This handy pocket guide introduces local gardening enthusiasts to some of southern Africa’s most beautiful, beneficial and easy- to-care-for indigenous plants, giving guidance on how best to use them and how to ensure that they flourish.

It offers:

• A selection of 145 garden-friendly, low-maintenance trees, shrubs and bedding plants perfectly adapted to our local soils and weather conditions
• Text that’s direct and simple
• Full-colour photographs that show plant details and ‘in context’ planting
• Icons indicating at a glance whether a species is evergreen or deciduous, frost-hardy, suitable for a sunny or shaded position, fast or slow-growing, water wise, fragrant and attractive to insects or birds.

An essential handbook for easy-care beautiful gardening.

The author, Glenice Ebedes, is the owner of Grounded Landscaping. She is a graduate of Lifestyle College and an active member of the Guild of Landscape Designers. She specializes in indigenous, wildlife-friendly gardens and her gardens regularly feature in magazines.

At last: a South African how-to with everything you need to know to create a dream indigenous garden. Accomplished landscape designer and botanist Marijke Honig puts forward the fundamentals in this comprehensive reference that is at once inspirational, practical and easy to use. This book is all about choosing the right plants for a particular space and purpose in your garden. Marijke shares her vast bank of knowledge and experience to help you assess the conditions in your garden, select the perfect plants and grow them successfully.

The book is divided into three clearly organised, superbly illustrated sections, which together provide all the information you need to plan and plant a flourishing garden entirely suited to its setting and climate.

Part 1 – explains the process of plant selection, providing clear step-by-step guidelines that will enable you to identify suitable plant palettes for your garden. This section also includes vital information on planting and maintenance.

Part 2 – contains 25 different palettes of plants for specific situations, with practical information relevant to each

Part 3 – a directory of plants, with a brief description of each species, key/essential information on its cultivation and maintenance, and the wildlife it may attract.

This beautiful book is also a celebration of South Africa’s unique flora. Offering inspiration and guidance in equal measure, it promises to become an indispensable reference for all lovers of indigenous plants.

Most gardens have shady spots, but some gardens have a real shade ‘problem’. Whether it is caused by large or overhanging trees, tall buildings, or just being on the ‘wrong side of the street’, fi nding the best plants for a shady area can be challenging, particularly if the rest of your garden basks in sunshine all year round. Shade plants are not necessarily tropical, although many tropical plants thrive in shade. Some delicate leafy plants will scorch and burn in hot sun, some plants like shady conditions but not damp soil, while others grow happily in damp, boggy ground that receives minimum sunlight. Gardening in the Shade examines the different types of shade and the effect it has on plant growth.

It presents solutions to common problems such as feeding, watering and mulching shade plants, and how to deal with exacerbating factors such as wind, frost and soil type. Popular shade plants, like clivias, bromeliads, fuchsias and ferns are given special features, and a directory of species lists plants under headings like ground covers, tropical-looking perennials, and succulents.

Most gardens do not have smooth, flat lawns and borders of rich, easily dug soil. We have to put up with damp, sunless corridors between houses, awkward slopes or plots shaded by trees or neighbouring buildings. Equally difficult to plant are seaside gardens exposed to gale-force winds and salt spray; waterlogged plots, where the drainage is poor; and dry ground exposed to the glare of the sun day after day, without the slightest shade. In short, few gardens benefit from perfect conditions. What you need for these sites are tough plants that will not only shrug off all the worst conditions in your garden but will actually thrive in them. Tough Plants for Tough Places includes a directory of nearly 100 plants that are practically invincible in the specific hostile conditions they have evolved to cope with.

The enduring appeal of English gardens is beautifully realised by Clive Nichols, one of Europe's leading garden photographers. From the green hills of the north to the bleached landscapes of the south, twenty-eight gardens transport the reader into a timeless, golden age. Each page is filled with herbaceous borders overflowing with vibrant flower combinations, kitchen gardens that burgeon with rows of apple blossom, vegetables and sweet peas, water that cascades forever into pools and fountains and emerald-green topiary which frames a vista to a sunlit upland. Many of the finest landscape architects in England whose work is featured include Emma Keswick at Rockcliffe Hall, Julianne Fernandez at Tyger Barn, Angel Collins at Bruern Abbey, Piet Oudolf at Hauser and Wirth and many more, with text that explains and clarifies their design sensibilities. This book offers total immersion and sheer delight for any garden design and photography enthusiast.

The ultimate reference to growing plants from seed. Seeds are magical. Every little one has the potential to become a new plant and give you more seeds - connecting us to the circle of life and nature's endless ability to surprise and delight. The act of planting seeds and watching them grow into seedlings and then on into productive plants is enormously therapeutic. Even when things don't go to plan, the gardener is constantly learning, growing and deepening their connection to nature. It's an incredibly grounding and humbling experience that feeds the soul of the gardener. This beautifully illustrated guide will show readers how and when to harvest the seeds of 100 different garden plants and flowers, with advice on when and how to sow them, and where and when to plant them out. Alongside this hands-on guidance, the reader will be engaged with snippets of folklore and traditions that further enhance their appreciation of nature and help them discover the inherent magic of seeds. Whether the reader is a practising green witch, or simply an amateur gardener with a spiritual affinity with nature, this book will give them everything they need to successfully make a garden from seed and unlock the wonders of nature.

'n Klein tuin bied sy eie uitdagings, of dit nou 'n lang, smal strook, 'n klam skaduryke binnehof, 'n klein stukkie ground of 'n windverwaaide balkon is. Of jy nou 'n oorvloed blomme wil he, 'n tuin wat min onderhoud verg, 'n speelplek vir kinders of 'n veelsydige ontspanningasarea - noukeurige beplanning is noodsaaklik om die plek wat jy tot jou beskikking het ten beste te benut. Klein tuine is deesdae die reel liewer as die uitsondering en daar is 'n oorvloed plante beskikbaar vir elke denkbare behoefte. Kruistelers en tuinboukundiges het bykans elke groot struik, boom en plant gekutiveer om kleiner, meer kompakte en dwergvariasies van klassieke gunstelinge daar te stel. Hierdie titel vertel jou meer daarvan, asook hoe om 'n pragtuin in jou klein ruimte te skep.

A tree that sheds poison daggers; a glinting red seed that stops the heart; a shrub that causes paralysis; a climbing plant that strangles; and a leaf that triggered a war. Bestselling author Amy Stewart takes on two hundred of Mother Nature's most appalling creations in an A to Z of plants that kill, maim, intoxicate and otherwise offend. Menacing botanical illustrations render a ghastly portrait of evildoers that may be lurking in your back (or front) garden. Drawing on history, medicine, science and legend, this compendium of bloodcurdling botany will entertain, enlighten and alarm even the most intrepid gardeners and nature lovers.

Show nature the kindness it deserves Whether you long to see butterflies flit across your flowerbeds or hear birdsong all year round, there's something endlessly rewarding about playing host to wildlife. With practical projects and helpful tips for gardens big and small, this guide will help boost local biodiversity and benefit countless native species. Learn how to: Choose the best type of bird feeder and seed for your feathered friends Build natural habitats and provide shelter for all manner of insects Make sugaring recipes to attract butterflies and moths Select the right pollinator plants for bees in every season Wherever you do it - on a balcony, in a garden or across acres of land - you too can create the perfect sanctuary for an abundance of creatures.

A crevice garden replicates the environmental conditions of mountain tops, deserts, coastlines and virtually all other exposed or rocky places on earth. These striking garden features provide perfect conditions for the plants native to these far-off places, bringing the cultivation of these precious gems within everybody's reach. In this book, enthusiastic experts Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs, bring us in-depth guidance on the design, construction, and planting of crevice gardens of all kinds including those suitable for containers, small gardens and public parks and in styles that encompass both naturalistic scenes and non-traditional installations. A wealth of international case studies demonstrate how crevice gardens provide multiple micro-habitats that are exceptionally well-suited to growing a wide range of desirable plants that struggle in normal garden conditions. Further examples reveal their value in the ecological re-use of waste materials such as concrete, wildlife habitat creation and for making permeable, plant-friendly alternatives to retaining walls. An illustrated A-Z that recommends 250 irresistible plants completes this comprehensive book which heralds a bold new chapter in the history of crevice garden making.

Into Green is an inspiring collection of projects, wisdom and ideas that guide you to explore the natural world around you. "Brimful with accessible and inventive ideas, this beautiful book provides an inspiring and practical guide to fostering calm and connectedness." Sue Stuart-Smith, author of The Well Gardened Mind This brilliant book invites you to journey into nature, no matter how urban your environment or green your neighbourhood. This is a book of projects, wisdom and ideas that not only inspire you to get outside and enjoy this beautiful planet, but to find meaningful interactions with nature that cultivate a happier headspace. Authors Caro Langton and Rose Ray, founders of Ro Co @studio.roco, explore how being surrounded by green can bring you calm, hope, bravery, wonder and a sense of belonging, and help you connect with green so that you can expand and retreat, grow and disappear, and to ultimately find and lose yourself in nature. This book teaches you how nature can help you build confidence, believe in yourself, and travel a path that is authentic to you. Into Green full of simple rituals to incorporate into your everyday life, as well as facts, wonders and science that spark awe (which almost always lead to seeing the world differently) as well as creative projects that build a confident relationship with nature, from creating a wildflower window box to dyeing fabrics with plant materials.

Giant perennials are show-stoppers in the garden. There is something magical about the fact that starting from nothing in spring they rise to towering heights by midsummer only to disappear again for the winter. These are plants that make a statement and can be used to provide a backdrop to a herbaceous border or as specimens to draw the eye and amaze the visitor. From the astounding gunnera, 2.4m (8ft) with its leaves as big as the biggest golf umbrella, to the spectacular verbascum (giant mullein) as tall as a tree at 1.8-2.7m (6-9ft), or the socking great Eupatorium purpureum, with 2.1m (7ft) tall stems and cinnamon pink flowers. Quite simply these plants make us feel like Lilliputians. Covering a wide range of herbaceous perennials, including some biennials and bulbs, Giant Perennials provides at-a-glance information for everything you need to know about these amazing plants. In addition to design ideas and planting suggestions, Giant Perennials has an extensive directory of these majestic plants with easy-to-use symbols that show you size, spread, planting situation, cultivation needs and hardiness. Whether you have a large country garden or a small town plot, you can give you

Get ready for the shocking truth about botanical sex. Who knew that bee orchids trick insects into having sex with them, avocado flowers are female one day and male the next, and some flowers are the insect equivalent of nightclubs where males and females meet and mate? Bestselling popular science author Mike Allaby reveals over 200 of nature's most unseemly creations in this sensational expose. The sexual antics of plants are far more varied than those of people and plants have preferences and techniques for which we have no equivalent. Being rooted to the spot, many rely on pollinators for assistance and forget birds and bees, we're talking kangaroos, giraffes, and vampire bats. Botanical illustrations throw light on the gallery of pimps, hookers and gigolos who may be lurking in your back garden and spice up this compendium of scurrilous botany which - be warned - may shock the worldliest of gardeners.

Garden Plants and Flowers is a compact directory of trees, shrubs and flowering plants that are ideal for growing in South African gardens.

This revised edition has been updated to include new species, varieties and hybrids that meet the requirements of our diverse climate and habitats. The concise text includes details about plant growth and size, watering, feeding and pruning, and uses in the garden. User-friendly symbols indicate each plant’s key requirements, such as the amount of sun and water it requires, whether it is deciduous or evergreen, its level of drought, wind and frost tolerance, and if it attracts birds or insects, or bears flowers or fruit. A handy hint on each page provides general gardening information.

This wonderful little book covers everything you need to know about the types of plants known as weeds. Ehrenfried Pfeiffer discusses the different varieties of weeds, how they grow and what they can tell us about soil health. The process of combatting weeds is discussed in principle as well as in practice, so that it can be applied to any situation. First written in the 1950s, this is still one of the best overviews of the subject available.

In this stunning reimagination of an entire season, acclaimed and award-winning author and photographer Cedric Pollet presents 20 of the most beautiful winter gardens accross France and the UK. Winner of the Garden Media Guild - Garden Book of the Year award, Pollet showcases these breathtaking winter gardens which are at their best when most gardens are at their barest. Rich with blazes of colour and light, these gardens use creative structural planning and subtle textures to greate masterful visual and sensory ensembles. From berries and barks to vibrant shrubs and evergreens, these gardens will delight and inspire in equal measure, all captured in extroardinary photographs by Pollet, one of today's masters of garden photography and accompanied by insightful text which picks out the reasons these gardens are so special. The second half of the book is an illustrated directory of over 300 plants which encourage you to achieve these effects in their own gardens. From the author of bestselling Bark: An Intimate Look at the World's Trees, this beautiful guide is a unique and unmissable book on some of the most creative and inspiring gardens around today.

There are plants everywhere! Plants are very important to life on Earth. They clean our air, give us food and much more. But what are they, exactly?

This series of natural history field guides has been developed in the hope that young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history will take up the challenge to learn the secrets of southern Africa's fascinating fauna and flora. These little guides are an invaluable resource for the beginner, providing information at a glance through superb photographs, maps, and easy-to-read text.

Botany for gardeners offers an explanation of how plants grow. What happens inside a seed after it is planted? How are plants structured? How do plants adapt to their environment? How is water transported from soil to leaves? Why are minerals, air and light important for healthy plant growth? How do plants reproduce? The answers to these and other questions about complex plant processes, written in everyday language, allow gardeners and horticulturists to understand plants from the "plant's point of view". An appendix on plant taxonomy, glossary and make this an essential reference book for serious gardeners.

Fully revised and updated by the author, this is the perennial and comprehensive guide to the art of wildlife gardening from the RHS, freshly illustrated and bursting with new ideas, ideas and projects. Gardening and wildlife make perfect partners. So many people are discovering that by choosing the right plants for nectar and fruit, providing some shelter and safety, a little extra food and water, and a nest box or two, any garden, balcony or backyard can be dramatically brought to life. This best-selling book was first published as How to Make a Wildlife Garden, and launched at the 1985 Chelsea Flower Show, making wildlife a mainstream issue for gardeners and the public. Now fully revised and updated by the author, this beautiful new freshly illustrated edition highlights the changes in garden wildlife over the past 35 years. Incorporating RHS research, updated best practice and addressing a multitude of controversial conservation issues, this stunning guide is also a celebration of the rich variety of wild plants and animals that can bring a beautiful garden to life. Packed full of practical advice from which plants to choose for bees, birds and butterflies, how to construct the ideal wildlife pond, where to position nesting boxes and how to enjoy wildlife in any size of outdoor space, this authoritative companion shows how wildlife gardening can make a stylish and enjoyable contribution to the environment, inspiring new gardeners while also delighting the very many owners of the best-selling original.

Explore the magical green world of Lambeth Palace Garden, a hidden jewel of London for more than 1,000 years. In this book, Head Gardener Nick Stewart Smith takes the reader on a series of rambles through the changing seasons, introducing some extraordinary trees and plants along the way. Revealing some of the untold stories of the ten-acre secret garden, this is a unique insight into a special place. Nick explains how nature is at the heart of everything here, the gardening approach allowing the green world inside the high stone walls to be a haven for many kinds of wildlife, all flourishing right in the midst of one of the world's busiest cities.