Shrubs & Perennials - Landscaping & Flowering Plants

Sweet Viburnum (Viburnum sinensis) is one of Cape Town’s most reliable and fast-growing hedging plants, valued for its glossy evergreen leaves and dense, year-round growth.

Perfect for creating privacy screens or windbreaks, it thrives in Western Cape gardens, adapting easily to both clay and sandy soils.

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.

Clivia – Indigenous Spring Bloomer for Shade or Under Trees

The Clivia,also known as 'St. John's Lily'' is a beloved South African classic, ideal for planting beneath trees or in shaded spots where few other plants thrive. With vibrant trumpet-shaped blooms in spring and bold, strap-like leaves year-round, it makes a striking feature plant for any garden.

Once established,'Clivia' is low maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it perfect for Cape Town’s waterwise gardeners.

• Indigenous and shade-loving
• Spring-flowering with bold blooms
• Excellent in mass plantings or containers
• Grows well with minimal care
• Ideal for Western Cape’s winter rainfall gardens

Tulbaghia violacea, commonly known as Wild Garlic or Wildeknoffel, is a tough, clump-forming perennial that delivers colour and fragrance from midsummer to autumn. Its narrow leaves and tall stems carry clusters of violet flowers, creating a striking display when mass-planted in borders, pathways, or rockeries.

Beyond its beauty, Wild Garlic is edible — the leaves can be used as a mild substitute for garlic or chives in cooking. Plant in full sun or semi-shade in well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought-resistant, low-maintenance, and easy to grow, making it one of the most reliable indigenous perennials for Western Cape gardens.

 The Bird of Paradise is an unmistakable South African icon, admired for its bold, tropical foliage and brilliant orange-and-blue flowers. A focal plant in any landscape, it provides year-round greenery and dramatic colour when in bloom mainly during May to December.

Best grown in full sun to light shade, Strelitzia reginae is hardy, low-maintenance, and waterwise once established. Its architectural leaves make it equally striking in modern gardens, containers, or as a feature near a pool or patio.

This indigenous beauty is a wind-resistant plant and  suitable for coastal gardens.

Provided with lots of bright light with some direct sun, they can be successfully grown indoors.

Feed with compost in early spring before new growth begins and then fertilize during the growing season.

A quick-growing, magical, perennial shrub forming a lovely, rounded, dense bush. It has dark green, glossy leaves with intensely purple undersides and sprays of lavender flowers. Developed at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in South Africa. Indigenous. Flowers in autumn and spring. Morning sun is best. Ideal in pots or flower beds. 

Starry Wild Jasmine,also known as 'Boerejasmyn', is a  versatile semi-climber that can reach up to 3m in height or transform into a compact, tidy hedge when pruned. Its fragrant, white flowers with delicate pink undersides grace your garden from September to January.

Notably, the Starry Wild Jasmine is indigenous, promoting biodiversity, and its exquisite fragrance makes it a delightful choice for attracting pollinators and enhancing your garden's sensory experience.

 Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’ is an award-winning variety, crowned Plant of the Year at the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show. Bred in South Africa by the renowned De Wet breeders, it is celebrated as the most intensely coloured agapanthus available today.

From summer into early autumn, inky black buds open into large heads of deep black-purple flowers, held proudly above strong green foliage. Its exceptional colour and extended flowering season make it a true showpiece for any garden.

This vigorous, disease-resistant perennial is both heat and drought tolerant, thriving in full sun with well-drained soil. Ideal for borders, pots, and focal points, Agapanthus ‘Black Jack’ combines world-class breeding with practical garden performance.

The large-lobed, evergreen leaves of Philodendron'Hope',also known as 'Tree Philodendron', add a tropical flair to any space. This versatile beauty can be used as a solitary specimen, in lobbies, on patios or in the garden. An easy-care plant that filters toxins from the air when used indoors. Great in containers -indoors or outdoors. Plant Philodendron 'Hope' in well drained soil to ensure optimal growth.

Portulacaria Afra, also known as 'Spekboom', is an easy-to-grow indigenous plant typically reaching heights of 2 meters in garden settings. Its small, non-invasive root system makes it perfect for poolside or boundary planting. With its compact structure, it's an excellent choice for accent planting, bonsai enthusiasts and landscapers. Creates perfect hedges and garden borders and readily accepts regular pruning. Spekboom is a truly 'green' succulent playing a vital role in combating air pollution by acting as a carbon sponge, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The Australian Brush-Cherry (also known as Eugenia myrtifolia) is a popular plant for topiaries, hedging and screening. It makes a strong trimmed hedge and is a fast grower. Untrimmed it forms an excellent boundary wind break.  Small fluffy white flowers early summer are  followed by small, dark pink to red edible berries that will attract birds to the garden. Can grow in narrow areas between buildings due to its ability to adapt to light changing conditions.  Has a shallow root system. 

This plant thrives in full sun to semi-shade and responds well to pruning, making it perfect for formal hedges or sculpted shapes. It is suited to a range of soil types, provided they are well-draining, and benefits from regular watering, especially when young. Once established, it becomes moderately waterwise.

 Well adapted to coastal areas and windy conditions, the brush-cherry is a favourite among Cape gardeners for its neat appearance, easy maintenance, and all-season appeal.

Orange Jasmine,also known as 'Mock Orange', is a showstopper with its smooth,whitish bark and thick, round and curly foliage. Very suitable to use in containers or in mixed garden beds. Heavenly fragrant white flowers bloom in spring and autumn. The orange blossom fragrance alone makes it an essential for a small to medium-sized garden. The flowers of Orange Jasmine are also often used in flower arrangements.

Agapanthus 'Wilgenhof Blue',also known as 'African Lily', is a hardy agapanthus variety boasting medium-sized, strap-like leaves and stunning umbels of sky-blue flowers. These blossoms grace long stalks and bloom from December to April, making them perfect for cut flower arrangements.

They thrive in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. Ensure regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season. Deadhead spent flowers to encourage further blooming, and consider dividing the plant every few years to maintain its vigor. Agapanthus'Wilgenhof Blue' is a versatile beauty requiring minimal maintenance.

Magic Mona will delight with a profusion of large, beautiful purple flowers during Autumn. A compact grower. A perennial bee magnet to any garden. Ideal in pots or flower beds. Indigenous.

This popular decorative plant is grown for its abundance of tri-color, fragrant flowers in spring. The purple flowers soften to a lavender colour and finally fade to white. Fantastic when planted with azaleas & camellias. Also flowers in autumn.

A popular indigenous garden plant with variegated leaves and pinkish-mauve flowers in summertime. Very useful to fill difficult hot corners in your garden, as it is drought-resistant, but will flourish with regular watering. A perfect groundcover to cover large areas and also excellent used as borders or edging. The leaves and flowers are edible, and can be used in salads and other dishes.

Clusters of flowers cover this popular vine-like shrub for many months of the year. Often used for covering garden banks but can be trimmed beautifully for use in pots. Flowering mainly from November to May. Indigenous.

Spekboom'Grande' ,also known as Large-leaf Spekboom, has slightly larger leaves than the rest of its family. This versatile plant is considered by many to be a miracle plant and is highly regarded for its ability to fight climate change. This indigenous plant acts like a carbon sponge and statistics indicate that a Spekboom thicket is 10 times more effective per hectare in carbon fighting than any rainforest.

For care, provide well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Water sparingly, as it's drought-resistant. Spekboom'Grande' benefits by occasional pruning ,helping to maintain its shape and promote branching. 

This is a wonderful Salvia, compact and richly colored with vibrant, deep purple flowers. An abundant bloomer with a long flowering time. Makes a spectacular display when mass-planted in your garden. Can be used as container plant on patios, in borders and to add beautiful colour contrast to your garden. Low-maintenance and drought tolerant. Attracts bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden.

Summer Love' New Blue is a charming, low-growing Agapanthus variety that blooms early and continues to grace your garden with its fragrant, wispy, blue trumpet-shaped flowers throughout the entire summer. With its clump-forming strap-shaped leaves and robust stems, it's not only a delightful addition to your garden but also a potted favorite, thriving in full sunlight.

 Philodendron Selloum (Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum) is a bold foliage plant with large, glossy, deeply cut leaves.

In Western Cape gardens, it thrives in shade to semi-shade, adding a tropical feel to borders or patios. Indoors, it brings lush greenery to living spaces.

Water deeply but allow soil to drain well, and protect from frost in winter. A long-lived, statement plant for both gardens and large containers.

An Agapanthus that will cause fireworks in your garden with its large bursting flower heads. The bi-colour flowers are violet blue at the throat fading to pure white on the petal edges. The foliage is short and broad. Fireworks have a long flowering period and is ideal for borders and mixed containers. Flowers from mid to late summer. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil.

Can be mass-planted as a ground cover or used as a single accent plant. A graceful plant with long narrow arching leaves. It bears masses of beautiful lemon-yellow flowers with black-brown markings from August to February. Fast-growing and low maintenance. 

The Honey-Bell Bush is a beautiful, tall growing indigenous shrub with slender, rather loosely spreading branches that flowers profusely. This fast-growing, waterwise shrub benefits by regular pruning to encourage bushy growth. Flowers mainly in Spring. The Honey-Bell Bush can also be used to create a hedge and does equally well in patio pots.

This proudly indigenous plant is also commonly known as the 'Natal Plum' or 'Large Num-Num'. An extremely easy-to-grow, thorny shrub often used for hedges. It produces glossy, deep green leaves and highly fragrant,snowy white flowers in summer. The ornamental plump, round, crimson fruit appears in summer and autumn at the same time as the blooms.  A popular indigenous, evergreen choice for coastal gardens.                                                      Plant 1m apart for an impenetrable hedge.'Natal Plum' is easy to grow and low maintenance.                                                                                     

 This evergreen shrub resembles rosemary but lacks its fragrance and culinary value. It excels in coastal gardens, withstanding salt spray admirably. It thrives in sandy, well-drained soil and becomes relatively drought-tolerant once established, requiring less water than other plants. Additionally, it responds well to pruning, allowing you to shape it into beautifully pruned balls, hedges, or lollipop standards. During spring and summer, it adorns itself with dainty white or blue flowers.

The Conebush 'Jolly Joker' (Leucadendron salignum x laureolum) is a stunning variegated indigenous fynbos with colorful foliage that transforms from green to brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows in autumn and winter. This compact shrub produces excellent cut flowers and creates a vibrant focal point in water-wise gardens.

Plant in well-draining soil in full sun for best color development. Water moderately until established, then drought-tolerant. Perfect for coastal gardens and containers. Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage dense growth.

Agapanthus 'Mount Superior',also known as 'African Lily', is the brilliant pure white we recommend for your garden. A hardy and resilient choice that also does well in pots and  containers. A semi-evergreen shrub with a compact habit and white trumpet-shaped blooms in summer to early autumn.  Plant this elegant white Agapanthus in well-drained soil.

Grown for its exceptionally beautiful velvety silver foliage. A soft, vigorous shrub with roundish, aromatic (licorice) leaves covered in silver grey hairs. Blooms consist of tiny cream-white flowers from November to January. Ideal for containers, borders and as a groundcover.  Requires well-drained soil. Indigenous. 

A popular mass flowering plant that prefers acidic soil. They create spectacular color displays in the months when many other plants aren't - May through to October. 

An elegant, fast-growing evergreen shrub indigenous to South Africa. Ideal for semi-shade or filtered sun, it produces masses of mauve to white, bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer that attract birds, butterflies, and carpenter bees. Its glossy green leaves form a lush, informal screen—perfect for small gardens, along stream banks, or in containers.

Water wise, with non-invasive roots and a soft, graceful form, the River Bell is easy to prune and thrives in shaded spots. A top choice for adding gentle colour and movement to sheltered garden areas.

Highly recommended as a fast growing hedge plant, this scrambling shrub is also often used as a framework plant in flower beds. Expect a lively concert from honey bees and birds as they come to feast on the nectar. 

Neat compactly clustered foliage on arched fonds resembling a cat's tail. Looks great when planted in groups under trees. A hardy, evergreen, perennial. Tiny white, fragrant flowers in summer, followed by showy red berries from March that are attractive to birds. Easy to grow and indigenous. Can be grown as an indoor plant. It tolerates plenty of water but can handle drying out now and then.

Drought-resistant, evergreen shrubs and trees, with handsome, glossy foliage and fragrant, starry-white, jasmine-like flowers. Ornamental and edible, scarlet to crimson oval fruits are produced after flowering. Carissas are attractive, ornamental shrubs and make excellent hedges. Does well in coastal areas. Plant 1 m to form an impenetrable hedge, they have thorns. 

Thyme Buchu (Agathosma serpyllacea) is a charming indigenous fynbos shrub that brings authentic South African beauty to your garden. This aromatic evergreen produces masses of delicate white or pink flowers from autumn through winter, creating spectacular displays when most plants are dormant.

The fragrant foliage releases delightful thyme-like buchu scent when touched. This compact shrub handles salt spray and wind making it coastal tough. Ideal for pots and small spaces.

Plant in well-draining soil, full sun to partial shade. Minimal maintenance required - simply prune lightly after flowering.

 With glossy, cream-and-green variegated foliage, Coprosma ‘Marble Chips’ adds year-round colour to any garden. Naturally salt-tolerant, it’s ideal for Cape Town’s coastal gardens.

Grows into a dense shrub, perfect for screening, borders, or mixed beds. Low-maintenance and evergreen, it thrives in full sun and requires little more than occasional trimming to keep a neat shape.

This early-blooming agapanthus is compact and clump-forming, with light silvery-blue star-shaped blooms on strong stems. It's not only a beautiful compact indigenous filler for garden beds but also remarkably low-maintenance. Flowers from mid-spring on strong stems, making it an excellent choice for hassle-free gardening.

Buxus ‘Faulkner’ is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub, widely used in landscaping and formal garden design. Known for forming exceptionally dense hedges, it’s often chosen for maze gardens, borders, and low structural plantings.

With its rich green foliage, tidy growth habit, and excellent tolerance for shaping, it’s ideal for Cape Town gardens where structure, elegance, and low maintenance are key. 

• Forms one of the densest hedges you can grow
  
• Tolerates heat and light drought better than many box varieties
• Best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil
• Prune regularly for shape and compact growth
• Excellent in pots, borders, paths, or parterres

Although it grows on the slower side, the reward is a long-lived, highly sculptable hedge that adds structure and polish to any space.

An excellent plant for potting that can be pruned severely to make a gorgeous 'lollipop'. New leaves arrive in a reddish hue and change to green with aging. Choose a large pot with plenty of holes in the bottom. Use a good potting soil with generous handfuls of sand added to increase porosity.

Hydrangeas are also known as' Christmas Roses', because they start flowering during the Christmas season. Hydrangea Endless Summer Blue are undoubtedly among the showiest flowers in the summer garden, with large blue mopheads of pom-pom flowers. The soil acidity determines the colour of the flowers. Endless Summer Blue Christmas roses add vibrant, season-long colour and beauty to gardens and make excellent cut flowers.

Laurustinus Lucidum,also known as 'Wild Laurel', is widely considered to be a 'Golden oldie'. This versatile plant remains popular for its ability to be a perfect specimen for use in small gardens, in pots and even on balconies. In late winter flattish heads of pink flower buds appear, opening into tiny white flowers. Clusters of small metallic-blue berries mature in autumn. 'Wild Laurel' is a  popular evergreen choice for hedging and also often grown as a compact standard tree. 

The Yellow Spekboom is an indigenous plant with bright yellow-green, rounded succulent leaves and a reddish stem. For gardening purposes the plant is grown for its striking leaf colour and water-wise attributes. The leaves are edible and the plant has marvelous air-purifying qualities. It helps fight air pollution in that it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, acting like a carbon sponge. Easy to grow and low-maintenance. It works well in hot, dry rockeries or grouped with other succulents in drought-prone areas.Yellow Spekboom happily provides bright evergreen leaf colour amongst plants receiving regular watering.

Purple and bloom is a bit more compact than Black & bloom and it grows more vigorously. Heat tolerant and hardy. Will attract birds & butterflies to the garden.

This versatile, low maintenance cultivar makes an excellent house plant, and is also ideal for hanging baskets or as a ground cover in the garden. In summer tiny white flowers are followed by attractive, bright red berries. Indigenous.  Can be grown as an indoor plant. It tolerates plenty of water but can handle drying out now and then.

A low-maintenance flowering perennial from the daisy family, which flowers enthusiastically for many months, can be used as a ground cover and to soften edges. These white-pink daisy-flowers will invite butterflies to your garden.

 A resilient shrub boasting lush green foliage and magnificent bursts of pink or white blooms each spring. Elevate your garden effortlessly with its low-maintenance charm. Shape it into the hedge of your dreams or let it flourish in pots or beds.

An evergreen sub-shrub with vibrant, purple-magenta, pea-like flowers, adorning a compact mound of gray-green foliage for much of the year.

Flowering quite early and all through the summer, 'Summer Love White' is a compact, low growing beauty with clump-forming strap-shaped leaves and it bears wispy, pure white trumpet-shaped flowers. Its strong stems make it a gardener's favourite for use in pots and containers. This ever-blooming indigenous perennial should have a spot in every garden. 'Summer Love White' is suitable for sunny to semi-shade positions.

Known as Christmas roses because this is when they flower. Hydrangeas are undoubtedly among the showiest flowers in the summer garden, with a mop of pom-pom flowers. The soil acidity determines the colour of the flowers. Great cut flowers. Endless Summer is an outstanding variety as it blooms, as its name says, endlessly.

Gossip Queen is your go-to-flower for all the latest garden rumours.  Her stunning orange petals and electric pink centre will bring all the Hollywood glamour to your garden. Flowers repeatedly in summer. Plant in well-drained soil. A colourful tropical stunner.

A compact flowering shrub, with masses of salmon coloured upright flowerheads. They are tough, versatile and ideal for a sunny spot in the garden.

A fantastic rebloomer with a very long flowering period. A fast growing, medium-sized agapanthus. The blooms are dark blue with a purple vein and will flower from early to late summer.

A compact and free flowering Alstroemeria, bearing a profusion of striking purple flowers. Ideal for small gardens, beddings and patio containers. Also wonderful as cut-flowers, thanks to a very long vase life.  Do not cut the flowers but rather pull out the entire flower stem from the ground as this encourages the plant to form new shoots at the base.

This is a toughie. Hence its name, "cast iron plant". It tolerates dark areas and is often recommended when looking for a deep shade plant. It tolerates draughts and general neglect but it obviously will respond better to more favourable treatment. This very attractive, opulent plant with dark green and shining leaves is also a wonderful indoor plant. Occasional flowers are purple and will appear at ground level. Do not overwater and allow your plant to dry out completely between watering. When used as an indoor plant, rather sponge the leaves with tepid water and do not use leaf-shine. 

A beautiful, vigorous plant of medium height with bright yellow daisy flowers  The leaves are finely divided and the bushes are small and neat.

A compact flowering shrub, with masses of orange coloured upright flowerheads. They are tough, versatile and ideal for a sunny spot in the garden. An abundance of flowers in summer and autumn.

A compact flowering shrub, with masses of bright yellow upright flowerheads. They are tough, versatile and ideal for a sunny spot in the garden.