Whether it’s your office park or at home, your garden provides you and your guests with a beautiful outdoor space to relax and recharge. Do you love it but are looking to shake things up a bit? Want to follow one of the current garden trends and go indigenous? Let us show you how.
Why go indigenous?
Introducing native plants to your garden has a number of benefits, including:
- Attracting local wildlife
- Supporting the local environment
- Supporting biodiversity
- Conserving water
- Low maintenance for you and/or your staff
The natural world is under threat from phenomena like climate change and increasing urbanisation. An indigenous garden can help you do your bit for conservation – indigenous plants will turn your garden into a haven of biodiversity while catering for local vegetation and animal life.
How to go indigenous?
- Take a good look at your current garden space. Does it encourage local wildlife? Are there different types of areas in your garden? For example, some sunny and some shaded. The more diverse the landscape, the more diversity it will be able to support.
- Get your plan together. Contrary to popular opinion, indigenous plants are suitable for a range of sites and conditions. You need to decide on the look and feel of your garden – will it have shaded pause areas? Paved pathways? Rocky outcrops? Planning will help you to choose the right trees, shrubs, and flowers for your indigenous garden.
- Get professional help. Talk to expert gardeners and landscapers about your plan – they can help you to create and implement one, saving you valuable time and money in the long run. Discuss which indigenous plants will best suit your site, conditions, and personal taste. Remember, the more suitable they are to the conditions, the less work required.
- Get digging!
Some indigenous plants to consider
Many of South Africa’s indigenous plants are extremely adaptable and will do well in across the country. The following indigenous plants are good examples:
- Searsia viminalis (White karee): a hardy, evergreen shade tree of medium size with fresh green foliage.
- Acacia karroo (Sweet thorn): this fast growing acacia has a lovely rounded crown and an abundance of sweet flowers.
- Buddleja salvifolia (Sagewood): a fast growing evergreen shrub with attractive, dark green leaves and lilac flowers that attract butterflies.
- Plumbago auriculata (Cape leadwort): a gorgeous spreading shrub with masses of sky blue or white flowers in the summer.
- Dietes grandiflora (Wild iris): the perfect addition to any indigenous garden, the wild iris has deep green sword shaped leaves and beautiful white, lilac, and yellow flowers.
- Agapanthus africanus (Agapanthus): planted en-masse, these make for a stunning display.
Do you need help developing or revamping your garden for an indigenous look and feel? We’re just the experts for the job!