1. P. O. Box 991
Ifafi
0260
+2782 801 1741 (cell)
+2712 259 1423(fax)
wildflowernursery@vodamail.co.za
Indigenous gardening elements
Indigenous gardening – what do we mean?
In
this
article,
the
origin
of
indigenous
plants
suitable
for
gardening
purposes
in
the
Highveld
area
will
be
discussed.
The
idea
is
quite
simple
–
use
plants
in
your
garden
that
occurs
in
Southern
Africa
that
is
adapted
to
the
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.
To
understand
the
implications
from
a
gardening
perspective
more
clearly,
let
me
introduce
the
concept
of
Biomes.
Biomes in South Africa
A
biome
is
defined
as
an
area
where
the
vegetation
is
fairly
uniform
and
adapted
to
that
particular
environment.
Most
of
us
have
a
natural
“feeling”
for
this
–
we
talk
about
the
Bushveld,
the
Karoo
and
Fynbos
etc.
Let
us
look
briefly
at
some
of
these
plant
communities
or
biomes.
The
Grassland
Biome
is
found
chiefly
on
the
high
central
plateau
of
South
Africa,
and
the
inland
areas
of
KwaZuluNatal
and
the
Eastern
Cape.
The
topography
is
mainly
flat
and
rolling,
but
includes
the
escarpment
itself.
Altitude
varies
from
near
sea
level
to
2
850
m
above
sea
level.
In
the
grasslands,
trees
are
virtually
absent,
except
in
a
few
localized
habitats.
Bulbs
and
other
plants
with
an
underground
rootstock
are
often
abundant.
Frosts,
fire
and
grazing
maintain
the
grass
dominance
and
prevent
the
establishment
of
trees.
The
Grassland
Biome
is
considered
to
have
an
extremely
high
biodiversity,
second
only
to
the
Fynbos
Biome.
Rare
plants
are
often
found
in
the
grasslands,
especially
in
the
2. escarpment
area.
Most
of
these
plants
are
adapted
to
survive
grazing
and
fire
and
are
therefore
well
adapted
to
gardening
conditions
The
Savanna
Biome
is
the
largest
Biomes,
occupying
over
one-‐third
the
area
of
South
Africa.
lt
is
well
developed
over
the
Lowveld
and
Kalahari
region
of
South
Africa
and
is
also
the
dominant
vegetation
in
Botswana,
Namibia
and
Zimbabwe.
It
is
characterized
by
a
grassy
ground
layer
with
disjunct
scattered
trees
or
shrubs.
The
local
vegetation
may
be
known
as
Shrubveld,
Woodland
or
Bushveld
depending
on
the
dominant
upper
layer.
Most
of
the
Savannah
plants
survive
fire,
drought
and
grazing
and
are
therefore
also
well
adapted
to
gardening
conditions.
In
our
area,
the
Grassland
Biome
and
the
Savannah
Biome
meet.
This
implies
that
many
plants
from
both
these
biomes
are
well
adapted
to
our
environment.
(In
practice,
it
has
also
been
found
that
plants
from
the
Thicket
Biome
from
the
Eastern
Cape
are
also
very
well
adapted
to
gardening
conditions).
Where
such
major
plant
types
meet,
other
interesting
phenomena
also
occur.
There
are
plants
that
only
occur
in
this
transitional
area
and
nowhere
else.
(In
our
case,
the
most
widely
known
is
Aloe
peglerae
that
is
endemic
to
the
Magaliesberg
region).
Obviously,
many
other
environmental
factors
should
be
considered
before
you
choose
plants
for
your
garden,
such
as
soil
type,
temperature,
aspect
and
so
on,
but
at
least
the
basket
is
enormous.
Plants suitable for the Highveld
There
are
many
plants
from
the
three
Biomes
that
can
be
grown
in
our
area.
In
later
articles,
this
will
be
discussed
in
more
detail.
What
must
be
borne
in
mind
is
that
local
climate
can
vary
considerably
and
must
be
taken
into
account
when
plants
are
selected.
For
instance,
in
the
central
valley
south
of
the
Magaliesberg
frost
can
be
severe
whereas
only
three
kilometers
away
at
the
slopes
of
the
mountain,
frost
is
a
rarity.
Endemic
plants
that
are
well
adapted
to
gardening
conditions
are
the
corkbush,
Mundulea
sericea,
common
hook
thorn,
Acacia
caffra
and
the
beauty
of
early
spring,
the
wild
pear
Dombeya
rotundifolia.
Plants
suitable
for
Highveld
conditions
will
be
discussed
in
greater
detail
in
later
articles.
Please
tell
us
some
of
your
experiences
or
indigenous
plants
that
you
have
grown
successfully
in
your
garden.
Dr
Johan
Wentzel
can
be
contacted
at
082
801
1741
or
wildflowernursery@vodamail.co.za.
