Botanicals

FIRE ERICA, Erica cerinthoides is one of a few Erica's that re-sprout from a woody root stock after fire. Fire thus keeps this plant in a good healthy condition and will stimulate flowering at any time of the year.

WATER ERICA, Erica caffra is one of about 760 species of Erica in South Africa. The generic name Erica comes from the Greek word, ereike, which means to break. This was because it was thought that an infusion of certain heath plants would help break up kidney stones. The species name caffra, an Arabic word for an unbeliever, used by the early explorers for the indigenous people they found in the country

WHITE BOTTLEBRUSH ERICA, Erica sessiliflora is most unusual among Erica as it is serotinous, i.e. it retains its seed for several years on the bush. The fruiting bodies may stay attached to a branch for up to seven years or until the bush is burnt, whereupon the seed is released.

ERICA DISCOLOR, Erica discolor varies from an erect, single-stemmed or sparsely branched, reseeding shrub up to 2 m tall, to a dense-growing, multi-stemmed, re-sprouting shrub, about 1 m tall. Flowers are tubular and slightly curved, smooth, sometimes slightly sticky, pink to dark orange-red with pale yellow to white tips. The name Erica discolor describes the way the flower changes colour from the tip to the base. 

ERICA IRREGULARIS, Erica irregularis is endemic to a very small area of the Western Cape called Gansbaai. 

SALT AND PEPPER ERICA, The flowers of Erica imbricata are white but they have contrasting dark brown protruding stamens. The scattering of these black and white flowers over the bush has given it the common name of Salt & Pepper Heath, as though someone has been shaking a good dose of seasoning all over the plant.

WHITE PAINTBRUSH LILY,  Heamanthus albiflos is an evergreen lily that, like many Fynbos plants, flowers in winter. The flower head (known as an umbel in botanical terms) is compact, usually about 30-50 mm wide, and consists of numerous erect, narrow white flowers, enclosed by several broad, greenish-white bracts.

FIRE LILY, the Fire Lily defies the elements by producing its scarlet blooms just nine days after the destructive effects of a fire

CANDELABRA LILY, Brunsvigia bosmaniae flowers vary in shades of pale to bright pink, with darker keels. Each flower head consist of 20-40 flowers. When in flower, the plant are spectacular and have a narcissus like scent.

AFRICAN FLG, Chasmanthe foribunda is the largest and most floriferous of the three species in the genus, as reflected in the specific epithet floribundus, Latin for ‘producing many flowers’. Restricted to the coastal and near-inland parts of the winter-rainfall zone of South Africa, extending from coastal Namaqualand in the Northern Cape, south to the Cape Peninsula and east to Hermanus in the Western Cape.

KING PROTEA, Protea cynaroides  has the largest flowering head in the genus Protea. It gets all the water it needs from the fog. The leaves absorbs the moist which collects on the surface.

PROTEA NERIIFOLIA, The leaves of Protea neriifolia are most often bright or dark green and look quite like the leaves of the oleander (Nerium oleander). This accounts for the species name neriifolia, which means 'with leaves resembling those of the oleander'.

WABOOM, Protea nitida or Waboom is the only species of Protea to form large trees yielding usable timber. The wood was popular for the manufacture of ornamental furniture. It also made excellent charcoal. The bark was used for tanning leather. 

COMMON PINCUSHION, Leucospermum cordifolium is a rounded spreading shrub up to 2 m in diameter and about 1,5 m high, with a single main stem and horizontally spreading stems, hard green leaves and 1 to 3 large inflorescence borne at the end on the stem. The inflorescence consist of a large number of small flowers. It is the stiff protruding styles of the flowers which are the source of the common name "pincushion" for this genus.

ROCKET PINCUSHION, Leucospermum reflexum is a rounded, silvery grey leaved shrub up to 4m tall with yellow or deep orange to crimson flower heads from spring to midsummer.

TOTTUM PINCUSHION, The Leucospermum family of Fynbos shrubs are commonly known as Pincushions. It is the stiff protruding styles of the flowers which are the source of the common name "pincushion" for this genus. An added attraction during flowering time are the numerous birds found near the plants.

KOOIGOED, The Khoi-Khoi used this beautiful honey fragranced plant as bedding, and as an insect repellant. It is also known as Imphepo (Xhosa) and the smoke is used to protect the home.

 BLOMBOS,  Metalasia muricata is also known as the white bristle bush. In Lesotho the dried leaves are used as tea, and in coastal regions it is planted on dunes to stop erosion. Metalasia is widespread in the Western Cape, from the coast to the mountains. It also occurs in other parts of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Eastern Cape and Lesotho.

HARDEBOS, Phyllica ericoides grows prolifically throughout the mountains of the Western Cape. It is not a true "erica" plant (South African version of heather), hence its name "ericoides" which means "like Erica".

SUNSHINE CONEBUSH, Leucadendron salignum is a multi-stemmed shrub with a persistent rootstock, which enables it to resprout after fire. The variability of growing conditions, from mild winter temperatures to snow and frost near mountain tops, as well as the variability of leaves and bracts, from greenish-yellow to vivid orange-red, have made this species an excellent candidate for breeding.

MIMETS, Mimetes cucullatus is also known as the pagoda tree.The unusual flower heads distinguish this genius from the other protea family.

SONKWAS RESTIO, Willdenowia incurvata is an evergreen, perennial, grass-like restio that grows 0.5 to 1.5 m high and up to 3 m wide. Plants have short rhizomes and make a base of 0.3–3 m in diameter. Culms are branched, curved inwards and striped; brown sheaths loosely convoluted.

CAPE THATCHING RESTIO, Elegia tectorum like all members of the Restio family has male and female flower on seperate plants. The name Elegia in Latin meaning song of lamentation while the species name come from the Latin name tectorum meaning 'roofing'.

PAPER SHEAT RESTIO, Paper-sheat Restio or Askidiosperma andreaenum is derived from the Greek word 'askion', which means small bag or sac ,and 'sperma' meaning seed.It has a very attractive texture and rounded form and always hides the dead culms with new growth.