Page 15 - Outdoor Living October 2025

LIFESTYLE

Benefits Beyond the Blooms Tips to Start Small
Choosing indigenous plants is more • Swap thirsty exotics: Trade roses or lawns for hardy aloes or grasses.
than a style decision. It’s a shift • Create a feature corner: A cluster of aloes, succulents, and stone instantly
toward harmony. feels sculptural.
• Water-wise: Naturally adapted to • Think sensory: Line a path with wild garlic to release fragrance after rain.
South Africa’s climate, they flourish • Layer it: Mix shrubs, groundcovers, and climbers for depth and seasonal
with minimal watering. surprise.
• Low maintenance: Once rooted,
they thrive without fertiliser The Simple Truth
cocktails or constant pruning. An indigenous garden isn’t just easier or greener — it’s a reminder of what has
• Alive with life: Sunbirds hover at always been beautiful here. When your garden hums with bees, bursts into
aloe flowers, bees dive into wild unexpected winter colour, and carries the stories of plants that belong, you’ll
blooms, butterflies dance on the know:
breeze.
The most beautiful landscapes are the ones that already belong.
It’s no surprise that many estates are
leaning into indigenous landscaping
— it looks spectacular, and it fits
the rhythm of a Highveld year while
keeping water bills in check.

Easier Than You Think
There’s a myth that indigenous
gardens are complicated or wild.
The truth? They’re among the easiest
to grow. These plants are already
tuned to the Highveld’s summer
storms and winter dryness. Forget
over-engineered irrigation — many
indigenous plants prefer a little
neglect. Give them soil, space, and
sunlight, and they’ll reward you with
seasons of colour and a garden that
largely looks after itself.

Fun Facts to Inspire You
• Spekboom: This humble succulent
is a carbon sponge, absorbing
more CO 2 than most trees.
• Aloes: They bloom when little else
does, painting winter gardens in
fiery tones.
• Edible & Medicinal: From buchu’s
fragrant leaves to wild garlic’s
purple flowers, indigenous herbs
carry centuries of culinary and
healing tradition.

Every plant carries a story, making
your garden not just a space of
beauty but a keeper of heritage.

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