African plants growing in Ireland

in my garden and with its very dark purple buds one of my favourites. A. ‘Double Diamond’ is a dwarf white variety with additional petals to give a frilly effect. A. ‘Bluestorm and A. ‘Snowstorm’ both claim to carry 100 flowers over 10 weeks once established but I have yet to see that level of performance in Ireland. Agapanthus have become naturalised in New Zealand to a point of being a threat to native species.

Other well known Irish African favourites include Kniphofias (red hot pokers) Dierama (Angels’ fishing rods) Zantedeschia (Arum or Calla lily)and Nerine bowdenii all are mainstays of many gardens. Lesser known plants like Phygelius (Cape Fuchsia) which flower in reds, pinks and whites over an extended period when deadheaded. The wonderful Hesperantha coccinea, fromerly known as Schizostylis, is one of the finest autumn flowering plants that will actually flower well into winter once it has established in a large clump. Reds, pinks and whites again.

Most of these plants have been grown in Irish gardens for a century or more and have always been popular and firm favourites with gardeners. In more recent times some older forgotten African plants have found favour again with the trend setters. Melianthus major(Honey flower) is a lovely if somewhat unruly foliage plant from South Africa that has a exotic tropical appearance to it. It has become naturalised in India, Australia and New Zealand. Eucomis bicolor (Pineapple Lily) has become super cool and trendy of late but is slightly out of place for my liking in general planting but looks great in a pot. It flower looks like a pineapple hence the name.

All these plants are reasonably hardy and all like the sun. If general temperatures continue to increase over the next few years we may soon be able to try to grow iconic African plants like Protea and Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) as well.