Featured Plant: Osteospermum fruticosum

Osteospermum fruticosum is now known as Dimorphotheca fruticosa. It has a variety of common names, the most popular being Creeping Marguerite and Trailing African Daisy.

This evergreen groundcover is quite fast-growing. It grows to a height of just under 30cm and a width of 70cm. The flowers are about 5cm wide and appear mostly in spring, but there will be a few random flowers spread throughout the year. The flowers close at night and on cloudy days. In nature Osteospermum fruticosum has white flowers, but hybrids with pink, maroon, or yellow flowers are also available.

Osteospermumm fruticosum is native to South Africa, growing along the coast in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil with some compost added. It is quite drought-tolerant once established. I water mine once every second week, but small plants should be watered more regularly, especially in hot, dry weather.

Osteospermum fruticosum grows very easily from cuttings, taken during autumn or spring. They will be ready for planting out in the garden within a couple of months. Remember that in Cape Town autumn (especially the month of April) is the best time for planting out most indigenous plants.

Featured Plant: Drosanthemum speciosum

Drosanthemum speciosum has many common names and is also known as: 'Scarlet Dewflower', 'Red Bush Vygie' or 'Berg Vygie'.

This is a very fast-growing, evergreen small shrub or groundcover that grows in a low mound about 60 cm wide. The flowers are roughly 5cm wide and red with a white center. Flowers appear in Spring (October in my garden) and close in the evening or cloudy weather.

After 3 to 5 years the plant will become a bit woody and scruffy and should then be replaced. Fortunately it is easy to grow yourself, from cuttings (taken in Autumn) or from seed (also in Autumn). It is also commonly sold in 6-packs at the larger garden centers. The best time to plant it out in the garden is during Autumn, before the winter rains start.

Plant Drosanthemum speciosum in full sun to get the maximum amount of flowers, although it will also tolerate some light shade. This is a very drought tolerant species and only needs water once every 3 weeks in Summer once established. In fact, over-watering may cause the plant to rot, so you should keep it dry during the summer months. The soil should be well-drained, preferably sand or loam. As this plant grows naturally in the Worcester and Robertson areas, which are even hotter and drier than Cape Town, this plant grows very well in the milder conditions found in Cape Town.