Chumasande MatiwaneThe autumn and winter months are wonderfully colourful in the rainfall areas of South Africa. This is where we see many flowers bloom in the cooler months. But some areas in the country get dry, yet still show up with indigenous plants. Your garden can be more colourful than the summer garden; it’s just a matter of knowing what to plant that blooms in autumn.
Millettia grandis ( Umzimbeet )
Known as Umzimbeet, this plant is a hardy, decorative, medium-sized, deciduous tree that has a dense, spreading crown. The growth of the leaves is a beautiful bronze colour when they first unfurl in springtime, but they will turn almost lime green, darkening with age. The plant will erect spikes of purple pea-like flowers that stand out well above the leaves from November until late April, fitting into the autumn bloom plants.
Camphor bush
Scientifically known as the Tarchonanthus camphoratus. These shrubs exude strong camphor-like fragrances. The Camphor Bush is arguably one of the toughest shrubs to plant in your garden and is hardy against the Cape winter winds, coping well with the drying salt air, frost and drought. Camphor bushes are built for extreme conditions. Expect fluffy white seed heads from March right through the late winter months. One of the things to note is that the Camphor Bush is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers are borne on separate trees.
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Weeping sage bush
By now, we all know that some plants wait for autumn to shine and show up, offering fresh colour just as summer gardens begin to fade. That’s exactly what the lush plants of the weeping sage bush do. They burst into a sea of purple, blue, white and pink flowers in autumn. This shrub will fill the garden with fragrant autumn and winter blooms that will keep your garden looking lively.
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Tortoise berry
This small shrub is a lovely filler in fynbos gardens. Preferring coastal conditions along the Eastern, Northern Cape and Western Cape for their winter moisture, but it can also thrive in most climates throughout the country. Tortoise berry shrubs will display profuse flowers of pink and purple from April to July or August. Their natural habitat is usually sandy, free-draining, or even rocky soils, and they are planted in full sun.
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