Shade plants for summer

I HAVE just spent the past six weeks in the Western and Northern Cape enjoying the beauty of spring in Namaqualand and visiting a few gardens in Cape Town.

It is fascinating to see how plants adapt to the harsh climatic conditions in these regions and how gardening in Durban is so much easier. Gardeners always joke that you can literally put a stick in the ground in Durban and it will grow, which is true in many ways when you live in the tropics.

The selection of plants for different light conditions is something most gardeners get wrong, which is often the reason many plants die during the summer months. The best way to find out what grows in the different light conditions is to visit our nature reserves scattered around Durban, which generally house many interesting shade-tolerant plants.

It is important to select those plants that are naturally adapted to shady conditions as putting shade plants in full sun will damage the plants, as will putting sun-loving plants in full shade.

We have a huge palette of plants that flower and grow in shade, and knowing these plants will make gardening in the shade so much easier.

How often have I seen Clivias growing in full sun that are sunburnt and dying, which is a tragedy for this magnificent plant, which grows naturally in deep shade.

Some plants grow in sun and shade, including one of the favourite plants used in most gardens and known as the wild iris or rain plant, Dietes grandiflora.

A shrub that flowers from early to late spring and is adaptable to sun and shade is known as Mackaya bella or forest bell-bush. Its specific name, bella, meaning beautiful, is a tribute to its large white to lightly purple bellshaped flowers. It’s not a large plant but large enough to make an impact in any garden, reaching between 3-4m.

It flowers mostly in late winter to early spring, but it can flower a few times a year. It prefers the subtropical conditions of Durban and does not like cold, frosty weather. It prefers to grow in shady conditions. In full sun this shrub will wilt and burn. If the leaves start to turn yellow, it is getting too much direct sunlight.

Try to select shade-loving plants that flower at different times of the year. This creates interest in your garden and provides food and nectar for butterflies and birds. Many of the plants will produce seed once they

have flowered and been pollinated, which adds to the attraction of the plants, plus it increases the insect and birdlife in your garden. Birds will feed on the seeds which they then disperse, not just in your garden but other gardens around your area.

A good example is the blood lily, Scadoxus puniceus, which is a bulb that flowers in spring with a head of bright red flowers. These flowers are pollinated by bees. They then turn to seed which the birds feed on. Birds then disperse this seed in your garden and increase the number of plants.

Here is a selection of trees and shade-loving plants that you can add to your garden:

Trees: Acokanthera oppositifolia (poison bush), Dracaena aletriformis (large-leaved dragon tree), Pavetta lanceolata (brides bush), Peddiea Africana (poison olive), Psychotria capensis (black bird berry) ,Rothmannia globosa (September bells) and Xylotheca kraussiana (African dogrose).

Shrubs: Carissa bispinosa (forest num num), Duvernoia adhatodoides (pistol bush), Mackaya bella (river bells), Metarungia longistrobus (northern orange-lips), Plectranthus ecklonii (spur flower) and Plectranthus zuluensis (Zulu spur flower).

Groundcovers: Asystasia gangetica (wild foxglove), Bulbine natalensis (broad-leaf Bulbine), Chlorophytum bowkeri (hen and chicken), Chlorophytum krookianum (giant Chlorophytum), Crassula multicava (fairy crassula) and Dietes grandiflora (wild iris).

Bulbs: Agapanthus praecox, Clivia miniata, Crocosmia aurea, Haemanthus albiflos (paint brush), Scadoxus puniceus

(blood lily) and Setaria megaphylla (bristle grass).

When planting, make sure you prepare the ground with well-decomposed organic matter (compost). This must be turned into the soil to ensure it is spread evenly. Rake the area evenly and add some form of protection from

erosion if you have a steep garden.

First plant your form plants which can be either trees or a large aloe. When you plant, dig a hole that is slightly larger than the size of the plant bag or pot. Mix in some compost and fertiliser and place the plant in the

hole. Make sure the top of the root ball with soil is at the same height as the top of the hole or slightly higher. If planted too deep the stem will rot. If planted too high the plant’s root ball will dry out.

Once planted, press the soil down on either side of the plant to compact the soil. If possible, leave a small cup to hold the water.

Water well. Make sure you have a sprinkler that does not cause the water to run off, causing erosion. Water at least once every three days to ensure the new plants and roots receive sufficient water.

Take some mulch in the form of leaves or chipped bark and place on the surface of the newly planted area. This holds in the moisture, prevents weed growth and soil erosion.

Happy gardening!