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Ipomoea

By on February 26, 2009 in indigenous, insects, soil, succulent, tree

I picked up this interesting-looking pot plant last week at the Shongweni Farmers Market (for a cool R100!).  The guy selling it didn’t have much information for me but could tell me it was part of the Ipomoea family. From Wikipedia, “The genus Ipomoea (Greek Ips, Ipos, worm or bindweed and Homoeos, resembling, referring to [...]

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Another aloe post

By on February 23, 2009 in indigenous, succulent

I really do love aloes and the aloe tenuior (Basutho Kraal Aloe, inhlaba empofu) in my garden is currently flowering.  This plant forms a thick shrub with spikes of red flowers shooting off it, attracting both whitebellied and Black Sunbirds.  The plant is also used as a protective charm by inyangas and a remedy (made [...]

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Indigenous Lantana

By on February 19, 2009 in indigenous

I remember as a kid getting lectured at school about the evils of lantana – I think I even went on a school trip to clear it out of our neighbourhood. Back then it was the number one invader species in Durban and everyone was out to get it (see more about invader species and, [...]

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Beautiful Ruttyruspolia

By on February 16, 2009 in indigenous

My Ruttyruspolia (semi-deciduous shrub, family acanthaceae) is currently flowering.  It has scrambled into a nearby coral tree and the flowers are hanging down between the branches, in great swoops.

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What tree is this?

By on February 15, 2009 in indigenous, tree

This tree was growing in my garden when we moved in.  Someone told me it was indigenous but I don’t have its proper name and couldn’t source it in any of my books. It has a thick, rough bark, thin leaves and long, pod-shaped seeds, but what I really like about it are its flowers.  [...]

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