Invasive garden plants and their alternatives

There are laws pertaining to invasive plants in South Africa and even penalties attached. However the provincial and local conservation prefer to obtain the cooperation of people in the removal of prohibited plants.

Having said that and aside from the law as it stands it is also wise to remove the invaders as they do have a detrimental effect on our ecology. Just look at the huge stands of Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) in the Western Cape. A formidable task to eliminate these trees as their seed have a forty year viability so it is not long after you have cleared a tract of land when lo and behold there are the saplings all over again.

Here are some alternatives to invasive species:

Category 1

Butterfly orchid tree (Bauhinia purpurea)

Alternative:

pride of de Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii), wild gardenia (Rothmania capensis)
or Cape stock rose (Sparmannia Africana)

Ginger lilies (Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium flavescens, Hedychium gardenerianum)

Alternative:

Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrisflora) or cannas.


Wild Morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) or morning glory (Ipomoea indica or Ipomoea purpurea)

Alternative:

Convolvulus sabatius which is a perennial groundcover with small blue or white flowers; black eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) or Ipomoea albivenia.

Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Alternative:

Dietes grandiflora, Louisiana iris or bearded iris.

Erect sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata / cordifolia)

Alternative:

Leather leaf (Rumohra adiantiformis) Todea barbata (tree fern type) Ptreidium aquilinum, Asparagus virgatus, and A.densiflorus and Blechnum punctatum.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) (for the horse owner this is deadly for horses should they ingest the plant.)

Alternative:

Polygala myrtifolia both indigenous and non indigenous Salvias. Anisodontia julii and A.capensis;
Cleodendrum myracoides and indigenous hibiscus, Hibiscus callaphyllus or Hibiscus
diversifolius.

Prickly pear varieties (Opuntia species)

Alternative:

Aloe species depending on location, Euphorbia species, Crassula species, Cotyledon orbiculata (pigs ear) Erythrina humeana, Erythrina zeyheri.

Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) or purple granadilla (Passiflora edulis)

Alternative:

Pseudogynosis chenopoides, Senecio macroglossus or Mondia whitei.

Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)

Alternative:

Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis), Tabebuia rosea.

Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)

Alternative:

Zinnia hybrids, Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona sun’ or Rudbeckia purpurea.

Only Category 1 plants are listed above. For more information on the various categories and lists of plants go to:

www.biodiversityexplorer.org/plants/weeds_and_invaders/index.htm

www.dwaf.gov.za/wfw/legal

www.agis.agric.za/agisweb/wip

or obtain a plant list by emailing:

declaredweedsandinvaderplants@inda.agric.za

or a Booklet, Cara legislation made easy has been produced by the Department of Agriculture at 0800 005 376 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 005 376 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Watch this space for more info on indigenous plants and the invaders to watch out for.

Now is the Time.

March to May is the time to buy and plant all those incredible root tubers as we await our winter rains along with a drop in temperature.

There are many indigenous bulbs to choose from so here is a list for your enjoyment.

Chinkerinchees (Ornithogalum spp.)



These elegant spring bulbs with their snow white sprays will still be showing off after other spring bulbs have ceased to flower so plant then toward the end of March and in April,
Plant them in full sun (5cm deep and 10cm apart) among other indigenous plants such as wild garlic (Tulbachia violacea) kingfisher daisies (Felecia ameloides) Namaqualand daisies (Arctotus) to create a stunning indigenous flower garden. Flowering time will be in October and November.

Cape violets (Lachenalia)


There are a variety of new style cultivars with their long flower stems that carry clusters of jewel coloured flowers that range from orange, yellow, red, blue purple, white to soft green. The foliage is attractive with dark red spots.
You can plant them 3cm deep and 5cm apart (flowering June – July) in full sun or light shade from mid April onwards in the garden or pots.
A good tip is to mark where you plant your bulbs so that you do not later disturb them by accident.


Wand flowers ( Ixia)


These fine spray flowered plants are of the large Iris family and apart from Mother Natures wild flowers there are also some attractive hybrids that you can plant.
In their growth season the bulbs push up 60cm long flower stems covered with star shaped flowers in shades of purple, lilac, cream, white, baby pink, orange and green with, in many cases, a dark contrasting colour.
Plant clusters 5cm deep and 5cm apart in full sun and by the by they also are long lasting as cut flowers. Flowering in September and October.


Freesias


These must be among the world’s most popular hothouse cut flowers. These indigenous bulbous plants produce fragrant flowers ranging from snow white, cream, bright red, purple and golden yellow in single colours.
Plant in full sun 5cm deep and 7cm apart if you want short flowers stems or in dappled shade where they will stretch their slender stems and will need some slight support to keep the flower heads erect.
They are also quite at home in window boxes or garden pots so you can place them where everyone can enjoy their fragrance.
And once they have flowered in July through to September they can be carefully lifted and stored until the following season.

Harlequin flowers (Sparaxis)


These are Iris family yet again that look like wand flowers, baboon flowers, blazing stars, wine cups and evening flowers. The Harlequin has been crossed and cloned thoroughly and so you can plant these cheap bulbs with confidence knowing you will receive a long lasting colour explosion in September. Plant them 5cm deep and 7cm apart in full sun.

Many of our indigenous bulbs are to be found in the Western Cape and therefore become active with our winter rains. You can of course simulate this in your garden by watering every four days really well for about forty minutes with a sprinkler.

Although bulbs drink a lot of water they grow naturally in sandy soil with good drainage so remember this when potting by adding lots of compost and even river sand if your soil contains an excess of clay.

A good mulch blanket of compost, bark chips, grass cuttings or even peach pips will ensure that soil temperatures remain constant.

And finally, for a breath taking effect plant large numbers of the same bulbs together rather than small numbers of a wider variety.

Things to do in March

General care in the garden:

Dig up Agapanthus that have been in the same bed of a couple of years, divide the root stock and replant them in well drained soil with superphosphate and loads of compost.

Do the same with day lilies (Hermerocallis aurantiaca), summer red hot pokers (Kniphofia praecox), Shasta daisises (Aster novi-belgil), white arum lilies (Zanthedeschia), blue salvias (Salvia Africana-caerulea) and golden rods (Solidago virguarea).

Vegetables:

Sow the following vegetables: beetroot, carrots, lettuce, onions, parsnips, turnips, leeks , radishes and mangoes in syrup. Just kidding. Broccoli, cauliflower, celery and cabbage.

Flowering annuals:

Sow sweet peas (Lathyrus odorata), Namaqualand daisies (Dimophotheaca sinuate), Nemsia, Clndula officinalis. Larkspurs (Consolida ambigua)

Feeding and watering:

Pay attention to your camellias and azaleas by applying a thick layer of compost around your shrubs and water them regularly.
Feed your lawn with 3:2:1 fertiliser and water regularly. Fruit trees can be given a last helping of 2:3:2 with about 2kg per tree.

Plant bulbs:

Chincherichees (Ornithogalum), baboon flowers (Babiana) freesisas, Dutch irises, grape hyacinths (Muscari) and wandflowers (Ixia.

Or of course you could set up the hammock and with a good book and tall glass of juice wait until next year.