Indigenous Gardening
The whole dynamics of grassland ecology ensure that shady garden spots are kept to a minimum. What fires do not burn down, the grazers will level. The only places where shade-loving plants are encountered are amongst rock outcrops, in some riverine vegetation, and some southern slopes of mountains.
Read the rest of entry »
When the term “Bushveld” is heard, it invokes memories of the Waterberg, Kruger National Park and too many other remarkable areas to name here.
It normally refers to vegetation consisting of sparse trees with an open canopy and some undergrowth that includes perennials, bulbs, succulents and grasses. In most areas, frost is absent or very light. Rainfall is moderate. Soils are not very rich in organics and is quite often sandy, although not always.
The plants featured in this article have been tried and tested and will do well in the Grassland Gardens of South Africa. Many of them will also grow in other regions and the lists supplied here are by no means exhaustive.
When driving through the waving grasses on the Highveld, the beautiful bulbs that grow amongst them often go unnoticed since the grasses dwarf them. But with a bit of practice, you will at least spot some of them. The best way, of course, is to take a walk….
The so-called pre-rain flowers are most conspicuous in areas that have been burnt early in winter. Most of them sprout from a woody rootstock. This “underground storage” is a protection against the ravages of fire but is also a food reservoir. That is why they can sprout and flower even before the first rains. Even grasses store their food in their roots during winter.
In an environmentally friendly garden, it is important to create different “layers” of plant growth to simulate the habitat that occurs in nature. The shrub “layer” forms the middle layer that creates a habitat for birds that feed on the ground. One bird worthy of having in your garden is Burchell’s coucal that loves this kind of habitat.
What is not known to many people is that the perennials and bulbs that occur in the Grassland Biome are only surpassed by the plants from the Fynbos Biome. There really is a tremendous variety to choose from.
When you want to create a garden or landscape that is eco-friendly the idea is quite simple – use plants in your garden that occurs in Southern Africa that is adapted to your local conditions.
Ideally, one should use endemic plants, that is, plants that occur naturally in the surrounding areas. In this regard, we really live in an extraordinary and exciting environment where two major plant communities overlap. To understand the implications from a gardening perspective more clearly, let me introduce the concept of Biomes.
Get the latest updates in your email box automatically.
Your nickname:
Email address:
Subscribe