Page 12 - Blue Valley News 2 2021

GARDENING
AUTUMN PLANTS

Article courtesy of the Random Harvest Indigenous Nursery

utumn is creating a definite nip in the air Aloe tenuior - This rambling, shrubby aloe in autumn and again in summer, it is a sight
with the autumn solstice just passed, bears some flowers almost all year round but to behold. An added bonus are the many
Aalthough the days are beautiful. mostly from May to August. The tall spikes of insects that visit the flowers. You can plant it
Another sure sign that autumn has arrived flowers are carried at the tips of the branches in a sunny position or in semi-shade - it can
is that the Aloes are starting to bloom, as are and attract pollinating insects. Plant in full even tolerate damp conditions.
the Crocosmias. sun, (although it can flower well in semi-
shade too, but it then needs to be supported).
Here are some plants that we suggest for Plant as a backdrop against a wall or fence or
your garden this autumn: in amongst other shrubby plants.

Impatiens hochstetterii - Mauve Impatiens. Grewia flava - Brandy Bush/Rosyntjiebos.
This attractive, soft perennial thrives in shade The common name for this plant, Brandy
and will grace the shady areas of your garden Bush, is quite apt as the delicious fruit of
with pretty leaves and many small pink the small to medium-sized shrub is used to
flowers until late autumn. Then they should make ‘Mampoer or Moonshine’. This shrub
be cut back and mulched for the winter. Don’t bears impressive numbers of yellow star-
despair if they are hit by frost as this is natural shaped flowers with fluffy-looking stamens
pruning. Even if the mother plant dies, the in the middle. It can be pruned into a tiny Grewia flava
seeds it has dropped will germinate in spring tree or kept as a bushy shrub. Another
and you will once again be able to enjoy this attractive feature is its grey-green leaves. It’s
lovely plant. a marvellous wildlife-friendly plant for your
garden that can be used as a focal point.
Sideroxylon inerme - White Milkwood/
Witmelkhout. This beautifully shaped, Maytenus undata - Koko Tree/Kokoboom. In
medium-sized evergreen tree is a protected autumn, this beautiful, extremely hardy small
species in South Africa. It bears clusters of tree bursts into flower. The flowers are small
white flowers that are followed by black but carried in attractive clusters. The fruit that
berries which are relished by birds. Plant as follows splits to reveal bright red seeds. This is
a specimen shade tree or as an element of a an irresistible tree for a smaller garden.
forest in your garden. This species has a rich
history and has a long lifespan. If you visit
Mossell Bay, you can visit the Post Office tree
which was used by early explorers to leave
post to be taken to their homes.
Aloe dyeri - Large Flowered Aloe. This is one of
the rosette-forming spotted Aloes but it is a
giant one which makes it a wonderful accent
plant. It prefers to grow in dappled shade,
or almost-full shade, but should receive an
hour or two of sunshine per day. In early
autumn (they are flowering now) it sends up
a long, branched flowering stem that carries
a myriad red-orange flowers. It also makes a
wonderful container plant.
Erythrophysa transvaalensis
Aloe dyeri
Crocosmia paniculata
Erythrophysa transvaalensis - Bushveld Red
Crocosmia paniculata - Zigzag Crocosmia/ Balloon. This large shrub or small tree has
Waaierlelie. This lovely, deciduous, bulbous wonderful grey-green feathery leaves and
plant is extremely hardy and hails from bears beautiful spikes of pink and green
the grasslands around Dullstroom. It has pendulous flowers. These are followed by
attractive, pleated leaves and can be planted large, inflated, papery seed pods that turn
in clusters in a grassland garden or as a bright red with age. Although the pods
backdrop to a pretty ‘Cottage Garden’ styled contain large black seeds, they are as light as
flower bed. This is a bulb that will pleasantly a feather. This is for seed dispersal as, when it
surprise you when it pops up in the spring. rains, enough of the pods will float away from
the mother plant. The pods will eventually
Sclerochiton odoratissimus - White Lips. This break up, and the seeds will drop and
attractive shrub is medium-sized and can sprout where they fall. They grow naturally
be used in both large and small gardens as in rocky areas in full sun, so they are perfect
it takes well to pruning to keep it to the size for planting on koppies or rocky slopes -
you need. You can even trim it as a formal although they do equally well in normal
hedge. It has glossy, dark-green leaves and garden conditions.
masses of white flowers, like tiny hands, that
are streaked with purple lines. When in flower Enjoy your autumn garden and all the
seasonal changes that are happening. BV

10 • Issue 2 2021 • BLUE VALLEY NEWS