Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs

More than 100 species of indigenous shrubs in detail, advice on how to propagate it from seed or cuttings and how to care for it in the garden
Joffe, Pitta
easy-guide-to-indigenous-shrubs
978-1-875093-40-3
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Title:Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs
Author: Pitta Joffe
Briza Publications
Pretoria, South Africa 2003
ISBN 9781875093403 / ISBN 978-1-875093-40-3
Softcover, 21 x 26 cm, 128 pages, 200 colour photographs

About: Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs

Easy Guide to Indigenous Shrubs brings together a remarkable collection of indigenous shrubs – not only established favourites but also many lesser-known species that will amaze the reader with their beauty and versatility.

The book covers more than 100 species of indigenous shrubs in detail, with descriptive text and more than 200 full-colour photographs for easy identification.

Detailed species accounts include a description of the plant, advice on how to propagate it from seed or cuttings and how to care for it in the garden.

The author also shares fascinating snippets of information on the traditional uses of each plant and gives down-to-earth advice on how to use the plant in the garden to achieve the best effect.

A range of icons offers an easy overview of the plant’s size and shape, its cultivation requirements, uses, flower colour, flowering time and other special features.

The introductory section includes advice on planning a garden, how to plant and care for shrubs, how to propagate shrubs form seed and cuttings as well as hints on gardening for birds and butterflies.

Introduction:

What are shrubs and why do people like growing them?
Tips on planning a garden
How to plant and care for shrubs
Planting shrubs
Feeding shrubs
Keep your soil alive too!
Make the most of mulch
Pruning
Birds and butterflies bring your garden to life
Birds
Butterflies and moths
It's easy to propagate your own plants
Propagating plants from seeds
Propagating plants from cuttings
'Potting on' seedlings and cuttings
Propagation glossary
How to use this book
Small shrubs
Medium shrubs
Large shrubs
References
Index


Example:

Honeysuckle Tree

Turraea floribunda

MELIACEAE / 124 Large shrubs

Wildekamperfoelieboom, Kanferfoelieboom, umLahlana (X), umHIatholana (X), umLulama (Z), umAdlozane (Z)

Description and uses: The Honeysuckle Tree is beautiful in early spring, when masses of attractive cream-green honeysuckle-like flowers appear on its bare branches. Their wonderful fragrance fills the air. Whitebellied and Black Sunbirds visit the flowers for their rich nectar, thereby assisting with pollination. The rounded deeply ribbed fruits split along the ribs into segments which curl back to expose their shiny bright orange-red seeds (the open fruits look like woody flowers).

Fruit-eating birds such as Pied, Crested and Blackcollared Barbets, Grey and Purplecrested Louries, African Green Pigeon, Blackeyed Bulbul, Glossy Starlings and mousebirds are fond of the seeds and quickly remove them from the tree. Caterpillars of the Whitebarred Charaxes butterfly feed on the soft, light-green foliage. Traditional root remedies deal with dropsy, rheumatism, swollen joints and heart problems.

Flowering: Sept-Nov

Propagation: Easily propagated from seed; young trees grow fast (up to 1 m in the first year).

Cultivation: An excellent ornamental for medium to large gardens, it may develop into a tree of up to 10 m high in warm, moist climates. In such climates, ensure before planting that there is enough room for it to spread. Perfect for an informal shrub border in a large garden. Place it where the pretty flowers and fruits - and all the visitors they attract - can be seen to advantage.

Use it next to a large dam, or on the banks of a stream - it will look stunning. Plant it in a protected position in cold gardens, in fertile compost-enriched soil, mulch well, and water regularly in all areas. Feed with slow-release 3:1:5 fertiliser at intervals of 6-8 weeks throughout the growing season. Prune whenever necessary to neaten. 5 m x 3 m

Natural distribution: Wooded ravines, open woodland, coastal bush (where it can reach 15 m) and along streams, from the Eastern Cape northwards into tropical Africa. NTN 296