NEW SEASON, FRESH GROWTH
The first tree name Alex March learned when studying horticulture was Erythrina lysistemon.
The second was Citharexylum quadrangulare (a.k.a Fiddlewood). Fortunately, the indigenous coral tree had more appeal, and in a short time Alex became, by his own admission, an “indigenous nut”. “Trying to get my tongue around the botanical names took a while, but after a couple of months, I realised that I loved this and was hooked,” he remembers, “soon everyone in class was asking me for the names of plants.”
Always up for an adventure,
Alex applied for a 2-year internship at Kirstenbosch. “This was a fantastic time. I went on every collecting trip possible – to Angola, the Wild Coast and the mountains along the Eastern Cape. Many of these excursions were with legendary Ernst van Jaarsveld.” Despite being offered a job at Kirstenbosch, Alex-the-tree-man knew that his heart lay in Kwazulu-natal and he returned home.
Back in KZN he was offered some land to grow proteas. Nkosi Nursery in Karkloof was born, named for the spectacular King protea (Protea cynaroides). Quickly, the nursery expanded from just flowers and Alex was a regular at fairs and markets with his indigenous plant selection. “Once you start collecting and germinating seed, things just grow,” he laughs, “I needed more and more space.” In the early 2000s when there was a growth spurt for indigenous plants as many estates were built Alex was perfectly placed to meet this demand. Alex focussed on Midlands plants, those that thrive in the colder conditions.
In 2017, Nkosi Nursery was awarded the contract to rescue and rehabilitate the slopes created by the upgrade to Sani Pass. Renowned author, artist and indigenous expert, Elsa Pooley told the contractors “There is only one person qualified for the job, with experience in dealing with the harsh winters of the inland areas. Alex is both a gifted horticulturist and landscaper.”
Sani was an interesting challenge for the Nkosi team. “We needed a multi-pronged approach – we gathered seed, collected plants, dug up sods, saved topsoil and took cuttings. Being a World Heritage site, the steep banks couldn’t be plastered with easy options like kikuyu or concrete,” explains Alex. Elsa adds, “His skill has been to re-establish the natural mix of species on the roadsides after construction of the road, with plants he has rescued and grown on. Alex is a national treasure.”
After 23 years, Nkosi Nursery had outgrown the possibilities of the Karkloof site, and Alex looked around for a new home. “You have to bet on yourself,” he advises, “I took the leap in 2022 and bought the land where Nkosi is now based. We repurposed the infrastructure, used shade netting on the sides of the tunnels rather than energy greedy cooling systems, carted our old water tanks across to collect rainwater from the roofs.” Already, in just a couple of months, the tunnels are filled with healthy, thriving plants.
Soon there will be Erythrina lysistemon flourishing too, their scarlet blooms reminding Alex of where his indigenous journey began, and the time that he took his destiny into his own soil covered hands (with a few lucky-bean seeds in his pocket) and planted roots to thrive in a new place.
The nursery is open to the public from 9 to 3 on weekdays and weekends by appointment www. nkosinursery.co.za