I remember about thirty years ago, when I was still a novice gardener, I walked into a nursery, took a right turn, and found myself quite hyperventilating with excitement under an archway covered with the most magnificent climber. I had just seen my first Thunbergia mysorensis (the slipper vine) in all its glory.
This led to much paging through gardening books, and the discovery that this spectacular plant has many siblings, some even more beautiful!
Then the collecting started, and we now have a wonderful selection in the garden as well as the nursery – where the problem is that they always seem to be sold out.
People are generally more familiar with the sweet Thunbergia alata (Black-eyed Susan), the flowers usually bright yellow or orange but sometimes a creamy white, or Thunbergia grandiflora with its glorious lavender-blue trumpet flowers. But there are plenty more where they came from. If you are looking for a floriferous fast grower to quickly cover a pergola, you couldn’t do better than one of the Thunbergias.
IN THE GARDEN
We are at the end of November, and I am wondering whether we have had one sunny day this spring-early summer. Lovely rain but almost constant! While we may be feeling all at sea (no pun intended), the plants calmly continue to know exactly where they are in the weather cycle.
The lovely Rangoon creeper and Umzimbeet tree are in full bloom, the inca lilies are showing off their colours, and the salvias are taking over the flower beds. The moonflowers are loving the wonderful cool weather – they are the best ever!
We didn’t get around to cleaning and waterproofing the ponds during the winter months, and are now stuck with leaking ponds and no probability of doing repairs in the next week or two. Meanwhile, the waterlilies are pushing out more leaves and buds every day. Will we ever catch up?
Hydrangea quercifolia
Salvia spp
Brugmansia Angels Pink Pearl
IN THE NURSERY
Click here to view all the plants in this newsletter on one website page.
Indigenous plants
Hibiscus calyphyllus has smooth toothed leaves and large bright yellow flowers with a red centre from summer to autumn. Occurring in the Eastern Cape to Limpopo, this low-growing hardy evergreen shrub reaches a height of about 70cm, and can take sun or semi-shade. (Truth be told, I am convinced that this is not hibiscus calyphyllus, but no one has been able to give me another name.)
The fact that the upright suckering shrub Anisodontae julii (African mallow) is found on the slopes of the Drakensburg assures us that it is very hardy! It has velvety maple-type leaves and deep pink cup-shaped flowers, mostly in summer. Growing about 2m high, it makes a good hedge plant. Plant in full sun.
The fast growing dwarf coral tree Erythrina humeana is an upright deciduous shrub with dark olive green leaves and spikes of gorgeous scarlet flowers throughout summer that attract birds and butterflies. It can reach a height of about 2m and wants full sun.
If you are looking for a statement plant, consider the unusual deciduous bulb Eucomis montana, A member of the Asparagaceae family, this striking plant has smooth-edged leaves with spotted undersides, and purple stems with smelly green, purple and white flowers in summer. It is very hardy, and is happy in sun or semi-shade.
The Natal bluebell Thunbergia natalensis is a lovely semi-hardy deciduous shrub that sprouts from a woody base and grows about 80 cm high. Its dark green ovate leaves are accompanied by gorgeous pale blue tubular flowers in summer. Plant in semi-shade.
Exotic plants
The white blooms of Japanese anemone Honorine Jobert are such a lovely sight in the autumn garden. This very hardy deciduous plant reaches a height of about 1m and wants semi-shade.
Astilbe chinensis white is a clump-forming deciduous perennial that grows about 80cm high and has mounds of glossy fern-like foliage and clusters of delicate white feathery blooms in summer. It needs semi-shade and moist soil, and is definitely happier in areas with a cooler climate.
Another plant that wants semi-shade and moist conditions is Neomarica caerulea. The gorgeous brown-centred scented dark blue flowers of this large rhizomatous evergreen perennial look beautiful in a mixed border in spring to summer but it also makes a good accent plant. It is hardy, and grows on average 1.6m high.
Tradescantia virginiana Fuchsia pink is a tough low-growing deciduous perennial that likes shade to semi-shade. It has straplike leaves and terminal clusters of three petalled maroon flowers all season, and reaches a height of about 45cm. With the assortment of colours Tradescantia offers, it is really a plant one should see more often.
The woody West African shrub Thunbergia erecta has shiny oblong dark green leaves and stunning huge yellow-centred royal blue flowers from summer to autumn. This is a deciduous hardy plant that grows about 1.5m high and is happy in sun or semi-shade.
SNIPPETS
With the busy Spring open gardens season behind us, we can take a breath and plan more leisurely outings. If you would like to kick off with the 2025 Hibiscus Show at Bergheim Plants & Venue Pretoria West on 29 November, visit African Hibiscus Society | Facebook for more details.
FUN FACT
Anisodontea julii is named for Juli, the wife of English explorer, naturalist and artist William Burchell who became a prolific plant collector during his four-year expedition in southern Africa from 1810 to 1815.
Happy gardening!
Leoné
082 482 0257