Current landscaping trends are all about keeping it local. The movement towards locally-sourced products, services, and just about anything and everything you can imagine has been going strong for a few years now. The ‘Local is Lekker’ concept is a great way of supporting local industries, but it’s about time we extend that sentiment to promoting and celebrating indigenous flora!
South Africa has an absolute wealth of indigenous plant species that range from hardy, water-conscious succulents with gorgeous flowers, to iconic fynbos and magnificent trees, shrubs and bulbs of all types. Not only are our indigenous species attractive additions to any local garden, but they are also perfectly adapted to thrive in South African conditions, climates, and seasons. Fynbos, for example has evolved to cope with veld fires and even requires the smoke and heat of the fire to germinate in some cases – South African ingenuity at its finest!
We also have many highly efficacious indigenous species with unique chemical properties, making them essential in drugs and other compounds which can be life-saving interventions. Preserving and protecting our local plant species is in our best interest, and your garden will be the better for it. In this way, keeping up with contemporary landscaping trends is not simply about maintaining a beautiful gardenscape, but also helping protect our incredible South African landscape.
Ready to plant local? Here’s two indigenous plants that are so on trend right now:
Euphorbia Tirucalli – Firesticks
This gorgeous evergreen succulent shrub resembles something from an alien landscape, or coral in the depths of an exotic ocean. The stems take on an enticing reddish-golden hue that fades to a warm yellow in summer. It is a highly water-wise plant that is perfect for adding vertical accents to your garden scape.
Tiger-Eye Aloe
A very popular Aloe variety, the ‘Tiger-Eye’ has beautiful shiny orange blooms that flower continuously throughout the year, don’t fall off in summer and are even rather resistant to insects. The Aloe itself uses very little water, is resistant to nearly all Aloe diseases and will bring a vibrant splash of fiery colour to your garden.