Johannesburg - We South Africans are inordinately proud of our Cape floral and its fynbos biome – not surprising really, as it’s famed worldwide for its unusual beauty and impressive biodiversity.
It’s no longer something that is purely for the Cape, though. With the determined efforts of breeders, gardeners in most parts of the country (well, those that aren’t subtropical and muggy) are now able to create this style of indigenous, waterwise garden. And why shouldn’t we be protecting our floral diversity all over? Fynbos is valuable as it’s under threat from invading plant species, human develop-ment and agriculture.
Fynbos includes the famous “celebrity” proteas and the Proteaceae family, including leucaden-drons (evergreen cone bushes, shrubs grown for their colourful foliage as well as their cones), and pincushions (leucospermum), along with ericas (there are over 700 species of ericas, of which 50 are suited for home gardens), grasses and restios such as the Elegia spp and Thamnochortus spp, vygies and daisies. Others found growing in the region, and particularly well-suited to be grown in most places, are agapanthus, buchu, honeybush (nine of which, including the famed rooibos are used for tea), and leptospermum (yes, it’s an exotic tea bush, but will work well in this dynamic), wild garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), and various bulb varieties, such as the paintbrush lily (Haemanthus/Scadoxus), gladioli, freesias, ixia and nerines. And oh, let’s not forget pelargoniums and geraniums.
Add some crassula, helichrysum, coleonema (confetti bush) and plectranthus and you’ll have created a space that gives you a stunning year-round display.
Before installing a fynbos garden, take note of your soil type, whether you have a windy area (these plants are used to coastal breezes and enjoy the wind through their leaves), and sun/shade conditions.
All one needs – other than plants that have been adapted to the region – is an understanding of the soil. Fynbos is mainly found in coastal regions, which are characterised by deep, sandy soils with a higher pH (acidic soil).
Your soil must drain well, so if you have particularly heavy or clay soil, add lots of sand and compost before planting.
You can also place a layer of builders’ rubble half a metre below your planting area. Or grow them in a rockery..
Make sure the hole you plant them in is twice the size of the pot they’re in. And do remove them from the pot or plastic they come in!
Obviously, the Cape is a winter rainfall area, so up here on the highveld, you’d need to pay particular attention to the plants’ water needs. But they are generally adapted to harsher conditions and less care, so you can give yourself points for saving water and get some time off from maintenance as a reward.
Then, just leave them alone – most fynbos species don’t enjoy having their roots messed around with. In areas where frost is a problem, plant only after frost is no longer a threat in late spring.
If you have poor soil – which of course, these plants thrive in – feed before flowering with a good organic fertiliser. (Chemical ones with a phosphorous content may well harm the plant). But don’t do it too often if you have rich soil. A bit of mulch come summer time, and you’ll have a heritage garden to be regtig proud of.
l Don’t miss Melanie’s TV show, Gardening 101 on The Home Channel (DStv 176) on Tuesdays at 9pm, with seven repeats throughout the week.
Melanie and landscape designer Michael Rickhoff host a gardening radio show, Grounded, on Radio Today on Saturdays at 11.30am (available on 1485kHz AM radio or DStv audio channel 869).
Saturday Star