Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct Living 4 2021

GARDENING
into winter. They attract Sunbirds, flowers on long stalks above the
4 other nectar feeding birds, bees and leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade
butterflies to the garden. Use as a and prune lightly to keep in shape.
screening plant, clip into a formal
hedge or simply used as a beautiful 8. Kalanchoe rotundifolia ‘Signal
shrub. It needs pruning after flowering Red’ - Common Kalanchoe
to keep it looking its best and to There is nothing common about the
encourage further flowering. If pruned beautiful display of flowers this small
to the size required, this essentially succulent plant will give you. The
large shrub can be used in a small plant grows to about 10cm but bears
garden. Plant in sun or semi-shade. long spikes of red, yellow or orange
flowers from March to December.
5. Scutia myrtina - Cat-Thorn The rest of the year the attractive
5 This large rambling shrub is true to red-edged leaves add colour and
its name due to its hook thorns. It has texture. Plant in a grassland garden,
wonderful small, glossy leaves that in amongst pebbles or small rocks
are almost mirror-like. The flowers in a succulent bed in sun or semi-
are small and quite nondescript, but shade. It also makes a rewarding
they are followed by masses and container plant.
masses of large berries that the birds
love. Plant in sun or light shade. The 9. Tabernaemontana elegans -
Cat-Thorn is perfect to train along Toad Tree
the top of a wall to deter unwanted This wonderful small spreading,
visitors, making a good choice as deciduous tree grows with an almost
an element of a security hedge or flat top. It bears spikes of pure white,
bird garden. You can also use it as a fragrant flowers. These are followed
1 6 container plant - but then do prune it by large, paired seed pods with white
warts that look like the backs of toads
regularly.
PLANTS LOOKING 6. Senecio macroglossus - hence the common name. When
the pods split, they reveal seeds
embedded in edible pulp. Plant in sun
Flowering Ivy
GOOD THIS MONTH This fairly hardy, evergreen, slender, or shade. This exceptionally beautiful
tree is ideal for smaller gardens or in
fast-growing creeper has attractive,
courtyards and containers.
glossy, semi-succulent, ivy-shaped
foliage. The lemon-yellow daisy-
like flowers, borne from March to 10. Cotyledon barbeyi - Plakkie
July, attract many insects to the A hardy, evergreen, branched,
garden. Allow it to climb or use it as succulent shrub with finger-like,
a beautiful groundcover. It is also fleshy leaves, the Plakkie is a great
2 7 beautiful planted in hanging baskets attraction to birds and bees. It bears
masses of long-lasting, pendulous,
and containers. It grows in sun or
semi-shade, although it doesn’t do satiny, red, tubular flowers in clusters
well in hot, dry areas. Plant in well- at the tip of flowering stalks from
composted, well-drained soil. March to September. This drought-
hardy shrub makes a good addition
7. Scabiosa africana - Pincushion to a succulent garden or rockery and
If you are looking for a plant with is lovely in a container. Plant in well-
an exceptionally long flowering time drained soil in full sun or semi-shade.
that will attract masses of butterflies
to your garden, you need look no For more information, visit the
further. This small shrub or bedding Random Harvest website:
plant has lovely quilted leaves and www.randomharvest.co.za,
carries its beautiful, pincushion-type or call 082 553 0598.
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