Page 18 - Landscape-Issue150

Mesembryanthemum cordifolium found in the Portulacaria afra found in the Albany Thicket biome of the Bulbine frutescens is found in the Nama Karoo
Albany thicket biome section of the garden; it can garden. It is able to store large amounts of carbon dioxide biome in the garden
also be found in the in the Fynbos and Succulent
Karoo biomes

Crassula spp., found in the Albany Thicket biome of the garden Rose-scented Pelargonium graveolens, growing
in the Fynbos biome section, is widely used in
essential oils and as a base for fragrances

Euphorbia spp. is found in the Albany Thicket Dietes grandiflora is a hardy, evergreen perennial; it is Due to Constitution Hill’s location in a summer
biome section of the courtyard garden flourishing in the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome section of rainfall region, some plants in the heritage
the garden garden are hybrids, allowing for better
adaptability

Plant selection: A meticulous and Grassland biomes were donated by indigenous plants, were donated by Arnold
approach to representing nine Abrus Horticulture, owned by Ivan van Frisby, curator of the cycad and indigenous
biomes der Walt, who specialises in grassland plant nursery at the University of Pretoria’s
The garden is divided into eight sections, restoration. Manie van der Schijff Botanical Gardens.
with the Succulent Karoo and Desert biomes • Protea, Leucospermum and Leucadendron • Various herbaceous and succulent species
combined due to their similarities and the selections for the Fynbos biome were from all nine biomes, representing
limited number of species that could be donated by Nico Thuynsma, owner of approximately 80% of the total planting,
used. The selection of species had to consider Madibri, a specialist fynbos and Proteaceae were donated as cuttings by Jason
Johannesburg’s specific climate, as some nursery in Gauteng. Sampson, head curator at the Manie van
iconic plants from certain biomes cannot • Horticultural hybrids representing der Schijff Botanical Gardens.
thrive in its summer rainfall and frosty winters. charismatic South African species were
A number of local experts were consulted donated by Quinton Bean and Andy de The planting day: a community
to compile the species list and finalise the Wet of CND Nursery/The Aloe Farm. These effort
planting plan; final species selections and were selected to represent species which The initial planting day, held in December
landscaping were determined by Richard Hay, could not be grown in the garden, such as 2023, was a massive undertaking, with BOT
with input from the University of Pretoria’s Aloidendron dichotomum (Quiver tree) and SOC volunteers installing over 1,000 plants in
Prof Eshchar Mizrachi, Jason Sampson and Aloe striata (Coral aloe). Other horticultural the courtyard garden. The process involved:
Arnold Frisby. selections included various Agapanthus • clearing the existing colonial-style, exotic
cultivars and Gazania ‘Suncarpet’. garden;
Key selections include: • Endangered cycads from the Albany • removing weeds and preparing the soil;
• A wide variety of grasses for the Nama- Thicket, Grassland, Savanna and Forest • incorporating compost to enhance soil
Karoo, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Savanna, biomes, as well as numerous other health; and

16 Landscape SA • Issue 150 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za