Re: Planting something native


-----Original Message-----


>>Another frustrating thing about wanting native plants is that they are
>>frequently not identified as such
>
>The same happens in Australia - but quite often because people would not
>buy them if they knew they were native. Many people were turned off
>natives in the 1970's when they were widely advertised as 'low
>maintenance' - so people planted them and then left them to their own
>devises and what they ended up with were ugly poorly grown plants!
>
>Susan George
>McCrae, Victoria, Australia


Susan -
   I think you're touching on a real problem here. - namely, the vast
majority of plants adapted to a Mediterranean climate don't actually look
the greatest for most of the year. The period of summer dormancy leaves a
lot of it looking dry & not attractive. This is especially true of a lot of
South African natives.
Theres a strong push here with waterwise gardens to buy indigenous & people
will come & have a good look at whats on offer then turn away. As lovely as
a Protea may be, it will only flower for a month or so & then makes a rather
shabby bush the rest of the time. Land is under heavy pressure now &
gardens, if people have them at all, are very small so they're looking for
something which is attractive all year round & preferably flowers the whole
time as well.
A lot of the indigenous material only works in larger gardens where they can
provide a framework for the beds & give a seasonal show. Its then a
selection of different plants chosen for their overlapping flowering times
which gives a sense of change & interest in the display.
Kirstenbosch Gardens are creating displays of appropriate plant material &
their arrangement so the average home gardener can transpose the ideas but
they're still an aquired taste & not everyone is attuned to the uniqueness
of their own environment to appreciate them.

To me, it is the unique survival strategies & hardiness of these plants,
with their ability to still give the most glorious displays, which make them
 so much more worthwhile.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph SA 021 7904253 Fax SA 021 7905139 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index