Sutherlandia frutescens (Cancer Bush)
Sutherlandia frutescens is a very hardy, evergreen, fast growing, sun-loving shrub with lovely silver-grey foliage. The striking, large, luminous orange pea-like flowers are borne from September to December. They attract Sunbirds and insects to the garden. These are followed by inflated green to pink, papery pods that are so light they are dispersed by wind. The pods and flowers are decorative in a vase. It is an important medicinal plant and has traditional uses as well. This beautiful slender shrub is a must for any garden. Plant several together for effect and use as a textural plant. It makes a beautiful container plant. It is both wind and drought resistant. This is a short-lived plant but it seeds itself freely.
Prune regularly to encourage it to bush out. This unfussy plant tolerates many different soil types and tolerates dry conditions but thrives with sufficient water (do not overwater). Plant in full sun. Size: to 50cm to 1m (https://www.randomharvest.co.za/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/695?Plant=Sutherlandia%20frutescens)
2. Ruspolia hypocrateriformis (Red Ruspolia)
Ruspolia hypocrateriformis is a fairly hardy, evergreen, scrambling woody shrub with bright green foliage. The spikes of showy pink to red flowers with darker spots on their lower petals are borne at the tips of new growth throughout summer and into autumn. Butterflies are attracted to the garden by the large amount of nectar that these flowers produce. The flowers are followed by a dry capsule which splits with a loud crack to release the seed within. Makes an interesting garden subject as a shrub and is said to make a good hedge. It is not readily available in nurseries. Plant in full sun or semi-shade, in fertile, well-drained, loamy soil. Size: 1m but can climb to about 4m (https://www.randomharvest.co.za/en-us/South-African-Indigenous-Plants/Show-Plant/PlantId/510/Plant/Ruspolia-hypocrateriformis)
3. Erythrina acanthocarpa (Tambookie Thorn)
The tambookie thorn is a much branched, deciduous, thorny shrub reaching up to 2m in height. The striking flowers are scarlet with the upper petal edged with green and are held in heads up to 10cm long and about 12cm wide. This is a very attractive shrub when in flower and makes an excellent garden specimen. Care should be taken not to plant it alongside paving as the large underground rootstock may cause the paving to lift. It performs best in a full sun position planted in well drained soil. Do not overwater and keep relatively dry in winter. It is frost hardy. (http://pza.sanbi.org/erythrina-acanthocarpa)
(Image from Wildflower Nursery)
4. Crossandra greenstockii (Bushveld Crossandra)
Crossandra greenstockii is a beautiful little perennial that sprouts annually from a woody rootstock and looks stunning on a rockery. It flowers for quite a long time in summer. Flowers can either be orange or red. It grows in well-drained acid soil amongst grasses. The flower stalks emerge erectly from basal rosettes of broad green, unevenly lobed leaves.
Interplant Crossandra greenstockii with grasses in full sun. It responds well to a fertile, well-drained soil. (https://wildflowernursery.co.za/indigenous-plant-database/crossandra-greenstockii/)
5. Gloriosa superba (Flame Lily)
Gloriosa superba is a striking climber with unusual and beautiful, red and yellow, flame-like flowers in summer; it is suitable for shade or sun, and is easy to grow. The slender stems are produced annually and are upright to scrambling and can grow up to 4 m long. Tubers sprout in spring, and a tuber sends up 1 to 6 stems. The leaves are shiny, bright green and are tipped in a tendril, which will cling to anything it touches. The stems die back in late summer and the tubers are dormant during winter. PLEASE NOTE: that all parts of this plant, both above and below ground, but particularly the tubers, are extremely poisonous, and ingestion could be fatal. The plants contain the alkaloid colchicine. It is a widely used and effective medicinal plant, but incorrect dosage has caused human deaths. Use with extreme caution and only under guidance of a qualified practitioner. Keep the tubers and the seed capsules away from pets and children and do not let the sap come into contact with your mouth or eyes while working with them, as it can cause skin irritation. The tubers are poisonous to grazing stock. (http://pza.sanbi.org/gloriosa-superba)
While most people prefer to have a landscape filled with the tried and tested plants it can also be exciting to experiment with unusual plants that can bring an element of surprise and interest to your garden.
Which Unusual Indigneous Plant is your favourite?