Celebrate centuries of gardens
Visit one of South Africa’s many botanical treasure this Heritage Day, all of which preserve natural traditions
SOUTH Africa celebrates Heritage Day on Monday. Now is the time to appreciate the legacy of plant knowledge passed down to South Africans through the generations. For centuries, the Khoisan harvested a range of indigenous plants, from buchu (Agathosma spp) to kraalbos (Galenia africana). Choosing the juicy shoots of the kraalbos, the Khoisan used this woody shrub for ailments from toothaches to venereal diseases.
Today, kraalbos is being seen as a possible alternative treatment for the antibiotic and multi-drug resistance sweeping the world. Research has demonstrated that kraalbos “could be an important tool in the fight against both bacterial infection and antibiotic resistance”, says Tiza L Ng’uni, a PHD graduate from the University of the Western Cape.
The Khoisan believed buchu to be the elixir of youth. With anti-infective, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, the Khoisan chewed the plant. In the past few centuries, it has been brewed as a tea. Buchu tea was so highly regarded in the last century, that there were eight bales of buchu en route to New York on the RMS Titanic when it sunk on April 15 1912.
Although buchu in the wild is a protected plant, three types of buchu can be found in garden centres: Agathosma betulina (short buchu); Agathosma serratifolia (long buchu); and Agathosma crenulata (ovate buchu).
Edible gardens
The use of Cape Town’s Table Bay as a refreshment station for passing fleets from the 1500s brought herbs, fruit and vegetables to the Cape. The South African wine industry can be traced back to 1654 when the Dutch East India Company sent grapevine cuttings to the Cape from Rheingau, Germany. The first harvest was made in February 1659.
The first roses (Rosa centifolia) to be planted in the Cape produced their first flush of blooms in November 1659, and oranges were picked in the Dutch East India Company Gardens in Cape Town in 1661. Spices from the Dutch East India spice trade followed.
Waves of European settlers introduced plants carried back to Europe during the Crusades, such as the Persian lilac or syringa (Melia azedarach). Revered by the Roman Empire, Mediterranean plants such as dianthus, lavender, rosemary and poppy followed.
Indigenous legacy
Today, modern gardeners have a wealth of water-wise and indigenous plant material available which is suitable for the specific conditions in your garden.
Consider these plant ideas for your garden for Heritage Week.
Sloping ground, a sunny aspect, good air circulation and slightly acidic, free-draining soil is ideal for a fynbos garden with colourful leucodendrons, proteas, pincushions, ericas and the golden daisy bush (Euryops pectinatus) and aromatic foliage of buchu, pelargonium and wild sage (Salvia africana-caerulea), golden sage (S. africana-lutea) and rough blue sage (S. chamelaeagnea).
Cape thatching reed (Elegia tectorum), horsetail restio (Elegia capensis) and silver restio (Thamnochortus cinereus) are an ancient fynbos family that provide textural interest and different form.
Natural hollows where water collects suit tree ferns, arum, aristea and Cape thatching reed (Elegia tectorum).
A depression presents a wonderful opportunity to create a wildlife-friendly pond with gently sloping sides and rocks at different depths for small creatures to climb on or hide under. Cover one-third of the surface area of a pond with aquatic plants to provide shelter for fish and frogs.
Windy gardens. Suitable windbreaks
include the wild olive (Olea europaea subsp
Africana), false olive (Buddleja saligna) and sagewood (B. salviifolia), coast silver oak (Brachylaena discolour), hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa), karee (Searsia lancea) and camphor bush (Tarchonanthus camphoratus). Lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus) and Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) can be grown as a hedge or screen.
National braai day
Spending time with family and friends outdoors has become a tradition on Heritage Day on September 24, also known as National Braai Day. Make your fire pit or braai area proudly South African by encircling it with water-wise and fire-wise shrubs.
Plant in colours that reflect the warmth of the fire with strelitzia, pincushion, red-hotpoker, Cape honey suckle (Tecoma capensis), lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus), gazania and aloes.
You may prefer a yellow and blue theme with euryops daisy, Strelitzia “Mandela’s Gold”, agapanthus and yellow kniphofia and under-planted with cushions of Felicia “Out of the Blue”, clumps of yellow burn jelly plant (Bulbine frutescens) and arctotis.
Include shrubs with aromatic foliage, wild rosemary (Eriocephalus africanus) and buchu (Agathosma crenulata), confetti bush (Coleonema pulchellum) and scented pelargoniums. Add pots of edible herbs, such as basil, sage, thyme, parsley, fennel and oregano to garnish and flavour food.
Plant burn jelly plant (Bulbine frutescens) near outdoor entertainment areas, so that the jelly-like juice in the leaves is easily available for rubbing on insect bites and sunburn.
White flowers in evening gardens remain visible long after darker shades have merged with the shadows. White agapanthus (new introduction reblooming A. “Snow Ripple”), arums and the bell flowers of the berg lily (Galtonia candicans), scented tree orchid (Mystacidium capense) and indigenous gardenia will add interest to the evening garden, allowing you to enjoy your garden long past sunset.