Why South African gardens? South Africa has some 22000 species of plants- it is one of the world’s biodiversity ‘hotspots’ The range of habitats from high mountains to the coast offer varying climates which are home to an amazing diversity of plants including many which are unique.
The British Museum, in partnership with Kew Gardens, hosted a South African landscape during the summer months of 2010 to highlight some of the better known and less well known species, many of which are endangered.
Namaqualand in the Northern Cape is a semi-arid region; with a mass blooming of wild flowers in the spring after the winter rain.
Goegap Nature Reserve, near Springbok, Northern Cape is situated here.
Fynbos is in the Western Cape. Fynbos is an Afrikaans word meaning ‘fine bush’ (pronounced ‘fayn-bos’); many fynbos plants only germinate after the intense heat of a fire
Forest covers less than 0.25% of South Africa, it’s basically a narrow strip along the southern coast. One of the plants situated there is the Tree aloe – aloe barberae. This is Africa’s largest aloe, reaching up to 15 metres in height.
Many of the species are endangered due to urbanisation and invasive alien plants. 70% of the fynbos plants only grow in this region; Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank is working in partnership to safeguard this unique flora.
South African gardens in Britain – some Fynbos plants
Proteas, ericas and restios are characteristic plants of this region. Tough leaved evergreens that thrive in a climate of winter rainfall and summer drought.
Sugar bush, a member of the Protea species is well adapted to the semi arid conditions, whereas Elephant grass Restio (Chondropetalum elephantinum) which grows close to the coast, is equally tolerant of dry landscapes and marshy conditions.
Agapanthus umbellatus (African blue lily)
Even the pollen is lilac-blue on these well-known South African flowers.
They were recorded around 1882 by Marianne North, a British artist who travelled the world painting rare plants, some so rare that her botanical paintings were the first time the plants were documented.
These paintings can be seen at Kew gardens in the Marianne North Gallery
Confetti bush (Coleonema pulchellum)
The leaves of the confetti bush can be used as an insect repellent, although it is more famed for its covering of delicate flowers.
South African gardens in Britain – some Namaqualand plants
The Quiver tree
The Quiver tree -Aloe dichotama, or Kokerboom, is one of the aloes indigenous to South Africa that grows to tree like proportions. It has a distinctive forked branches.
Osteospernum, Gazania and Gerbera all used as bedding plants in the UK are native to South Africa, along the western coast in Namaqualand down to Cape Town.
Celandine leaved Pelargonium (Pelargonium fulgidum)
There are over 200 species of pelargonium native to South African gardens and in the wild. Celandine leaved Pelargonium is one of the few red flowered pelargonium species.
Sweet thorn (Acacia karroo)
Sweet thorn is one of South Africa’s most useful trees; it has a sweet tasting gum that seeps from the bark, hence its common name. The thorns are so strong they can be used as sewing needles; strong rope can be made from the inner bark; and the wood generally is used as a building material.
Sweet thorn seeds can maintain their viability, ie their ability to germinate, for long periods. Kew’s Millennium Bank has some which are over two hundred years old. When roasted, the seeds may be used as a substitute for coffee (I haven’t tried this, so not sure if the ‘kick’ is as good as regular coffee beans). Its yellow flowers, like those of other Acacia trees are attractive to bees; acacia blossom honey is delicious.
The Millennium Seed Bank, situated in Kew’s ‘home in the country’ at Wakehurst Place, played a crucial role in the preservation of endangered species in South Africa.
The rich biodiversity of South Africa is worth celebrating, in South Africa itself and in South African Gardens in Britain – at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, at Kew, at the British Museum and in our own British gardens.
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