Spring sprouts: Native plants to look out for

As winter fades and temperatures begin to rise, South Africa’s landscapes start to come alive.

From the Western Cape’s spectacular spring fynbos to the colourful blooms of the Highveld and subtropical plants of KwaZulu-Natal, the warmer months offer plenty to discover.

For gardeners, hikers and nature lovers, spring and summer are an ideal time to look more closely at the country’s indigenous flora.

Here are some native plants to keep an eye out for in the months ahead

Watsonias

Tall spikes of watsonia are a good sign that spring has arrived. These indigenous bulbs can produce striking flowers above their sword-shaped leaves, and some Cape species are well suited to fynbos gardens.

You can easily spot watsonias on Table Mountain, producing showy summer flowers and attracting sunbirds and sugarbirds.

Proteas

Cape Town’s iconic proteas are another spring favourite. Although flowering times vary between species, spring and early summer can reveal an impressive range of these characteristic Cape plants.

The Fynbos Walk at Kirstenbosch is particularly rewarding at this time of year, with proteas, pincushions, conebushes and other fynbos plants contributing to one of the city’s most distinctive seasonal displays.

Image Credit: Pexels

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzias)

The distinctive bird of paradise flowers of strelitzias are synonymous with South African gardens.

They produce the famous orange-and-blue flowers. These beauties are native to South Africa; these plants are particularly associated with warmer parts of the country and make striking features in gardens.

Wild dagga (Leonotis leonurus)

Despite its name, wild dagga is not related to the cannabis plant. This indigenous South African shrub is known for its distinctive whorls of orange flowers arranged around tall stems.

Loved by gardeners who are creating water-wise and wildlife-friendly gardens, where its nectar-rich flowers can attract sunbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Look for it flowering through the warmer months, particularly in regions where summer rainfall supports vigorous growth, around the Eastern and KZN provinces.

Image Credit: Pexels

One of the pleasures of watching indigenous plants is seeing how different regions respond to the changing seasons. In the Western Cape, a winter rainfall climate means spring can bring spectacular displays of fynbos flowers, while summer rainfall regions may see a surge of growth and flowering as temperatures rise and rainfall arrives.

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