Which plants for which type of soil?

According to Mpendulo Gabayi, horticulturist at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and Wouter Kruidenier, garden designer at De Kruidenier Exclusive Gardens in Durbanville, there are some plants that do better in certain soil conditions.

SANDY SOIL

Any succulents, shrubs and perennials such as: • sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis)* • pig’s ears (Cotyledon orbiculata)* • echeveria • rock sage (Thorncroftia

succulenta and Aeollanthus parvifolius)* • Gazania spp.* • Arctotis spp.* • Geraldton wax plant • Plumbago* • Heliotropium arborescens • Cistus spp. • Salvia officinalis • Plectranthus spp.*

CLAY SOIL

Very hardy plants, or plants with special characteristics, such as: • various irises (Dietes bicolor,

D. grandiflora and D. iridioides)* • marsh butterfly lily or redroot (Wachendorfia thyrsiflora)* • red aptenia (Aptenia cordifolia)* • asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus)* • Agapanthus praecox * • roses • Magnolia X soulangeana • day lily (Hemerocallis) • Hosta • Weigela florida

ACIDIC SOIL

• king protea (Protea cynaroides)* • Cape may or white confetti bush (Coleonema album)* • Kluitjieskraal false buchu (Agathosma ovata)* • black pelargonium (Pelargonium sidoides)*

• pincushion (Leucospermum cordifolium)* • hydrangea • Camellia japonica • azalea • gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) • Plectranthus ecklonii* • Lobelia erinus

ALKALINE SOIL

• limestone lobelia (Lobelia valida)* • golden vygie (Lampranthus aureus)* • dune buchu (Acmadenia obtusata)* • pig’s ears (Cotyledon orbiculata)* • Hagelkraal buchu (Diosma haelkraalensis)* Plants that can tolerate alkaline soil but will also grow in acidic soil: • flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) • sagewood (Buddleja salviifolia)* • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) • Campanula spp. • Rudbeckia

Echeveria Dietes grandiflora Coleonema album Lobelia erinus Gazania Rose ‘Painter’s Palette’ Agathosma ovata Cotyledon orbiculata Plumbago Agapanthus Leucospermum cordifolium Bougainvillea