Aloe pluridens French Aloe

Family    Xanthorrhoeaceae
Subfamily    Asphodeloideae

The specie name pluridens is derived from two words pluri = many and dens = teeth which refers to the many teeth on the leaf margins.

A group of Aloe pluridens growing against the boaundary fence at my natural aloe and grassland garden at Mount Moreland

Distribution and habitat of Aloe pluridens

It occurs naturally from the Eastern Cape to just north of Durban in KwaZulu  Natal where it is normally found growing on cliffs and in the shade of coastal bush. It is particularly common in the Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and the Albany areas where the rosettes may be seen above the surrounding bush.

Description

Aloe pluridens is a very attractive aloe which is usually single-stemmed or may be branched it bears numerous small plantlets on the lower stems. Aloe pluridens is a tall aloe, occasionally reaching up to 5-6 m high. The leaves are bright yellowish to bright green. The leaf margin is armed with numerous teeth. The leaf sap is clear with a strong, rhubarb-like smell.

The inflorescence is attractive, branched with up to 4 racemes protruding above the leaves. The flowers are usually orange or pinkish-red, but a yellow form is also known. Up to three inflorescences may be borne from each rosette. The flowers that are produced from May to July attract sunbirds and bees which in my garden at Mount Moreland often attract Fork tailed Drongos which feed on the bees. This winter the beautiful Scarlet Chested Sunbird which normally occurs much further north has been attracted to the numerous aloes, Kniphofias and Erythrinas trees  that I have flowering in my garden.

Growing Aloe pluridens

Aloe pluridens is extremely easy to grow preferring partial shade for the hottest time of day.  Aloe pluridens will grow in poor soils with little attention but will do much better if it is planted in a large hole that has first been enriched with well-rotted compost and fertilised at least once a year at the beginning of the growing season with a balanced granular fertiliser. 

Irrigation

Although Aloe pluridens is drought tolerant, it thrives and flowers better if adequate irrigation is provided in the summer months.

Propagating Aloe pluridens

Aloe pluridens is extremely easy to propagate which is best done by simply removing the numerous plantlets on the stem and planting them.

The numerous suckers growing on the main stem of Aloe pluridens can clearly be seen

The removal of the side plantlets that are produced in large numbers stimulates the plant to produce more giving a continuous supply of propagating material which makes is possible to quickly produce ever larger numbers of this spectacular aloe. Aloe pluridens can also be grown from seed which they do not produce in large numbers. When vegetatively propagated always propagate from a number of mother plants so that your entire collection does not consist of the clones of one single plant to allow for cross pollination and the production of seed which will hopefully spread to and grow in your neighbours garden.

Landscape value

Aloe pluridens has a high landscape value both as a feature plant where it can be planted as a single plant or as an extensive mass plantings to create a focal point or to define a boundary. Massed plantings provided a brilliant splash of colour during the dry winter months. This aloe is a must for every coastal garden irrespective of whether it is planted entirely to local  indigenous plants or exotic foreign plants

Ecological value

Aloe pluridens is a good source of nectar for birds and bees during the dry winter months

Pests and diseases

Aloe Snout Weevils

Aloe Snout Weevils belonging to the family Curculionidae, the Lesser Aloe Weevil Rhadinomerus illicitus being a particularily destructive specie

The Aloe Snout Weevil is grey, dark brown to black in colour. They are between 15mm-25mm in length. The adult Aloe Snout Weevil feeds on the sap it obtains by puncturing the aloe leaves causing circular lesions 3mm in diameter which leave unsightly marks on the aloe leaves.  The Aloe Snout Weevil lays its eggs at the base of the aloe leaves, the larvae bore into the stem just below the crown of the plant which often causes the entire plant to die.

For comprehensive information on Snout weevil Damage Done to Aloes go to Kumbula Nursery Blog at

http://kumbulanursery.co.za/blog/snout-beetle-damage-done-to-aloes

White Scale insects

The white scale insects become visible as neat white rows on the leaves, especially on the lower surfaces. If untreated, the entire plant will eventually be covered by the insects and may die.

Medicinal uses of Aloe Pluridens

The sulphur-containing compound Pluridone found in the roots of Aloe pluridens has been proven in trials to effectively control coccidia in poultry.

Michael Hickman

Landscape Design and Rehabilitation Specialist

www.ecoman.co.za

michael@ecoman.co.za

06.06.15

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Jasminum multipartitum

Common names: 

English:         Starry wild jasmine

Zulu:             Imfohlafohlane

German:       Jasmin

Close up of the flower of Jasminum multipartitum

Jasminum multipartitum belongs to the plant family Oleaceae which has a number of members that are economically significant such as the olive (Olea europaea) which is important for its production of fruit as well as for the olive oil extracted from them. The ash  tree (Fraxinus) produces hard tough timber.

Forsythias, lilacs, jasmines and privets, are valued as ornamental plants in gardens and for landscaping.

Species of jasmine are the source of an essential oil. Their flowers are often added to tea.

Distribution

Jasminum multipartitum has a relatively small distribution being found only in South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.

In South Africa Jasminum multipartitum is found in the Eastern Cape, the drier parts of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in the bushveld areas of Limpopo, northern Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

Natural Habitat

Jasminum multipartitum is found growing naturally on rocky slopes, in woodland and in bushy scrub in a variety of soils both in full sun as well as in semi-shade.

  

Description

Jasminum multipartitum is a scrambling, evergreen shrub with bright green, shiny leaves which produces masses of large white waxy, scented, star-shaped flowers after the first spring rain. The flowers have a delicate perfume during the day that becomes markedly stronger in the evening and at night. The flower buds are pink or tinted red.

The fruit consists of shiny bluish black twin berries. There is usually one quite large seed in each berry, the dark, plum-coloured flesh is very juicy.

Jasminum multipartitum

Ecological significance

The flowers of Jasminum multipartitum attract insects in particular Hawk moths which pollinate them.

The berries are eaten by birds and by people. Jasminum multipartitum are heavily browsed by game, indigenous goats and indigenous sheep.

The larvae of the Cambridge Vagrant Butterfly, the Variable Prince Moth, Oleander Hawk Moth, Death's Head Hawk Moth, and King Monkey Moth feed on Jasminum species.

  

Cultural uses

Jasminum multipartitum is used traditionally as a love charm.

Other uses

Jasminum multipartitum could be used to make a herbal tea, fragrance baths and pot-pourri. The foreign species of Jasmine are important for their horticultural value as lovely well-known ornamentals and popular garden plants so there is every reason to grow Jasminum multipartitum in South African gardens. Sprigs of this jasmine are delightful in flower arrangements as the buds open after they are picked and their scent pervades the house.

Growing Jasminum multipartitum

Jasminum multipartitum is a shrub or weak scrambler that will grow in a variety of soils even in very dry locations but will do best if it is supplied with plenty of well-rooted organic material and a little fertiliser.

If encouraged Jasminum multipartitum will climb up to 3 m, although not very strongly, and is best used as a shrub of up to 1.5 m high. Jasminum multipartitum is medium to fast growing.

Jasminum multipartitum flowers best when growing in the full sun in particular in years following a long dry winter so do not over water it.

Jasminum multipartitum is able to withstand some frost but in colder areas it will need a protected corner, generally it does best in regions that have milder winters. Once established, it is fairly drought tolerant.

Jasminum multipartitum takes well to pruning, either to shape it as desired, or to curb excessive growth. This is best done after flowering to encourage thick, compact growth.

 
Propagation

Jasminum multipartitum is easy to propagate by layering which is an easy and successful option, from seed and from semi-hardwood cuttings made in spring and summer when plants are actively growing. Cuttings do best placed under mist with bottom heat.

 Jasminum multipartitum growing on a hot dry bank in shale at Mount Moreland

Landscaping

Jasminum multipartitum is a delightful shrub, or weak climber which can be trained onto a trellis or fence, or even shaped into a hedge or screen, this species of jasmine is also an extremely successful container plant, which is attractive even without flowers. No frost free South African landscape or garden should be without this gem of a plant.

Although there are 10 indigenous Jasmine species in South Africa, many of which rival or exceed the exotic species for showiness and ease of cultivation, like most of our South African plants species they are seldom appreciated or grown here.

Michael Hickman

Landscape Design and Rehabilitation Specialist

www.ecoman.co.za

michael@ecoman.co.za

25.19.14

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A garden without wildlife is hardly a garden at all

Ever changing ever new

Our average affluent north Durban suburban garden owner has the most  uninteresting sterile garden possible planted to a very limited number of sterile unchanging plants such as Philodendron selloum cv. Xanadu, bright coloured crotons Codiaeum variegatum, dust collecting Dianella tasmanica variegata, Ophiopogon japonica, Ophiopogon jaburan variegata a never changing boring landscape. Masses of boring single straight stemmed palms, yellow leaved Duranta erecta Sheena's Gold ™ which have been trimmed into hedges, balls and who knows what, to me a plant that is this colour is  critically ill and needs to be removed. All to be finished of with horrible gaudy purple border bedding plants such as purple setcreasea Tradescantia pallida and Rheoe Tradescantia spathacea

Croton Codiaeum variegatum

The Croton Codiaeum variegatum above is very clearly a magnificent plant that has its uses but it never changes how it looks which in time becomes overpowering and boring and in particular it is sterile, it attracts no wildlife at all it could very easily be replaced in the garden with an identical copy made of plastic and few if any people would be any the wiser. These magnificently colourful plants most certainly do not bring life into the garden.

Change and variety are the spices of life and that applies in particular when planning a garden either exotic or indigenous if one would like to create tranquillity in the garden and to provide the greatest of benefit for the user and observer.

In a Proudly South African living garden planted to our local South African plants there are never two days that are the same, it is ever changing, ever interesting, the  bright yellow bloom of a Hibiscus calyphyllus or Hibiscus surattensis here this morning gone this afternoon a flush of blooms the following day.

 

Hibiscus surattensis  bright and beautiful ever changing never the same.

Dietes grandiflora and Dietes iridioides which come to their full glory for a single day in the spring and early summer months after a drop in atmospheric pressure, then wait for the next drop in pressure to repeat the spectacle. A blaze of blue from the Agapanthus Agapanthus praecox spp.orientalis for a few weeks during midsummer, a blaze of orange from the aloes during the winter to be followed by a blaze of red from the coral tree Erythrina lysistemon announcing the early spring that attract birds and insect 

A brightly coloured butterfly here and brightly coloured bird over there plucking a bright berry from a Psychotria capensis bush. A brightly coloured carpenter bee sucking nectar from the flower of a Justicia betonica, dragonflies doing their amazing aerial displays, interesting and brightly insects every where.

A brightly coloured carpenter bee Xylocopa caffra sucking nectar from the flower of a Justicia betonica

A bright coloured bird flying overhead to alight and pluck a bright red berry from a Psychotria capensis in full fruit in the winter. An interesting and colourful bug sitting on a flower, interesting colourful insects everywhere you look in the garden. A Striped Skink Trachylepsis striata sunning its self on a stone and one up on the roof garden waiting for a fat fly to pass by, a blue headed tree agama Acanthocercus atricollis sunning itself on the trunk of a tree

A spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis building its nest on a Strelitzia tree Strelitzia nicolai outside my kitchen door.

These things are seldom seen and experienced in your regular traditional Durban garden with its mostly sterile tropical and subtropical plants that appear to never change from season to season, day to day, week to week, year to year, never changing always the same. Many of these gardens may just as well be made of brightly coloured plastic and concrete for all the life that they bring into the garden. Well manicured bright un-natural colours, coarse textures.

  

A well designed garden planted exclusively to our local indigenous plants will be green and tranquil full of interest, full of beauty, with green that comes in every texture, form and shade is ever changing ever new. Every day there is a new surprise, as flower buds burst open to expose a splash of brilliant colour, sometimes lasting only a few hours and sometimes weeks on end then back to the tranquillity of green to soothe the soul.

A very easy plant to propagate and to grow is this magnificent pendulous Gladiolus cruentus a rare critically endangered local gem seldom if ever seen in cultivation in South Africa

A brightly coloured sun bird gently alights on a leonotis intermedia to sip nectar before flitting off to another brightly coloured plant or to hawk a passing insect in mid air.

During the day bright orange paradise flycatchers with their long tail feathers dart out under the canopies of the trees to catch a passing fly and as the sun dips its head below the horizon tiny little bats appear doing tight aerobatics under the same trees to hawk the insects that they feed on.

I look out the window and see a bright coloured Locust Zonocerus elegans which feeds on the milk weed plant Gomphocarpus physocarpus which is also the host plant to the African Monarch Butterfly.

A bright coloured Locust Zonocerus elegans resting on the flower of a grass aloe, Aloe cooperii

A bronze back manikin alights on a grass stem to pluck a seed head of Panicum maximum to build his nest,  later I see him return to collect the fluffy flower heads of natal redtop grass Melinis repens to line it with.

A bright red African Fire Finch arrives on the ground just outside my kitchen door to look for seed and insects.

African Fire Finch Lagonosticta rubricata

The sound of the Crested Barbet that has his home in a nest box I placed in a tree directly opposite my kitchen window only a few metres away, the sound of  Painted Reed Frogs in a small pond of arums in the evening a garden which is a haven for wildlife in all its forms both day and night with interest without end, is this not what a garden should be.

Painted Reed Frog Hyperolius marmoratus

To maximise the life in a garden it must be planned with as large a variety of interesting local plants to create habitat, which provides shelter, breeding and feeding opportunities for all manner of creatures both great and small. Thereafter we need to do little more to encourage life into our gardens, if the conditions are right wildlife will come and stay of its own. The bigger the variety of plants and habitat types the greater the numbers of creatures that will be attracted. The garden must have water, it must have lawn to serve as green pathways and to separate the different elements of the garden. Do not forget a bench here a table and chairs there so that one can sit and relax and enjoy the garden and its wildlife.

African Monarch butterfly Danaus chrysippus on the flower of it´s host plant the Milk Weed Gomphocarpus physocarpus

There is no reason why a garden that is maximised for wildlife should not be planned and planted to the highest standards of landscape design incorporating only our local plants and a slightly different order to what has traditionally been accepted here in South Africa and much of the world.

When it comes to maintenance the garden must still be well manicured just as the sterile traditional garden in particular at the entrance and near to the house but it will need to be a slightly different order, the beds will still need to be edged, the lawn mowed and the weeds removed, no one wants to be greeted by a mess. However the maintenance must not show a misguided sense of order it must not be carried out with sensitivity and not to the detriment of the life in the garden.

All the photos that I used in this article have been taken in my own garden at Mount Moreland north of Durban.

Michael Hickman

Landscape Design Specialist

www.ecoman.co.za

michael@ecoman.co.za

05.04.14

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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

Umzimbeet a small tree for every Garden

Umzimbeet 

Millettia grandis

Umsimbithi; Umsimbithwa (Zulu)

Millettia grandis belongs to the pea and legume family Fabaceae

 Photo taken at Mount Moreland 11 September 2013

Distribution and Habitat

Millettia grandis occurs along the coast from eastern South Africa from north of East London in the Eastern Cape Province into KwaZulu-Natal as far as southern Mozambique. Millettia grandis is particularly abundant in the Pondoland area. Millettia grandis has been planted occasionally outside this region, for instance in Mauritius.

Ecology

Millettia grandis occurs in coastal forest and open lowland forest up to an altitude of 600 m. It can be found as a pioneer tree along forest margins. Millettia grandis tolerates light frost. Millettia grandis often occurs on sandy soils, but also on shale, where trees are often gnarled. Millettia grandis grows best in deep rich sandy soils where ample water is available. Where it occurs Millettia grandis is locally common.

Landscape value

Millettia grandis is a small to medium sized tree the suits every garden whether exotic or indigenous, whether landscaped or natural

Millettia grandis has a compact crown which is particularly suitable for planting in limited spaces like small urban gardens it makes an attractive decorative shade tree with glossy dark green leaves, grey bark, copper red coloured young leaves and flower buds, purple flowers and velvety golden seedpods.

The attractive flowers which occur in from early spring to summer are pea-shaped, mauve to purple and held in an upright inflorescence on the ends of the branches. The seed pods split open 6-8 months later when dry with a load bang to release the flat, oblong seeds.

Millettia grandis comes from a sub-tropical habitat and if grown in drier areas it will need ample water for it to do its best.

Despite its tremendous landscape value Millettia grandis is only occasionally planted as an ornamental shade and street tree this very beautiful and valuable local tree with sculptural and seasonal interest for the garden is clearly undervalued and planted far too infrequently.

Ecological importance

At least four species of butterfly larvae feed on the leaves. Larvae of the butterfly Orange –barred Playboy Deudorix diocles are commonly found in the pods. The larvae of Pondo Charaxes, Charaxes pondoensis feed on the leaves. Termites sometimes utilize the flaked bark on the stems.

Giant Carpenter Bee Xylocopa flavorufa

Bees and bumble bees collect nectar and pollen when the tree is in flower

Commercial uses

The heartwood is dark brown and distinctly demarcated from the yellowish sapwood. The grain is straight, fine textured and very heavy and hard. The wood has an oily surface, it is very durable and resistant to insect attack.

The wood is locally important for building poles, durable furniture, walking sticks, knobkerries and Ugqoko traditional meat platters

Ugqoko traditional meat platter below

Millettia grandis has several features which gives it tremendous agro-forestry potential for rural community development. It does not compete vigorously with other crops and being a Legume, it enhances soil fertility through its nitrogen fixing ability.

Propagation and Growing

Fresh seed is used for propagation, soaking in hot water for one night improves germination. Young trees transplant well grow fairly fast: 80–100 cm/year under favourable conditions.

Millettia grandis seedlings rows 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.

  

The Millettia grandis trees in my area are covered with nearly ripe seed at the time of writing this article so take the opportunity to obtain seed and grow your own this season.

Michael Hickman

27 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.

Justicia betonica, White shrimp plant, Squirrels’ tails

Justicia betonica is a very variable plant in the family Acanthaceae with a large distribution range

which extends from the east coast of South Africa along the coast of tropical east Africa and on through Arabia, India and East Asia. In many areas in particular where it is cultivated as a garden and landscape plant it is known as the white shrimp plant or squirrel's tail.

Justicia betonica in flower

The plants that I have growing are medium sized 1-1.5 m glossy brilliant green plants that

have blooms that are held in slim upright showy, terminal or axillary spikes which are comprised of papery, green bracts enclosing small white flowers. The flowers which are produced in late summer into the early autumn are followed by club-shaped seed capsules which open explosively when ripe to scatter the seeds.

  

Justicia betonica flower

Justicia betonica needs to be cut back hard in late winter after flowering and tip-pruned as it grows through spring and early summer, to promote a compact tidy shape, otherwise it can become leggy. Justicia betonica grows best in partial shade but will also grow well in full sun. This attractive, fast-growing plant grows best in rich moderately wet areas in the garden and spreads rapidly by seed, forming dense stands.

Although Justicia betonica grows best in shaded wet conditions in loose sandy soil well enriched with organic material I have found it in my own garden to be very drought tolerant growing on dense dry clay soils being one of the very last plants to wilt during times of drought.

If you do not want Justicia betonica to spread throughout the garden it would be advisable to remove the seed heads before they ripen and scatter the seed far and wide.

Black striped hairtail Anthene amarah amarah

Justicia betonica is an asset to any natural indigenous garden because it is always a pleasant refreshing bright shining green colour and it attracts large numbers of insects in particular wasps, solitary bees as well as butterflies in particular species belonging to the family Lycaenidae and a rage of other colourful bugs.

Juvenile Stink Bug Caura rufiventris

Justicia betonica which is not well known here in South Africa is well known and is widely cultivated in most of the warmer regions of the world in particular in the United States of America as a bedding plant in private gardens and public landscapes.

Justicia betonica grows very easily from seed, transplanted seedling or large cuttings that are simply planted in situ and watered until they have rooted.

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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.

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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