Yellow Ground Orchid Eulophia speciosa

Yellow Ground Orchid 

Eulophia speciosa 

IsiZulu: Umabelejongosi Ompofu; Umlunge Omhlophe

Eulophia speciosa growing and flowering very well under harsh conditions on my roof at Mount Moreland

Description

Eulophia speciosa is aptly named ‘speciosa’ – Latin for ‘beautiful, handsome and showy’.

Eulophia speciosa is a terrestrial perennial plant producing 3 - 6 leaves 15 - 65cm long on a central flowering stem up to 150cm tall. The stem grows out of an underground string of pseudo bulbs which are 4 - 6 long and up to 4cm wide

Distribution

Eulophia speciosa is a species of terrestrial orchid has a wide distribution range being from Western Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Ethiopia, most countries of the central and eastern parts of Africa, from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Botswana and north eastern Namibia to Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa where it occurs from the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, southwards to KwaZulu-Natal through the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape as far as the George-Knysna area.

Habitat

The plants normally grow in savannah grassland, bush land and wooded grassland, and have also been recorded from marshy coastal grassland and montane grassland. They are found in grassland from near sea level often exposed to salt spray to 1 700 m in southern Africa, and up to 2 000 m in East Africa. In South Africa the plants usually grow in colonies of up to 50 plants generally in sandy soils but are also found growing in clay soils. This wide-ranging species is obviously rather adaptable, and can therefore thrive under different conditions in cultivation although it is not likely to survive very severe frost.

Ecology

The flowers of this species are deceptive and offer no nectar or other reward to the pollinating insect. Pollinators are large carpenter bees (Xylocopa sp.)

I have seen these Giant Carpenter Bees Xylocopa flavorufa pollinating my plants at Mount Moreland

Cultural uses

Root infusions of Eulophia speciosa are prepared as emetics for both humans and animals. In traditional medicine, emetics are widely used to facilitate the removal of what is thought to be the cause of the ailment.

Eulophia speciosa plants are also used as a protective charm against storms.

It is reported that Eulophia speciosa bulbs are a favoured food of local people within the plants native range, and are extensively harvested from the wild for local use.

Often eaten raw, sometimes with a little salt, as soon as it is harvested, the bulb is also mashed up and mixed with other raw food plants such as Talinum spp., Dipcadi glaucum and Kedrostis foetidissima. The pounded roots are also added to soups and sauces

Growing Eulophia speciosa

I have grown Eulophia speciosa for about the last 50 years and have found them easy to grow keep an eye on them but be aware that too much care can kill them.

Eulophia speciosa is often a pioneer plant generally on poor sandy soils near the coast in its natural habitat which matures to flowering size in between two and three years depending on conditions.

Over the last few years I have trialled these plants as green roof plants with great success under conditions where they only receive natural rainfall mostly in the summer months. I trials they have proved to be most suitable for growing on extensive green roofs that receive little maintenance and supplemental watering.

Eulophia speciosa are best grown in pots of large growing containers where they are safe from attack by mole rats or planted out in garden beds where they will need to be carefully monitored for attack by mole rats. If mole rats find them then they will probably need to be lifted and put into containers because once found the mole rats will not leave until they have eaten the last bulb. Eulophia speciosa needs to grow in full sun for much of the day to flower well and to remain healthy.

In the growing period, the substrate should be fairly moist, but a constantly wet soil must be avoided. Plants are best transplanted and divided in the dormant season, and should be potted. Eulophia speciosa are to some degree dependent on their mycorrhiza fungus species but it is certainly not necessary to inoculate the potting medium with mycorrhiza fungus because the roots of the plants will already have their populations living within them.

Suitable drainage must be provided to prevent water logging in times of prolonged heavy rain to avoid rotting of the roots. Regular watering should not be needed, only during periods of drought will they need additional watering. An annual topdressing with well rotted leaf mould or bark compost mixed with a little slow release fertiliser and a little lime is essential for healthy sustained growth of the plants. Occasional feeding with a liquid fertilizer during the growing season will do no harm but do not overdo it or the plants will become weak and will be far more susceptible to bacterial rot and fungus attack. 

Although Eulophia speciosa has great hybridizing potential I strongly discourage doing so because of the possible contamination of wild specimens.

The simplest way to propagate Eulophia speciosa is by division of dormant back bulbs which are removed leaving three healthy pseudo bulbs for continued growth.

To produce large numbers of plants in a short period of time propagation will need to be done by means of planting seed. Practically every flower will produce viable seed pods if hand pollinated regardless if they are self or cross pollinated, but do not overdo or the plants will become weakened by the effort of producing too larger amount of seed, 5 seed pods per plant should be fine.

The seed can then be grown in vitro in a suitable growing structure with ease if suitable equipment is at hand, otherwise you can simply do what I have done for years and that is to simply plant the seed in prepared seed beds which I have done over the years with a good degree of success. I also find many seedlings that just pop up in the garden from time to time from seed that my plants produce.

Young healthy plants flower about 2-4 years after sowing.

Some of many Eulophia speciosa plants undergoing suitability trails as green roof plants on one of my roofs at Mount Moreland

Pests and diseases

A number of pests feed on Eulophia speciosa such as leaf miners and the yellow orchid beetle Lema pectoralis which do a large amount of damage to the plants if not dealt with promptly.

Yellow orchid beetle Lema pectoralis

Bacterial rot due to over watering, watering during the dormant season, crowding and insufficient air circulation can be a problem. If planted out in large numbers in garden beds, the plants most probably will eventually be eaten by mole rats that feed on the pseudo bulbs. If the Mole rats find them then they will have to be lifted to be placed in containers or they will eat every last one.

Landscape uses

Eulophia speciosa is a very showy and desirable plant to include in any landscape design or garden.

Eulophia speciosa makes a good container plant for the patio and brings colour and life to the green roof be it big or small.

General Information

Eulophia speciosa is the floral emblem of the South African Orchid Council http://www.saoc.co.za/

Michael Hickman

Landscape Design Specialist

www.ecoman.co.za

michael@ecoman.co.za

18.04.14

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Hibiscus surattensis

Bush Sorrel

Isigezo , Ucathucathu , Uvemvane (z)

French: Liane oseille

Hibiscus surattensis is generally widespread throughout the Old World tropics being and in South Africa where it occurs in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga.

Description

Hibiscus surattensis is an annual herbaceous, trailing or scrambling plant of moist waste places, covered with soft hairs and scattered prickles.

Landscape value

This most delightful plant due to the profusion of bright yellow flowers that it produces in profusion in autumn has great potential to be grown in less formal indigenous landscapes that are designed with high plant diversity to attract the maximum of wildlife. I makes a nice bright addition to any landscape or garden where it has been used.

Uses

The plant is rich in mucilage. It is often cultivated for the mucilaginous leaves which are eaten in soup or as a vegetable

Plant yields a fiber of good quality.

Traditional Medicinal uses: 

In Senegal the plant is used as an emollient. Zulus use a lotion of the leaf and stem for the treatment of penile irritation of any sort, including venereal sores and urethritis. It is sometimes applied as an ointment for the same purposes. An infusion is also used as an injection into the urethra and vagina for gonorrhoea and other inflammations.

Ecology

Hibiscus surattensis occurs in grassland and at forest edges in lowland and at medium altitudes up to 1700 m, in regions with an average annual rainfall of 1000–1600 mm. It also occurs in marshes, abandoned fields and plantations, on waste ground near habitation, and in coastal habitats such as sand dunes. It is found on a wide variety of soil types.

Ecological significance

Visited by bees and small flies browsed by game

Michael Hickman

Landscape Design Specialist

www.ecoman.co.za

michael@ecoman.co.za

15.04.14

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Green roofs bring nature back into your life

Green or living roofs can be designed to be planted onto almost any structure big or small commercial or residential.

If pictures tell more than a thousand words then the pictures that follow certainly tell it all

Here I am sitting on the roof of a five storey building considering what to write about green roofs on this Blog which to many may be hard to believe at first.

Over to the right you can see the bench that I was sitting on with a magnificent natural pond in front of it.

Here is a view of the path leading to the pond in the photo above through a beautifully natural garden planted entirely to locally occurring South African plants. From seeing the photos it is hard to believe that I could possibly be on the roof of a five storey building.

Below provision has been made for an open area to allow for those attending functions to spill out on to the lawn and to enjoy the view of the area.

This Green Roof at 29 Degrees South which is planted exclusively to our local floral treasures is a very fine  example of what can be done when there is the ethic and the will to bring nature together in harmony with man in the design of our buildings and our living and working environments. This is a very good case of leading by example, hopefully and example that many will follow in preserving our natural heritage by combining our unique South African flora and fauna into our urban developments. In this way we can become trend setters leading the world by example.

All the  photos of the green roofs so far have been taken on the green roof of  29degrees South a five story building which was designed for and houses the head office of Dube TradePort which is situated right next to the new King Shaka International Airport north of Durban. 

A very different style of green roof has been created using a large number of local plant species that grow in rocky places and in grassland on very shallow soils to create a bio-diverse Green Roof. This Bio-Diverse Green Roof which I designed and planted to bring the maximum bio-diversity possible is on a government office building at Ixopo in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands

Below is a bio-diverse green roof that I designed and planted on the sand pumping station on the Durban beach front at the entrance to Durban harbour. The plants on this roof are exposed to very extreme conditions caused by the strong salt laden north easterly winds that blow in this particular totally unprotected location.

Below is an example of what can be done by the average home owner on a very small scale around your own home to add interest. The small green roof has purposely not been completed at this stage to be able to show the construction details. When designing and completing your own green roof a cladding will need to be added to hide the growing trays as have been used in this design or to contain the growing medium if no trays are used to make it look finished.

You can create the same effect when planing your next hotel; office park, factory, home, garage or other construction project. It is clearly well worth considering creating a living roof in place of a sterile tile, iron or concrete one all it needs is a little imagination and forward planning on your part and the part of your design team.

The building of a Green roof is a good way to increase the Bio-diversity and interest a of a boring sterile site as in the photo below, in addition green roofs are often good places to grow many plants that do not grow well in deep soils or where there is competition from other plants growing nearby.

Having a green roof can bring nature into direct contact with our offices and dwellings where it can be observed with great ease.

A green roof can merge the landscape with the structures we create in a seamless manner bringing the landscape design right up to onto and into our living spaces.

Green roofs soften the look of our structures and gives them life, they also lessen our impact on the natural environment in which we live in many ways.

The example has been set it is now up to you the reader whether you are an architect, a landscape architect, a property developer or a home owner to take the lead and carry it a step further every one can do there bit.

The Ecoman Green Team Hlengiwe and Michael on a green roof we designed and planted for the eThekwini Municipality in Durban a few years ago.

For those wanting to know a little more about green roofs go to; An Introduction to Designing Green Roofs in South Africa their design, construction and care at my website at

http://ecoman.co.za//green/roof_greening.html if you still need to know more simply write to me at

michael@ecoman.co.za

Michael Hickman
03.14.14

Forest Toad Tree Tabernaemontana ventricosa an ideal tree for a small garden

Forest Toad Tree

Tabernaemontana ventricosa

Umkhahlu, Ukhamamasane (Zulu)

Belongs to the plant family Apocynaceae.

Natural Distribution and Habitat

Tabernaemontana ventricosa  has a disjunct distribution from Ghana, eastern Nigeria, western Cameroon, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa in the coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal where it grows in riverine forests and the forest under storey.

Description 

This small to medium-sized tree can reach a maximum height of 15 m, but averages between 4 and 8 m. Tabernaemontana ventricosa can have one or more straight trunks with smooth greyish-brown bark. The tree is low branching with smooth, dark green young branches turning a pale brown when mature. The leaves are large oblong and shiny dark green in colour, the flowers are salver-shaped, white and sweet smelling. The unusual fruits have two pods joined at the base they are dark green and smooth, sometimes with wrinkles and light green speckles or markings they split open to reveal fleshy orange pulp with embedded seeds in June to August.

Use in the landscape

Tabernaemontana ventricosa with its small size, clean tidy growth habit, glossy dark green foliage, attractive sweet smelling white flowers and unusual fruits, is excellent for the landscape designer of gardener to plant in any garden or landscape design. For those wanting to plant it to bring nature back into their indigenous garden it is an excellent choice because apart from being an ideal landscape feature plant it also attracts birds, insects and small mammals into your garden.

Although Tabernaemontana ventricosa grows naturally mostly as an under story plant and prefers shade to partly shady conditions it will grow in the full sun in a garden if it is sheltered from the wind and it gets plenty of water, where it will flower much more profusely than if grown in shade.

Tabernaemontana ventricosa is frost sensitive, preferring more tropical areas with mild winters.

Tabernaemontana ventricosa will happily grow in wet places where many other plants may not grow.

Ecological importance

Birds, animals such as fruit bats and monkeys eat the fruit. The leaves are browsed by game in particular bushbuck, the sweet smelling flowers attract various insects.

Propagation and Growing

Tabernaemontana ventricosa can easily be grown from fresh seed and grows relatively fast under favorable conditions.

Tabernaemontana ventricosa seedlings grows best in humus rich well drained sandy soils.

Plant in a large hole and mix in a good amount of compost, well rotted manure, and a balanced fertiliser. Mulch well and water regularly, especially during the first year or two for optimum growth.

Cultural Uses 

The bark of this tree is said to be used for bringing down a fever, the latex is applied to wounds and sore eyes to promote healing and in KwaZulu-Natal the seeds, bark and roots are used to treat nervous complaints and high blood pressure.

The pulp of the ripe fruit is edible.

Michael Hickman

28 March 2014

Indigenous Landscape Design Specialist http://www.ecoman.co.za

No proudly South African home should be without a Begonia dregei

Baobab-Begonia, Maple-leaved begonia

Zulu: iDlula

German: Baobab-Begonie

Begonia dregei plant with flowers

Begonia dregei is a South African endemic occurring naturally from

East London to Durban.

Begonia dregei is rare occurring in forests, on rocky, mossy cliffs and steep banks, from the coast to 1 219 m. According to the IUCN listing Begonia dregei is endangered.

Begonia dregei is a spectacular evergreen shade loving perennial that makes an excellent indoor or outdoor pot plant.

Begonia dregei caudex

Begonia dregei is a tuberous, fleshy perennial that grows with a swollen stem base known as a caudex. The caudex is usually mostly out of the soil. The stems grow from the caudex. During long dry periods Begonia dregei can loose all of their foliage or even die down to the caudex to recover quickly after the first rain or watering. 

  

The leaves are generally small (50–80 x 20–35 mm), asymmetrical, lobed often with large white spots when young and widely toothed. The 40–90 mm long leaf stalks are green or reddish, there is however a very large variation in leaf size and form from population to population.

The leaves look much like those of the Maple Tree Acer spps. which gives it one of it´s common names the Maple Leaf Begonia.

The far more spectacular male flower of Begonia dregei

The flowers of Begonia dregei are fragrant and produce a delightful show. In cultivation Begonia dregei flowers for almost the entire year producing small white to pinkish flowers with a bright yellow centre.

The male and female flowers occur separately on the same plant which are inter fertile so if one only has one plant it will still produce large amounts of fertile seed. The male flowers can be recognised because they have two petals and the female flowers have five.

The far less spectacular female flower of Begonia dregei

I have grown Begonia dregei for many years having found the first specimen growing in the Kloof area about 25 years ago. The plants that I am now growing were propagated from a single specimen that I found growing at scary cliffs at Mount Moreland in December 2007

  

Over the years I have found Begonia dregei to be very easy to grow and quick-growing from seed or cuttings.

Seed is best sown in early spring or summer in a moist well drained medium, plant sparingly because the seed is very fine and germinates readily coming up like hairs on a dogs back. The fine seed from my plants is distributed by the wind and seedlings pop up on a regular basis in the pots of other plants that I am growing in particular my orchid plants where they germinate well on little or no soil. Cuttings are far easier to grow for the average gardener they do better in the warmer months but can be grown just about any time of year by the more experienced grower.

Begonia dregei seed capsules the one on the right has already split and has released much of the seed

Begonia dregei grows well in light shade but will also grow in deep shade as well as where they get. a moderate amount of sun for part of the day. Plants grown under brighter conditions flower far more profusely.

I have found Begonia dregei rewarding and easy to grow as a pot plant where I have usually grown them in hanging pots together with my orchids they will also grow well in the ground

The large caudex makes Begonia dregei look a lot like a miniature baobab tree Adansonia digitata.

Begonia dregei is mostly pollinated by bees.

The caudices of Begonia dregei are used for traditional medicine.

  

Begonia dregei is another one of our floral gems that is very well known, treasured and grown in very large numbers abroad but is hardly known or grown here in South Africa which is rather disgusting of us Eurocentric South Africans for us not to treasure and be proud of that which is South African.

Sun hibiscus no garden should be without one

Hibiscus calyphyllus, Sun hibiscus, lemon-yellow rosemallow 

German: Sonnen-Hibiskus

  

Hibiscus calyphyllus flowers are bright sulphur yellow with a deep maroon centre.

Hibiscus calyphyllus occurs naturally from southern East Africa up the East African coast to Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Yemen. Hibiscus calyphyllus also occurs in tropical Central Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.

The natural habitat of Hibiscus calyphyllus is open bush, thickets and forest edges where it is often found along rivers.

Hibiscus calyphyllus is a local medium sized shrub that has large, bright green, soft and velvety leaves, giving it a lush tropical appearance with 12 cm flowers which are bright sulphur yellow with a deep maroon centre. 

Hibiscus calyphyllus grows to 1-1.5 meters tall and is often prostrate and straggly in the wild.

Hibiscus calyphyllus is a very rewarding showy garden plant for both the exotic tropical garden as well as in the indigenous garden that I have grown in my own gardens in Durban for at least the last 30 years. Unfortunately as is the case with so many of our magnificent local plants it is still hardly known and grown in South African gardens although it is very well known and widely grown garden ornamental throughout the tropics and subtropics.

Hibiscus calyphyllus has been in cultivation abroad for a long time having been first offered for sale in England in 1883 under the name Hibiscus chrysanthus with Port Natal, Cape Colony identified as the source. In addition Hibiscus calyphyllus seeds were sold in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century under the name Hibiscus Giant Yellow.

 Hibiscus calyphyllus has large, bright green, soft and velvety leaves

Hibiscus calyphyllus grows best in fully sun to light shade. Hibiscus calyphyllus is a relatively fast-growing plant, providing that it is planted in fertile, rich and well-drained soil well enriched with organic material. The soil pH should range from mildly acidic to neutral.

Although Hibiscus calyphyllus is very drought resistant and can grow under very dry conditions, to do well in the garden it needs a moderate amount of water on a regular basis.

In cultivation it is good cultural practice to prune Hibiscus calyphyllus back after the main flowering season to encourage bushiness, light pruning during the summer growing period encourages flowering.

In South Africa the leaves of Hibiscus calyphyllus have been traditionally used as toilet paper which could be a good thing to remember when hiking out in the bush.

In East Africa, the leaves of Hibiscus calyphyllus are eaten as a vegetable

and in the Okavango Delta the flowers are cooked and eaten.

Attracting Frogs to your Proudly South African Garden

Frogs are under threat worldwide, from habitat loss, pollution, and, more alarmingly, a new deadly parasitic fungus known as amphibian chytrid.

Greater Leaf-folding Frog Afrixalus fornasinii

Frogs and toads play an important role in the ecology of the garden, where they eat insects which make up the largest part of the diet of frogs, they also eat slugs, earthworms and millipedes

Painted Reed Frog Hyperolius marmorata

If you want to play your part and ensure their survival in your own back yard, there are several things you can do to create a frog-friendly garden.

.

Natal Forest Tree Frog Leptopelis natalensis

Build a pond using a sheet of thick plastic laid into a depression covered with a suitable layer of soil or out of concrete. It need not be large to be effective and it need be no more than 30 cm deep. In fact any container big or small that holds water can be used to attract frogs. Water plants need to planted into the pond to provide shelter and food for tadpoles.

Even more important than the pond itself is the area around it, so suitable local indigenous reeds and other marginal aquatic plants need to be planted in and close to the pond which will then provide an attractive habitat for reed and other frogs.

Natal Dwarf Puddle Frog Phrynobatrachus natalensis

In addition local indigenous shrubs, groundcovers and grasses must be planted nearby to provide additional shelter and to attract insects slugs and other food for the frogs to feed on. The more indigenous plants you have in your garden the more habitat you will provide to make it attractive to frogs. A garden full of sterile exotic plants will attract very few if any frogs.

Red Toad Schismaderma carens

Because all frogs breathe partially through their skin, they are particularly sensitive to toxic chemicals in the environment therefore you should avoid using insecticides in the garden wherever possible.

African Common Toad Amietophrynus gutturalis

All the frogs photographed above and many other species are resident and breed in my own garden in Mount Moreland in a number of small and large tubs, shallow plastic trays, plastic dirt bins and concrete ponds which have been place in strategic positions within the plants in the garden.

If you are interested in the conservation of frogs please go to Save the Frogs at http://www.savethefrogs.com/ and subscribe to their news letter and if funds are available make a donation to help to save the frogs.

If you would like Ecoman to design you a garden that is attractive to frogs please view my website at
http://www.ecoman.co.za

Trema orientalis Pigeon Wood Tree

Trema orientalis is a common pioneer tree which belongs to the hemp (dagga) family, Cannabaceae.

Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis

Trema orientalis has a very wide distribution in the tropical and warm temperate parts of the Old World. It´s range extends from South Africa, through Africa the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent into southern China, Southeast Asia  including the Philippines and Australia.

Over it´s wide range Trema orientalis has many common names which include pigeon wood, charcoal-tree and gunpowder tree

Trema orientalis has considerable ecological significance being a very productive tree

with at least 14 species of butterfly using it as a larval food plant. Many species of birds are attracted to this tree to eat the vast amounts of small berries that it produces almost continuously throughout the year or to feed on the abundant insects which live on these trees. 

Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis berries

In my own garden they are frequented by a large number of bird species which include Black Collard Barbet, Crested Barbet, Yellow Rumped Tinker Bird, Glossy, Black Bellied, Violet Backed and Redwinged Starlings, Purple Crested Turaco, White Eyes, Thickbilled Weavers, Klaas Cuckoo Diederik Cuckoo, Somber Bulbul, Grey Bulbul, Speckled Mouse bird, Ring Necked Doves and many others. 

The vast numbers of tiny greenish yellow flowers are pollinated by various bee species which attract insect eating birds.

Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis flowers

The leaves are also browsed by game animals and can be used as spinach. This tree is a fast growing species found in previously disturbed areas and on forest margins. It is a pioneer species that can grow on poor soil and can be used to regenerate forest areas by providing shade and protection to saplings of forest hardwoods

Trema orientalis is a nitrogen fixing tree which improves soil fertility for other plant species.

From a conventional landscaping point of view Trema orientalis  is not a very suitable candidate for a landscape feature tree because it often looks rather messy due to its leaves being eaten by just about every conceivable insect however it is a must in every garden that strives to encourage wildlife.

Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis leaves eaten by insects

Being a pioneer tree Trema orientalis is very useful when it comes to establishing a new proudly South African garden in particular on poor soils providing shade and a windbreak for other plants that are being established.

Trema orientalis is invaluable when it comes to indigenous forest restoration where it provides shade, nutrients and organic material in the form of dead leaves and vast amounts of excrement from the many insects that feed on its leaves. In addition it provides protection for the slower growing and more tender specimens. Seeds of many trees are also brought onto site by birds which come to feed on the seeds though this may not always be a good thing where undesirable alien plants seeds are brought in by birds feeding on its fruits.

Lily Grass or Weeping Anthericum

Anthericum saundersiae Synonym. Chlorophytum saundersiae

Anthericum saundersiae is an excellent and very versatile landscape bedding plant that can be grown in the full sun semi and even full shade it is an asset to any landscape design in particular where one would like to plant a productive plant the brings in vast amounts of wildlife into the landscape or garden.

Anthericum saundersiae plant is named after Katharine Saunders plant collector and botanical artist who was born Katharine Wheelwright (1824-1901) in Tansor, Northamptonshire, England  she emigrated to Tongaat, Natal with her husband James who later became the sole proprietor of the Tongaat Sugar Estate in 1860.

I first collected Anthericum saundersiae which I found growing in full sun at the Treasure Beach grasslands in Durban in the late 1970`s. The tiny insignificant single stemmed specimen that I collected grew rapidly under my care and soon started to produce vast amounts of seed which germinated readily under the ideal conditions that I gave it and in no time at all I had large numbers of this delightful little plant. Anthericum saundersiae produces a profusion of little white star like flowers on long thin, arching stems from mid winter into late summer. Some years later I gave a number of my still unidentified plants to Geoff Nichols who took a specimen to the Natal Herbarium at Botanic Gardens where it was identified as Anthericum saundersiae. I grew and sold Anthericum saundersiae in my own nursery in small numbers but after they found their way to the Silver Glenn indigenous plant nursery they were propagated in large numbers making them much more available to the public.

In 2001 I went to stay in Germany where I became familiar with a very similar and popular specie Anthericum ramosa Syn. graminifolium so I was not at all surprised when I returned to South Africa seven years later and found Anthericum saundersiae growing in their countless thousands in nearly every new garden planting in and around Durban. Whether those plants now in cultivation came from the one tiny specimen that I collected way back in the 1970`s or from another source I do not know and probably will never know but the likely hood is certainly high that they did.

Anthericum saundersiae is a very productive trouble free garden plant that grows to about 700 mm which is ideal for the natural garden in that it attracts vast numbers of insects in particular large numbers of bee species from the very smallest to large bumble bees that when they land on the flower they weight them almost down to the ground causing them to bob up and down as they move from flower to flower setting the plants in motion as if they are dancing. I have observed that the foliage is also loved by Scrub Hares, domestic rabbits and in particular Egyptian Geese.

Although Anthericum saundersiae prefers to grow in full sun in fertile sandy soil it is a very versatile plant that will grow under almost any conditions in most soils from sand to heavy clay soils in frost free areas.

Anthericum saundersiae propagates very easily and profusely from seed but can also be subdivided when seed is not available. Seed germinates best in raised seed beds or directly on the ground in prepared sandy soil with a little very well rotted compost added, poor results may be obtained if seed is planted into a bark based growing medium in seed trays

Attracting dragonflies to your Proudly South African Indigenous Garden

It has been stated by environmental scientists that Dragon Flies in the garden are an indicator of a healthy well balanced environment in addition their sensitivity to habitat quality and their amphibious life cycle make dragonflies well suited for evaluating environmental changes.

Machado’s Skimmer Orthetrum machadoi (female) taken in my garden at Mount Moreland

They are carnivorous not only in the adult stages of their life cycle, but also in their larval stage. The dragonfly is considered as one of the best agile predator around.

During their nymph phase, when a dragonfly has to remain underwater, it eats aquatic insects, worms, mosquito larva, small fish, and little tadpoles. In this phase, it is empowered with a thrust mechanism system to boost its speed while following its prey. It also ejects water from its anal opening to increase its speed in times of need.

They feed on small insects such as bees, ants, wasps, butterflies, flies, and midges. A dragonfly has the ability to move in different directions swiftly. Hence, it can easily out-fly its prey on most occasions

Adult dragonflies often hunt for food in groups, when ants or termites are available in large numbers or when there are swarms of gnats are available in their proximity. Dragonflies keep mosquitoes at bay by feeding on them.

Julia Skimmer Orthetrum Julia (male) taken in my garden at Mount Moreland

It is rather easy to attract these most interesting and attractive insects into a healthy indigenous garden by providing breeding opportunities for them in the form of a natural pond either large or small in fact a tub with a few local aquatic plants is all that it takes to provide a breeding opportunity for dragonflies just as long as no fish are placed in them. There is no need to worry about mosquitoes once the pond had matured and attracted dragon flies as their larvae are voracious carnivores which relishing mosquito larvae.

For biological control to work enough mosquito larvae must survive in the ponds to feed the dragon fly nymphs, which largely feed on mosquito larvae, so a few larvae will always be found in the ponds, however this small number is compensated for a thousand fold by the vast numbers of adult mosquitoes that arrive from other sources that are controlled by the adult dragon flies.

In my own garden I have a number of tubs and shallow containers planted to an assortment of aquatic plants that together with plantings of suitable flowering plants attract very large numbers of Dragonflies to my own garden which act as a very good control for both flies and mosquitos.

Anthericum saundersiae

To help enhance the garden to attract dragonflies the addition of plants like Anthericum saundersiae, Chlorophytum cooperii and flowering grasses which attract large numbers of suitable insect pollinator provide vast amounts of food for these aerial acrobats.

Agapanthus praecox a floral Gem

Agapanthus praecox sups. orientalis

Agapanthus means love flower, the name agapanthus is made up of two Greek words agape love and anthos flower. The Zulu name for this plant is ubani.

Photo taken of a bed of Agapanthus praecox in flower at my home in Mount Moreland

Agapanthus belongs to the plant family Agapanthaceae which consists of only one genus that is endemic to southern Africa, meaning that Agapanthus occurs naturally nowhere else on Earth

This is one of the best known of our South African plants abroad having been first introduced to and grown in Europe since about 1652.

Agapanthus praecox is easy to grow and will even grow in poor soils provided it receives sufficient water in particular in summer. For Agapanthus praecox to perform at its best, it however requires a rich soil with plenty of compost and plenty of water year round in particular in spring and summer. Agapanthus praecox do best in full sun. 

Agapanthus praecox need to be lifted and divided every three to four years to keep them healthy and vigorous this being done just after they have finished flowering. They usually flower best in their first season after having been divided. When replanting reduce the foliage by a third to one half and reduce the roots by two-thirds. Replant immediately and water thoroughly.

Agapanthus are mostly free of pests but can from time to time be attached by the Agapanthus Borer Moth, Neuranethes spodopterodes which is native to South Africa. The larvae bore into the budding inflorescence and as they mature they tunnel down towards the leaves and rhizomes. The Agapanthus borer is often mistakenly referred to as Amaryllis borer Brithys crini pancratii which they are most certainly not. A severe attack can promote rot and may kill the plant.

The introduced exotic European garden snail can at times also do considerable damage if not controlled.

Agapanthus praecox with its neat growth habit and spectacular flowers is an asset and a must for every proudly South African garden and amenity horticultural landscape in the regions where they grow best.

For much of the year the Agapanthus plant does not attracts large numbers of insects or other creatures but when it comes to flowering time they attracts large numbers of bees in particular honey bees to the spectacular blue flowers. And along with the bees creatures that feed on bees such as crab spiders that wait in a flower to catch the fist unsuspecting bee that lands to take nectar and pollen as can bee seen in the photo below.

 A crab spider feeding on a bee that it has just caught.

No proudly South African garden or landscape should be without these most spectacular gems of our South African floral kingdom.

In addition to being spectacular garden plants Agapanthus praecox have many uses in traditional medicine and magic as well as being used as love charms. 

getting to know the ropes

This whole blogging thing is rather new to me in fact you can measure the time in minutes so please have a little patience with me while I learn the ropes

Gazania krebsiana the mother plant was collected a Monteseel inland of Durban