Know, grow, protect and enjoy South Africa's indigenous plants

How to grow a garden for butterflies

There are around 28 000 butterfly species globally and 800 found in South Africa. Of these, 420 butterflies

Tasty, healthy and easy to grow: Water chestnuts

Water chestnuts are an incredibly productive crop, particularly given the minimal input needed for growth.

Earth mother Nomama Mei

In the first of our new series on curators, get to know Nomama Mei, who has the exciting challenge of developing the new Kwelera National

Easy autumn gardening ideas to light up your garden

As the weather cools and autumn arrives, we start to look ahead towards the cold winter months – and keeping warm indoors rather than being outdoors in the garden.

How plants bring people together: Revival of a community garden

Plants can and do bring people from different walks of life together. At the Franschhoek Indigenous Medicinal Plants Demonstration Garden, gardeners and plant lovers came together recently

How to grow a grassland garden in South Africa

The grassland biome is the second largest in the country, covering around one third of South Africa’s land surface.

Sustainable gardening with Keith Kirsten

A Q&A with expert horticulturalist and gardener Keith Kirsten about gardening sustainably in South Africa

How to be climate-smart and plant indigenous

In order to be climate-smart, gardeners should choose plants that are locally indigenous.

How to grow magnificent Clivias

Warm colour easy-growing blooms for your home or shade garden

When plants and heritage meet: Revitalising an urban community garden

Moja Gabedi is an urban community garden started and run by the University of Pretoria’s Department of Community Engagement, and the development of the project

How to grow Proteas in your outdoor space

It’s easier than you might think to grow a Protea in your outdoor space, rewarding you with stunning flowers and attracting a range of wildlife to the garden.

Meet the kalanchoe people

New South African kalanchoe hybrids have been named in honour of key figures in our botany and horticulture

Where to Enjoy Aloes in South Africa

Winter is Aloe season in South Africa. As these majestic succulents come into bloom en masse, their bright and spectacular flowers transform mountains, koppies, open plains and gardens.

One of the World’s Happiest Hobbies? Why, gardening of course

The Botanical Society’s Kirstenbosch branch encourages you to start ‘Gardening for Happiness’, as they prepare to launch the Kirstenbosch Plant Fair.

Mamelodi’s hill of dreams

One man had a dream in Tshwane’s Mamelodi – and helped preserve a natural gem overlooked by botanists

Get your garden buzzing!

Our guide to gardening for bees gives tips on growing beautiful indigenous plants that create a thriving ecosystem for pollinators. Insects are a vital

How to grow great young indigenous gardeners

Encouraging children to enjoy gardening allows them to have fun outdoors while also learning about nature and biodiversity.

How to start growing succulents

For easy-care, colourful and dramatic planting, grow indigenous South African succulents in your garden or containers. Where would you look to

Pondoland’s medicinal plants treasures

To celebrate African Traditional Medicine Day on 31 August, Zoë Chapman Poulsen interviewed pioneering Pondoland conservationist

Making space for nature: How to create a bird-friendly garden

As we strive to house and feed a growing population, our worlds are becoming ever more built up. More people are becoming city dwellers in the concrete jungle

The Humble Spekboom: Climate Change Saviour or Overrated Fad?

This rather unassuming South African shrub has hit the news of late. The spekboom bandwagon has rolled into town and everyone is climbing on board, from travel magazines to municipalities, homeowners to game reserves.

Spectacular Spurflowers: Beautiful blooms for the shaded indigenous garden

Coming in a plethora of different shapes, sizes and colours, indigenous shade-loving Plectranthus can light up even the darkest corners of our gardens. Colours vary from white to pale pink to the deepest dark blues and purples.

Five reasons to welcome an Aloe into your garden

When the winter days are short and the weather is cold, Aloes cannot fail to bring warmth to your garden with their spectacular blooms.

Kirstenbosch Plant Fair: Growing Indigenous and Cultivating Community

In addition to this botanical bonanza, the event also served as an expo for various organisations. Experts from the Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers (CREW)

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Our plant conservation webinar: People, Plants and

The Leeuwenhof Estate served as the hub to bring p

Don’t be fooled by its common name – the Laven

This pretty succulent is in the news this week: It

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