautiful, usually orange- or red-flowered herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family.