Flowers in the shade

Plectranthrus ecklonii in blue Medley wood, pink Erma &white Tommy.

Having colour in your garden is such a treat, achieving this in the shade can be a challenge. Today we offer a variety of indigenous alternatives. The following four flowering species are ideal for temperate climates. Click here and enjoy South Africa best plant search resource

Plectranthrus eklonii.
Fast growing shrub 1.5 - 3 m high and ideal for mass planting in front of tall trees in semi shade.The blue pink and white flowers make a wonderful show from March to May - April being their best time. Recommended for gardens with little or no Frost. In cooler climes are ideal container plants.
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Crinium Moorei

Crinium Moorei - This lily likes damp, marshy, fertile soil near water gardens or streams.
Propagation: It propagates from seed or by removing offsets from the parent plant. The young plants take four years to flower. The colours are from dark pink, striped
pink and white, pale pink and white.
Found endemically along rivers in South Africa and Botswana and along the South and East coasts of South Africa.  Looks best in mass plantings.
Cultural: Traditional Healers use the bulb for healing bladder and kidney ailments, itchy rashes, rheumatic fever and  T.B. The bulb when boiled is used as a compress to relieve back ache. Click here for info and nurseries


             
Crocosmia Aurea/ Mombretia
Found endemically in the Eastern Cape, Border and Kwazulu- Natal. Does well in light to partial shade. The brilliant sprays of orange  flowers look good in floral displays.They flower in summer and mix well with Agapanthus. Grown from seed or bulbs. The bulbs can be split from the parent plant in winter. Once in your garden you have them always. Spectacular in mass plantings. Keep well watered in summer and dry in winter, which is their dormant period. In the wild bush pigs find the bulbs tasty, birds are attracted by the seeds. Click here for info and nurseries

Knowltonia viscitoria - Blister Leaf or Brand Blaar. Also known as Tandpyn Blaar or Tooth ache Leaf.
These slow growing perennial herbs make a striking feature under trees with their attractive foliage. Growing to about 1.2 m in height with clusters
of cream daisy flowers, which become clusters of attractive black berries. Flowers August - October. Quick to germinate but slow growing as seedlings, patience is needed, takes 2 years before they are ready to transplant from deep seedling boxes. Their root stock is strong so they can with stand drought. Found in Fynbos areas from South Western to Eastern Cape. Click here for info and nurseries.