WHAT TO PLANT WHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA
Spring & Summer Planting Guide
Gardening in a Changing Climate
Our climate is changing, and so is the way we garden. Hotter temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, drought and
more unpredictable weather mean that choosing the right plant for the right place is becoming increasingly
important.
At Village Gardens Online Nursery, we are very aware of global warming and the effect our changing climate could
have on the gardens of the future if we don’t start planting more thoughtfully today.
But climate-conscious gardening does not mean your garden has to be indigenous only. We love and encourage
South African indigenous plants, but we also believe that carefully selected Mediterranean and exotic plants have
an important place in our gardens, provided they are non-invasive and suited to the climate and conditions in which
they are planted.
And, as always, we are passionate about supporting our precious pollinators.
Right plant. Right region. Right climate. A garden that gives back.
KEY: POLLINATOR = pollinator-friendly | WATER-WISE = drought tolerant once established
WESTERN CAPE
Winter rainfall – hot, dry summers – Mediterranean conditions
The Western Cape deserves much more than the usual list of Agapanthus and Lavender. Here we can combine
Cape and fynbos plants with Mediterranean and other carefully selected species that appreciate sunshine, good
drainage and our dry summer conditions.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Salvia chamelaeagnea – Rough Blue Sage [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
A Western Cape gem. Beautiful blue flowers, aromatic foliage and naturally suited to our regional conditions.
2. Salvia lanceolata – Rusty Sage [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Grey-green aromatic foliage and unusual flowers. A fascinating Cape Salvia and a wonderful alternative to the varieties everybody already knows.
3. Lobostemon fruticosus – Pajama Bush [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
A beautiful Cape shrub with masses of blue to mauve flowers and a natural affinity for winter-rainfall conditions.
4. Crassula coccinea – Red Crassula [WATER-WISE]
Brilliant scarlet summer flowers above succulent foliage. Fantastic among rocks, gravel and other water-wise planting.
5. Pelargonium cucullatum – Hooded-leaf Pelargonium [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
A wonderful Cape species with aromatic foliage and far more character than a standard bedding Pelargonium.
6. Pelargonium sidoides – Black Pelargonium [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Dark burgundy flowers make this an unusual addition to a sunny garden.
7. Cotyledon orbiculata – Pig’s Ear [WATER-WISE]
Sculptural succulent foliage and striking flower stems. Excellent for contemporary water-conscious planting.
8. Anchusa capensis – Cape Forget-me-not [POLLINATOR]
Those intense blue flowers bring something completely different to a spring garden.
9. Lasiospermum [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
A lesser-known indigenous choice for gardeners wanting to discover plants beyond the usual nursery favourites.
10. Gypsophila cerastioides – Alpine Baby’s Breath
A delicate little groundcover with masses of small white flowers. Lovely between rocks, along paths or spilling from containers.
11. Scabiosa ‘Fama White’ [POLLINATOR]
Large elegant pincushion flowers give a softer cottage-garden feel while fitting beautifully into mixed planting.
12. Gaura ‘Little Janie’ [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Compact and airy, with flowers that dance in the breeze. Brilliant for creating movement.
13. Hylotelephium spectabile – Showy Stonecrop [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Succulent foliage helps store moisture while broad flower heads provide a completely different flower form.
14. Festuca – Blue Fescue [WATER-WISE]
Fine blue-grey foliage gives colour and texture without depending on flowers.
15. Erysimum – Wallflower [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Long-flowering and particularly useful when we want nectar and colour over an extended period.
16. Artemisia – Wormwood [WATER-WISE]
Beautiful silver aromatic foliage and perfect for creating a Mediterranean-style feel.
17. Erigeron – Mexican Fleabane [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Tiny daisy flowers spilling over walls and paving create a wonderfully relaxed Mediterranean look.
18. Salvia ‘Daniel’s Dream’ [POLLINATOR]
Hardy and beautiful, but from our own experience at Village Gardens, not a plant for prolonged extreme heat. Give it some relief from the hottest afternoon conditions.
19. Plectranthus ‘Mona Magenta’ [POLLINATOR]
Not every Western Cape garden is full sun. This is a wonderful choice for a cooler, protected semi-shaded position.
20. Gaura ‘Belleza’ [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Another wonderful way of bringing movement, softness and long-lasting flowers into a sunny mixed border.
GAUTENG & HIGHVELD
Summer rainfall – thunderstorms – hot summers – cold, dry winters
Gauteng gives us a completely different planting opportunity. Spring brings warmth and the beginning of the main growing season, while plants also need to cope with much colder winter conditions than those on the subtropical coast.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Miscanthus sinensis
Tall, architectural ornamental grass that comes alive through the summer growing season.
2. Pennisetum ‘Hameln’
Soft bottlebrush flower heads bring movement to a summer border.
3. Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’
A wonderfully upright architectural grass for a contemporary Highveld garden.
4. Helictotrichon sempervirens – Blue Oat Grass
Blue-grey foliage provides year-round structure and contrast.
5. Aristida junciformis – Ngongoni Three-awn Grass
A South African grass that gives gardens a softer, more natural landscape character.
6. Leucanthemum ‘Victoria Secret’ [POLLINATOR]
Fresh white daisy flowers are perfect among ornamental grasses and summer perennials.
7. Echinacea [POLLINATOR]
A classic summer-rainfall perennial with distinctive central cones and excellent wildlife-garden character.
8. Scabiosa ‘Fama White’ [POLLINATOR]
Beautiful pincushion flowers for a sunny perennial border.
9. Japanese Anemone [POLLINATOR]
A lovely later-season perennial that helps extend interest beyond the main summer flowering rush.
10. Agastache [POLLINATOR]
Aromatic foliage and upright flower spikes make it a strong pollinator choice.
11. Gaura [POLLINATOR]
Long-flowering, airy and particularly effective woven between grasses.
12. Sedum / Hylotelephium [POLLINATOR]
Useful succulent foliage followed by substantial late-season flower heads.
13. Erysimum [POLLINATOR]
A valuable way of extending colour through the cooler parts of the growing season.
14. Achillea [POLLINATOR]
Flat flower heads contrast beautifully with upright grasses and spiky flowers.
15. Nepeta [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Aromatic foliage and masses of flowers. Wonderful planted towards the front of a sunny border.
16. Salvia ‘Daniel’s Dream’ [POLLINATOR]
A more logical climate in which to explore this beautiful Salvia than an extremely hot, exposed garden.
17. Salvia nemorosa types [POLLINATOR]
Upright flower spikes give strong vertical structure to perennial planting.
18. Rudbeckia [POLLINATOR]
Bold late-summer daisy flowers and excellent mixed with grasses.
19. Verbena bonariensis [POLLINATOR]
Tall, transparent stems allow you to see through the plant while butterflies and other insects visit the flowers.
20. Stachys byzantina – Lamb’s Ear
Soft silver foliage provides texture and contrasts beautifully with grasses and flowering perennials.
DURBAN & COASTAL KWAZULU-NATAL
Subtropical – warm – humid – summer rainfall – mild winters
Coastal KZN allows us to explore plants that enjoy warmth, moisture, humidity and lush growth. This collection should feel layered and subtropical rather than like a Cape garden copied eastwards.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Nematanthus ‘Tropicana’
An unusual trailing plant with wonderfully exotic flowers.
2. Plectranthus ‘Mona Magenta’ [POLLINATOR]
Rich foliage and beautiful flowers for semi-shaded subtropical planting.
3. Plectranthus ecklonii [POLLINATOR]
A dramatic indigenous shrub for shade and filtered light.
4. Plectranthus varieties [POLLINATOR]
KZN is one of the places where this diverse group can really come into its own.
5. Canna varieties
Big foliage and strong colour – exactly the sort of plant that suits a lush subtropical garden.
6. Brunfelsia
Fragrance and flowers for warm garden conditions.
7. Jasmine [POLLINATOR]
A fragrant climber that adds another layer to the garden.
8. Hydrangea
Excellent in moisture-retentive soil with protection from fierce afternoon sun.
9. Clerodendrum [POLLINATOR]
An interesting flowering shrub or climber where the particular species is suited to the position.
10. Justicia [POLLINATOR]
Excellent for adding flower colour to warmer semi-shaded planting.
11. Ruellia [POLLINATOR]
Bold flowers and a more tropical character for suitable warm garden positions.
12. Crossandra [POLLINATOR]
A wonderful warm-climate flowering plant for protected conditions.
13. Hypoestes
Colourful foliage gives interest even when nothing is flowering.
14. Coleus
A reminder that biodiversity gardens don’t have to rely entirely on flowers for visual impact.
15. Begonia
Ideal for warm, protected shade where foliage and flowers can create a lush understory.
16. Dietes
Useful for linking more tropical planting with tougher structural plants.
17. Strelitzia
Architectural foliage and unmistakably South African character.
18. Crinum
A wonderful bulbous plant for dramatic flowers and strong foliage.
19. Asystasia [POLLINATOR]
Useful as a flowering groundcover in suitable warm conditions.
20. Barleria [POLLINATOR]
Another interesting South African flowering choice rather than automatically reaching for the obvious nursery shrubs.
GARDEN ROUTE & SOUTHERN / EASTERN CAPE COAST
Mild – coastal – wind – variable rainfall – cooler than KZN
This region sits between worlds, giving us opportunities to grow plants that may struggle with either the extreme heat of the interior or the dry summer conditions of Cape Town.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Hebe ‘Snowdrift’ [POLLINATOR]
Fresh evergreen foliage and flowers for a mild coastal garden.
2. Gypsophila cerastioides
A delicate groundcover for paths, rockeries and containers.
3. Leucanthemum ‘Victoria Secret’ [POLLINATOR]
White summer flowers bring brightness and freshness.
4. Japanese Anemone [POLLINATOR]
Elegant later-season flowers for cooler protected positions.
5. Scabiosa ‘Fama White’ [POLLINATOR]
A beautiful pollinator perennial with a soft cottage feel.
6. Gaura ‘Little Janie’ [POLLINATOR]
Movement and long-lasting flowers without dominating its neighbours.
7. Miscanthus
Wonderful architectural movement in coastal breezes.
8. Blue Oat Grass
Blue foliage brings a completely different texture.
9. Astilbe
For cooler, moist, protected corners where a dry-climate plant simply wouldn’t be happy.
10. Lamium [POLLINATOR]
A useful groundcover for partial shade.
11. Erysimum [POLLINATOR]
Long flowering and useful in mixed coastal borders.
12. Diascia [POLLINATOR]
A wonderful South African flowering plant for softer garden planting.
13. Nemesia [POLLINATOR]
Colourful, floriferous and perfect for adding seasonal interest.
14. Arctotis [POLLINATOR]
Daisy flowers with unmistakable South African character.
15. Osteospermum [POLLINATOR]
Another South African daisy group that gives long-lasting colour in sunny positions.
16. Pelargonium varieties [POLLINATOR]
A place to explore less familiar species and cultivars rather than ordinary bedding geraniums.
17. Gaura ‘Belleza’ [POLLINATOR]
Loose, informal flowers fit the relaxed coastal character beautifully.
18. Salvia varieties suited to milder conditions [POLLINATOR]
A chance to showcase some of the more unusual cultivars from our collection.
19. Carex
Fine foliage for cooler or more moisture-retentive areas.
20. Erigeron [POLLINATOR]
Ideal spilling around paths, steps and walls.
KAROO, NORTHERN CAPE & HOT DRY INTERIOR
Heat – low rainfall – intense sun – water-conscious gardening
This is where plants have to earn their place. Rather than trying to keep unsuitable plants alive with constant irrigation, choose plants whose natural adaptations help them cope with heat and lower water availability.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Agave [WATER-WISE]
Architectural, sculptural and built for dry conditions.
2. Cotyledon orbiculata [WATER-WISE]
Succulent leaves and dramatic flowers.
3. Crassula species [WATER-WISE]
An enormously useful group for water-conscious gardens.
4. Pelargonium sidoides [WATER-WISE]
A tough South African species with unusual dark flowers.
5. Salvia lanceolata [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Aromatic, drought-resistant and far more interesting than another generic sage.
6. Artemisia [WATER-WISE]
Silver foliage reflects the character of a hot, dry landscape beautifully.
7. Hylotelephium / Sedum [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Succulent foliage stores moisture while flowers add seasonal interest.
8. Festuca [WATER-WISE]
Fine foliage and texture without excessive water demand.
9. Helictotrichon – Blue Oat Grass [WATER-WISE]
Architectural blue-grey foliage.
10. Gazania [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Sun-loving flowers made for bright, exposed positions.
11. Osteospermum [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Strong daisy flowers and useful in sunny, well-drained planting.
12. Erigeron [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Excellent for softening hard landscaping.
13. Rosemary [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Familiar, yes – but here it genuinely earns its place.
14. Thyme [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
A Mediterranean edible that doubles as a flowering pollinator plant.
15. Origanum / Marjoram [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Another edible that becomes a fantastic insect plant when allowed to flower.
16. Santolina [WATER-WISE]
Silver foliage and compact Mediterranean structure.
17. Euphorbia varieties [WATER-WISE]
Architectural form and excellent potential in dry planting, depending on species.
18. Aloe varieties [WATER-WISE]
Indigenous architectural plants with major wildlife value.
19. Bulbine [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Tough, flowering and extremely useful in water-wise planting.
20. Delosperma [POLLINATOR | WATER-WISE]
Succulent groundcover with bright flowers for hot, exposed sites.
LOWVELD, LIMPOPO & WARMER MPUMALANGA
Hot summers – summer rainfall – warm growing conditions – mild lower-altitude winters
Heat is not automatically a problem if we choose plants that actually enjoy it. Here we can create exuberant gardens using warm-climate plants rather than asking cool-climate perennials to struggle through extreme summer temperatures.
Our 20 to Discover
1. Leonotis leonurus – Wild Dagga [POLLINATOR]
Tall orange flowers and excellent wildlife value.
2. Barleria [POLLINATOR]
An interesting indigenous flowering group for warm gardens.
3. Plectranthus varieties [POLLINATOR]
Perfect for bringing life to shaded areas beneath trees.
4. Plectranthus ‘Mona Magenta’ [POLLINATOR]
Strong foliage colour and flowers for semi-shade.
5. Ruellia [POLLINATOR]
Warmth-loving flowering colour.
6. Justicia [POLLINATOR]
Useful for warm, sheltered planting.
7. Canna
Strong tropical foliage and summer colour.
8. Crinum
Bold foliage and spectacular flowers.
9. Strelitzia
Architectural and unmistakably South African.
10. Agave [WATER-WISE]
For the hottest, driest pockets of the garden.
11. Aloe varieties [WATER-WISE]
Fantastic structural plants and valuable wildlife resources.
12. Bougainvillea [WATER-WISE]
For genuinely hot, sunny positions where it can put on a spectacular display.
13. Nematanthus ‘Tropicana’
An unusual choice for protected warm conditions.
14. Clerodendrum [POLLINATOR]
A fascinating group for warmer gardens.
15. Crossandra [POLLINATOR]
Bright flowers for warm, protected areas.
16. Hypoestes
Fantastic foliage for warm shade.
17. Coleus
A huge range of foliage possibilities where summers are warm.
18. Asystasia [POLLINATOR]
A flowering groundcover for suitable warm conditions.
19. Tecoma capensis [POLLINATOR]
One familiar plant that absolutely earns its place in a hot South African garden.
20. Warm-climate Salvia species [POLLINATOR]
Selected according to the individual species rather than assuming every Salvia tolerates extreme heat.
AND WHAT ABOUT EDIBLES?
Climate-conscious gardening applies to the vegetable garden too. At Village Gardens, we don’t want to give every province exactly the same edible list.
Western Cape
Think tomatoes, speciality tomatoes, peppers, chillies, aubergines, basil, oregano, thyme, sage, sorrel and other Mediterranean herbs as temperatures rise into spring and summer.
Gauteng & Highveld
Summer rainfall opens the main growing season for tomatoes, peppers, chillies, aubergines, beans, cucumbers, courgettes, basil and other warm-season crops once cold and frost risk have passed.
Coastal KZN
Warm conditions allow a much longer season for chillies, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, basil, mint and other warmth-loving edibles, with good airflow particularly important in humid weather.
Garden Route & Southern/Eastern Cape
Use the region’s milder conditions for leafy herbs, tomatoes, beans, courgettes, basil, parsley, chives and speciality edibles, adjusting planting to your particular coastal microclimate.
Hot Dry Interior
Choose productive plants intelligently and mulch well. Chillies, aubergines, Mediterranean herbs, thyme, oregano, rosemary and sage can make sense, with irrigation directed to the root zone rather than wasted.
Lowveld, Limpopo & Warmer Mpumalanga
Make the heat work for you with chillies, peppers, aubergines, basil, cucumbers and other heat-loving crops, while using shade or protection where intense summer sun demands it.
Let Some Herbs Flower
Don’t harvest every herb to within an inch of its life! Allowing plants such as thyme, oregano, marjoram, basil, chives and rosemary to flower can turn part of the edible garden into a valuable feeding area for visiting insects.
PLANT FOR POLLINATORS
A pollinator-friendly garden does not have to be indigenous only.
South African indigenous plants are enormously important, but carefully selected Mediterranean and exotic flowering plants can also contribute nectar and pollen.
What matters is diversity. Different flower shapes attract different visitors, and by selecting plants that flower at different times we can help keep food available over a much longer period.
Mix them. Plant an indigenous Salvia beside a Mediterranean herb. Let ornamental grasses weave through flowering perennials. Allow herbs to flower. Use groundcovers. Add shrubs. Create shade. Provide water. Leave some areas a little less tidy.
A garden isn’t simply something to look at. It’s an ecosystem.
OUR VILLAGE GARDENS PHILOSOPHY
We don’t believe gardeners should choose a plant simply because somebody tells them: “This is what you plant in South Africa.”
South Africa is too diverse for that. Cape Town isn’t Johannesburg. Johannesburg isn’t Durban. Durban isn’t the Karoo.
And even within the same suburb, one garden can be completely different from the garden next door. Sun, shade, wind, soil, water, frost, humidity and your own garden’s microclimate all matter.
Our changing global climate makes understanding those differences even more important.
That’s why at Village Gardens we’re interested in the right plant rather than simply the familiar plant.
We love indigenous plants. We love Mediterranean plants. We love interesting exotic plants. We love unusual plants you’ve perhaps never even heard of.
And we absolutely love plants that help bring bees, butterflies, birds and other wildlife back into our gardens.
Provided a plant is responsible, non-invasive and suited to its conditions, we believe it can have a place.
Don’t be afraid to mix it up.
Right plant. Right region. Right climate.
A garden that gives back.
