Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is the world’s most iconic festive plant, loved for its bold red bracts that brighten homes and gardens during the holiday season. With lush green foliage beneath its fiery display, it brings instant cheer and elegance to indoor spaces. In Cape Town’s Western Cape climate, Poinsettias thrive as seasonal indoor highlights and can also be grown outdoors in frost-free spots, where they develop into striking shrubs.

Flowering from late November through January, Poinsettias are perfectly timed to colour the festive season. Their long-lasting bracts hold well indoors, making them a favourite for Christmas décor, table arrangements, and gifting.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Brilliant red bracts that define the festive season 
• Flowers naturally in Cape Town from late November to January
•  Perfect for indoor décor, table displays, and gifting
•  Can grow into a shrub outdoors in frost-free gardens
• Easy-care once established, with long-lasting colour
• Brings instant cheer and warmth to homes during summer holidays

Planting & Care:

Place your Poinsettia in bright, indirect light indoors, or in a sheltered, sunny outdoor position if planting in the garden. Water moderately, keeping the soil lightly moist but never soggy, and allow excess water to drain freely. Avoid cold drafts, as Poinsettias prefer warm, stable conditions. Feed lightly during the growing season with a balanced fertiliser to encourage healthy foliage and bract colour. After flowering, prune back lightly to maintain shape and encourage fresh growth for the next season.

The “flowers” of the Poinsettia are actually colourful bracts, not petals. The true flowers are the tiny yellow buds in the center, so when you see bracts turning red, it’s the plant’s clever way of attracting pollinators!

Coppertop Viburnum is a fast-growing hedging plant, ideal for low maintenance gardens.  Perfect for creating privacy screens or windbreaks, it thrives in Western Cape gardens, adapting easily to both clay and sandy soils.

Viburnum coppertop has lovely foliage with new growth in shades of dark maroon to copper. 

Plant in full sun to semi-shade and water well during establishment. Regular trimming will keep it lush and compact. This versatile shrub can be shaped into an evergreen hedge, trained as a small tree, or used in large containers.

Bougainvillea ‘Smarty Pants’ is a bold and cheeky climber that splashes your garden with vibrant magenta bracts and lush green foliage. Perfect for Cape Town’s sunny climate, it thrives with minimal fuss and rewards you with a dazzling display almost year-round. Whether trained on a trellis, spilling over a wall, or brightening up a container, this bougainvillea adds instant drama and joy.

Why You’ll Love It

• Striking magenta bracts that create a tropical feel.
• Thrives in Cape Town’s hot, dry summers with little water.
• Fast-growing climber for walls, fences, and pergolas.
• Low-maintenance once established, practically carefree.
• Attracts pollinators and adds a burst of colour to any space.

Planting & Care

Plant your bougainvillea in full sun to unlock its brightest colours and most abundant blooms. Use well-draining soil and water deeply but sparingly, allowing the soil to dry between drinks. A light feeding during the growing season keeps it vigorous, while pruning after flowering helps shape and encourage new shoots. Once established, it’s remarkably drought-tolerant, making it a perfect fit for Cape Town’s summer heat.

Did you Know?

Bougainvillea’s vivid magenta “flowers” are actually bracts. The true blooms are tiny and white, tucked inside. Train ‘Smarty Pants’ over a pergola and you’ll create a living canopy of colour that doubles as shade for summer gatherings.yes

Agapanthus 'Wilgenhof Blue' is a hardy, evergreen perennial that produces stunning clusters of rich blue flowers on tall stems, perfect for creating dramatic displays in water-wise gardens and mass plantings throughout the Western Cape.

Why You'll Love It:
• Hardy, evergreen perennial with stunning rich blue flower clusters
• Fast-growing, coastal-hardy plant
• Thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil
• Excellent choice for borders, containers, and large-scale landscaping
• Reliable blooms and drought tolerance
• Striking blue flowers make excellent cut flowers
• Beautiful contrast in mixed perennial plantings
• Perfect for water-wise gardens

Planting & Care:
Plant 80cm-1m apart for mass plantings or use as specimen plants in containers and garden beds. Feed annually in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer to encourage vigorous growth and abundant flowering.

Learn more about successful coastal gardening or discover water-wise gardening techniques for creating beautiful, drought-tolerant landscapes with plants like Agapanthus.