Providing a riot of bright and happy colours, indigenous plants are supremely adapted to our local growing conditions. Here are some hardy, waterwise winners.
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Succulents
Use striking aloes for accents – bold Aloe ferox sends out tall spikes of orange-red flowers in winter, brightening up dull corners. In rockeries and beside paths, plant masses of vygies for vivid colour. Hardy ‘plakkies’ or crassulas do well in pots: kalanchoe comes in a variety of hues and, even if it’s not indigenous, hardy echeveria’s pretty rosettes of leaves look great in quirky containers – use anything from old shoes to teapots!
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Groundcovers
For a splendid show that lasts through summer, mix two shades of osteospermums (such as purple and white) together in a large bed. Carpet geranium (Geranium incarnum) does well even in the sandiest of soils and it spreads thickly to fill difficult areas.
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Shade-loving plants
Plectranthus or spur-flower is the answer for those difficult, dry shady spots in the garden. There’s a huge variety of them in different colours and sizes, from the creeping P. ciliatus groundcover to the shoulder-high P. ecklonii. Clivia is a gardener’s darling: it loves dappled light. Its dark, glossy strap-like leaves look good all year round and it rewards you with beautiful blooms in spring.
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High-cover areas
Plant the scrambling plumbago among Cape honeysuckle, which will provide the structure for it to climb up. The result will be a glorious mix of sky-blue plumbago blossoms amid the honeysuckle’s palette of yellow, salmon and orange flowers. Planted in a straight row, this also makes a great natural hedge where birds and small creatures can find refuge.
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Fillers
Barleria and ribbon bushes are quick growers that add cheery colour in autumn when other plants are dying down. Plant swathes of fast-growing, versatile wild irises – Dietes grandiflora (white) and D. bicolour (yellow) – they tolerate both sun and shade. Great waterwise plants.
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How to irrigate for waterwise plants
- Boxed starter irrigation kits are great for small areas with low-growing plants. Make sure you get even coverage by placing the nozzles on spikes close enough for spray patterns to overlap.
- Drip irrigation is the most efficient way of watering shrubs, particularly roses where wet leaves create conditions favourable to moulds and funguses.
- Use pop-up heads to irrigate lawns and check them regularly to see that they do not become clogged.