About a decade ago, fresh from college and a summer of hard gardening, I interned at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. I returned broke and tanned, but with vivid memories: hunting rare wild pelargoniums among proteas and zebras, hand-pollinating lachenalias, forests of tree aloes, sand dunes ablaze with flash annuals.
Only a handful of those exotics remain in my designer repertoire, but beyond sentiment, these South African natives add sophisticated interest to summer borders and planters.
CYAN Horticulture
East of the Western Cape, near Durban, lie the stunning Drakensberg mountains. On a solo weekend exploring the northern slopes, I found agapanthus, tree ferns, cabbage trees — and masses of pineapple lilies. I'd always loved them, but seeing this particularly colorful wild form hooked me completely.
CYAN Horticulture
Nothing's easier than pineapple lilies. In a sizable terra-cotta pot or flower bed, they sprout from a sturdy globular bulb, unfurling glossy light-green leaves. A rigid vertical stem emerges, amassed with small flowers.
About 15 Eucomis species exist; this spectacular wild one remains unidentified to me.
CYAN Horticulture
Breeders have recently turned attention to this little-known bulb, yielding giants (5 feet) or dwarfs (<12 inches), purple-flushed or pure white.
In warmer climates (like mine), they overwinter outside with sharp drainage. Elsewhere, dig and store like dahlias and gladioli. A friend at Montreal Botanical Garden mass-planted them to arresting effect.
CYAN Horticulture
South Africa's extreme weather (hot, sunny, limited rain) is a blessing for succulents. Other plants adapt by disappearing underground — bulbs retreat into their onion-like reserves. In the Cape Province, bulbs abound like nowhere else. One endemic genus, the charming Cape hyacinth (here Lachenalia peersii tucked between rocks), looks like miniature hyacinths or grape hyacinths (Muscari). Over 100 species exist, some highly fragrant, others with rare turquoise-blue shades.
CYAN Horticulture
Most are best as potted specimens for plant pros. But foolproof garden varieties are appearing on nursery shelves — grab them; they're adorable.
CYAN Horticulture
Back in the Drakensberg, I first encountered Moraea, the butterfly iris — as varied and exotic as Cape hyacinth. They tend to go completely dormant in dry season. A minority, like Moraea alticola, remain evergreen with a few leathery leaves.
CYAN Horticulture
A decade after my visit, a few seeds from my pocket germinated; a single seedling survives my Vancouver winters and neglect. The first bloom will be like a postcard sent long ago.
The Global Flower Trade: How Blooms Travel from Farm to Vase
Choosing Perfect Summer Flowers: Sun, Shade, Color Theory, and Bed Preparation
Choosing the Perfect Summer Flowers for Sun and Shade
Everlasting Flowers: Growing, Drying, and Designing with Blooms That Last
Summer Flower Arranging: Brighten Your Home with Seasonal Blooms
Gather Gifts from the Garden: Dried Flowers, Herbs, and More
Winter-Blooming Flowers for Southern Gardens: Annuals and Perennials That Love Cool Weather
Creating Beautiful Planted Arrangements with Outdoor Planters in Northern Ireland
Shop Patio Furniture Online: Better Selection, Better Prices, Delivered to Your Door
Why Professional Flower Shops Deliver the Freshest, Most Beautiful Arrangements
Design with Orange in the Garden: Bold, Cheerful Color Combinations
Pink in the Garden: Color Combinations & Design Ideas
Meet the Grass-Carrying Wasp: Gentle Pollinator, Cricket Hunter, Nest Architect
Copyright © www.100flowers.win Botanic Garden All Rights Reserved