ENGLISH LAVENDER
(GARDEN LAVENDER, COMMON LAVENDER, NARROW-LEAVED LAVENDER, TRUE LAVENDER)
Gewone laventel, Engelse laventel
Scientific name: Lavandula angustifolia.
Country of origin: Mediterranean countries.
Description (Height, spread, bloom):
English lavender is an herbaceous perennial species. It is a semi-evergreen and evergreen species in warm winter areas. The plant consists of slender upright stems each tipped with a blue-purple, violet, lavender, white or pinkish inflorescence. The velvety leaves are narrow and grey-green with a very pleasing typical fragrance when crushed or brushed against. It grows to a height of about 60-70 cm and spreads to about 1m.
Cultivation
Starting, it is best to obtain young plants from a nursery to plant in spring. It can be propagated in summer by shoot-cuttings without buds, clump division or seeds. Growing English lavender from seeds is rather difficult. For a hedge, plants should be about 30 cm apart, and individual bushes 1m apart. It grows easily in a container.
Season for planting:
Spring.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
The best time of year to plant Lavender is in early spring, ideally when the soil starts to become warm. It needs little water and poor, well-drained soil with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. Waterlogged areas will result in a reduction in performance or may lead to diseases.
FRENCH LAVENDER
(SPANISH LAVENDER, TOPPED LAVENDER, BUTTERFLY LAVENDER)
Franse laventel.
Scientific name: Lavandula stoechas.
Countries of origin: France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece.
Cultivation:
It is propagated with cuttings with no flowers, which are cut where the new growth meets the old. Cuttings are placed in water until roots appear. Another way is to break a clump from the main bush and transplant it.
Season for planting:
Summer
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
French lavender needs at least six hours of full sun in gravely, well-drained, moist soil. It can withstand some drought but dies in water-logged conditions. It thrives in hot, dry conditions, but is sensitive to extreme cold. It grows well in a well-drained container.
PERRENIAL BASIL
QUEEN OF SHEBA, THAI BASIL
Wilde basilie
Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum spp
Country of origin: India
Cultivation:
It sows itself; you may scatter seeds over a prepared bed and lightly cover with soil. Or you may take a cutting right below a leaf node from a shoot which has not bloomed yet. Remove the leaves off the cutting about 5 cm from the end. The cutting can then be placed in a glass of water on the windowsill where it can get good sunlight. Change the water every few days until you see root growth, then leave your basil till the roots to grow to about 5 cm. This can take two to four weeks until it is ready for planting.
Season for planting:
Sow seeds in spring, plant cuttings in summer.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
Perennial basil loves sunlight. They will thrive in areas that expose them to partial or full sunlight. They do well in well-drained, well composted, moist soil. Using mulch and organic fertilisers is greatly recommended for abundant flowers.
Blooming season:
They flower all year round
Diseases and other problems:
Snails, slugs and aphids may be a problem.
Maintenance
Constant pruning will result in neat bushes, but pruning twice a year during spring and autumn will ensure long strings of flowers. Water regularly because they need consistent moisture. Cutting off the dead flower spikes will encourage more flowers. Avoid overhead irrigation and splashing plants with water, instead, water plants from the base and apply a layer of mulch around the plants to reduce evapotranspiration and prevents soil erosion. Remove and destroy any unhealthy leaves.
ROSEMARY
VARIETIES: BLUE BOY, SPICE ISLANDS, WHITE ROSEMARY
Roosmaryn
Scientific name: Salvia Rosmarinus.
Countries of origin: Africa, Europe, Western Asia, and the Mediterranean
Cultivation:
Rosemary plants are challenging to grow from seed, and gardeners might find more success propagating from stem cuttings, layering, or division of established plants. Cuttings proliferate in good conditions and should be ready for outdoor planting in about 8 weeks.
Season for planting:
Plant in spring or summer. It is easily transplanted and rooted. Plant the cuttings indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost for a head start.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
It tolerates drought, partial shade, salt, heavy pruning, and most soil types except clay. However, it has a low tolerance for wet, humid environments. It grows best in at least six hours daily of sunlight in well-drained soil in a garden bed or large pot. It’s a perennial herb and quite hardy. It is somewhat drought-resistant and can also withstand pretty cold conditions.
Benefits for bees
Rosemary blooms are the favourite flowers for bees. As Rosemary blooms early in the spring, it is one of the few nectar sources for newly emerging bees. They collect nectar and also take the pollen. Rosemary also supplies a source of nectar in the winter.
GLOSSY ABELIA
ABELIA
Scientific name: Abelia grandiflora.
Country of origin: Eastern Asia and Mexico.
Description (Height, spread, bloom):
It is a rounded, spreading, multi-stemmed shrub in the honeysuckle family. It features clusters of white-tinged-pink, bell-shaped fragrant flowers almost 2 cm long which appear in the upper leaf axils and stem ends. The shiny bright green leaves are oval/elliptical. It reaches a height of 90 to 180 cm and becomes as wide. It may be evergreen in prime conditions.
Cultivation:
It is easy to propagate through stem cuttings. Take these cuttings from healthy plants only, preferably from the plant’s upper portion. Try to get the cuttings during the early morning hours as they will contain more moisture, making them less susceptible to stress. The cuttings should be at least 10-15 cm in length and free of any flower buds. Strip any leaves from the lower end of the cutting before planting. Treat the cuttings with a rooting hormone before placing 1/3 to 1/2 of the stripped stem into a medium such as sand, a mixture of peat and perlite or a mixture of sand and perlite. It is best to place the cuttings in a shady area, avoiding direct sun until roots have formed. Keep moist and allow at least 4 to 6 weeks for roots to form.
Season for planting:
Mid spring.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
It is easily grown in moist, organically rich soils which drain well in full sun to part shade. It flowers best in full sun. Though drought and heat-tolerant once established, it performs best with regular watering. Irrigate once or twice a week during summer.
Benefits for bees:
It has a very long blooming season of nectar and pollen-rich flowers.
AUTUMN SAGE
CHERRY SAGE, AUTUMN SALVIA, GREGG SALVIA
Salie
Scientific name: Salvia greggii.
Countries of origin: Texas, Mexico
Description (Height, spread, bloom):
Autumn sage is a soft, mounding shrub normally 60-90 cm tall, and less in width, with small, minty aromatic green leaves that are evergreen in warmer climates. The flowers are borne on racemes from spring to frost and can be red, pink, purple, orange, or white.
Cultivation:
Cultivating Salvia from soft wood cuttings in the spring. Applying a root stimulator to the cutting will stimulate growth.
Season for planting:
Spring
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
Autumn sage must have a well-drained site and cannot take shrink-swell clay soils. Though generally cold tolerant, it will be deciduous in regions with extremely cold winters. Avoid planting it near heavy foot traffic because the stems are very brittle.
GAURA
(WANDFLOWER, WHIRLING BUTTERFLY, BEE BLOSSOM, BUTTERFLY BUSH)
Vlinderbos
Scientific name: Oenothera lindheimeri.
Country of origin: North America
Cultivation:
It is cultivated from seed or seedlings that emerge from these self-seeding plants but taking cuttings is the best way to go. With a sharp knife or pruners, cut off 10 cm shoots that are growing from the base of the stem. Cut them off as close to the crown as possible without damaging it. Gently push the cuttings into soggy potting soil about 3 cm deep. Place them in a protected location out of sunlight and winds. It can take up to two months for new growth to appear.
Season of planting:
Spring
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
It may be invasive in prime conditions. It thrives in full sun with excellent drainage and tolerates extreme heat and humidity as well as cold. Ensure constant soil moisture, by watering them daily. Gaura should be placed in a position with morning sun, and afternoon shade.
Blooming season:
From early spring till late autumn.
Diseases and other problems:
It is generally pest and disease-free but may be affected by certain pests like aphids. Infestations of spider mites, whiteflies, and leaf miners are less common.
Benefits for bees:
It has a long bloom time and blooms in the early morning when bees are very active.
FREYLINIA
BLUE FREYLINIA, WATERBERG BLUE FREYLINIA, WATERBERG BELL-BUSH, BLUE SPLASH, BLUE HONEY-BELL
Blouklokkieheuningbos
Scientific name: Freylinia tropica.
Country of origin: South Africa, Zimbabwe
Description (Height, spread, bloom):
It is red listed as Rare but is not endangered. This delicate shrub is reasonably fast growing and reaches a height of about 2m with a 1m spread. It flowers profusely with light mauve to bright blue, bell-shaped flowers.
Cultivation:
The quickest way of cultivating Freylinia tropica is by using cuttings in summer. Root-stimulating hormones will encourage root development.
Season for planting:
Summer
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
The shrub enjoys semi-shade with good, well-draining soil that has been enriched with compost. It can withstand cold and light frost, but young plants should be protected against the cold in their first few winters.
Blooming season:
It blooms in spring and summer.
Diseases and other problems:
It is seldom attacked by pests and diseases.
Maintenance
It should be clipped seasonally to encourage bushing, otherwise, it will become scraggly.
Benefits for bees
It is very rich in nectar.
MEXICAN CORAL CREEPER
Chain of Love, Confederate Vine, Corallita, Coral Vine, Love Vine, Pink Vine, Queen’s Wreath, Rose de Montana, West Indian Mountain Rose
Koraalrankplant
Scientific name: Antigonon leptopus.
Country of origin: Mexico and Central America.
Description: Height, spread, bloom:
The Coral Vine is a rapidly growing, tropical climbing vine with tuberous roots. The vine is evergreen in tropical climates but deciduous in cooler climates. The leaves are pale green and somewhat arrow-shaped. The flowers can vary between coral-pink clusters, and red or white flowers depending on the cultivar. It may grow 2m in a season and can reach a height of 12 m.
Cultivation:
It sows itself and can be propagated from seeds, tubers, and cuttings.
Season for planting:
Late winter or early spring.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
It has been declared invasive in some places. The Coral Vine prefers warm temperatures and high precipitation. It will thrive in almost any type of soil. In warm climates, the vine grows and flowers all year round. It is cold-sensitive but quickly grows back from cold damage. It is tolerant of hot climates and poor soils.
Blooming season:
It blooms from spring to fall and in prime conditions it may bloom all year round.
Diseases and other problems
This coral creeper is not prone to serious pests or diseases. Caterpillars may eat the foliage.
Maintenance:
Water the coral vine regularly during the first growing season to get the plant off to a good start. Thereafter, a coral vine is relatively drought tolerant and requires only occasional irrigation. Once weekly during hot, dry weather is generally plenty. Coral vine normally needs no fertilizer. Prune it every year in late winter or early spring to keep the size in check, then trim as needed throughout the year. Alternatively, just shear the plant to the ground in spring. It will bounce back in no time at all.
Benefits for bees: (Space between heading and information)
The flowers provide a very good source of nectar and pollen, it is extensively visited by honeybees producing light coloured honey with a lovely fragrance.
STRAWBERRY
Aarbei
Scientific name: Fragaria ananassa
Country of origin: Northern hemisphere temperate regions.
Description (Height, spread, bloom):
The strawberry is a low-growing herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and a crown from which basal leaves arise. The leaves are compound, typically with three leaflets, sawtooth-edged, and usually hairy. The flowers are generally white, borne in small clusters on slender stalks arising, like the surface-creeping stems, from the axils of the leaves. As the plant ages, the root system becomes woody, this leads to stolons to form from the “mother” crown that touches the ground and root, thus enlarging the plant.
Cultivation:
Plants are propagated from runners.
Season for planting:
Spring.
Requirements (location, soil, light, water, frost, warnings):
It needs 6-10 hours a day of direct sunlight, it prefers loamy soil that drains well. The well-drained soil needs aged manure or compost. Do not plant in a site that recently had strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, or eggplant. Provide adequate space for sprawling. Be diligent about weeding. Strawberry plants need a lot of water.
Blooming season:
It blooms in spring.
Diseases and other problems:
Around 200 species of pests are known to attack strawberries both directly and indirectly. These pests include slugs, moths, fruit flies, chafers, strawberry root weevils, strawberry thrips, strawberry sap beetles, strawberry crown moth, mites, aphids, and others. The caterpillars of several species of Lepidoptera feed on strawberry plants. For example, the ghost moth is known to be a pest of the strawberry plant. Strawberry plants can fall victim to many diseases, especially when subjected to stress.
Maintenance:
Watering strawberry roots, and not the leaves, is preferred as moisture on leaves encourages fungal growth. When the growing season is over, mow or cut foliage down to one inch. In winter add mulch to plants about 4 inches deep with straw, pine needles, or other organic material.
Benefits for bees: (Space between heading and information)
Strawberry pollination is best accomplished by bees and other insects. Although the flowers do not produce a lot of nectar, bees will still visit the flowers and ensure complete pollination. Encourage bees and insects to visit your strawberries by planting other flowering plants nearby.
