Agri Kultuur January / Januarie 2016 | Page 67

Erica verticillata This incredible Erica may take a little work to get established, but once it’s growing it’s happy to be left to its own devices apart from the occasional clipping to keep it neat. Never let the shape get out of hand, because it won’t tolerate hard pruning. Be rewarded in summer with masses of pink blooms. There are several varieties of this species with slightly different flower colours, but they are, without exception, show-stoppers. Eri ca verticilata African Phoenix Freylinia tropica Here’s a shrub that is seldom without blooms. It takes well to being clipped into just about any shape, but doesn’t like being cut back hard. Still, you won’t need to. Even when left to do what they like, they generally keep a tidy form, and the white flowers, while small, are carried in such profusion that they’re unmissable! Plus, it’s reasonably frost hardy – an undemanding beauty! Freylinia tropica White Never be without colour There’s nothing wrong with planting colourful perennials and annuals, but indigenous shrubs are the laid-back ladies of your garden. They don’t throw temper tantrums if you don’t have much time for them, and they’ll give you beautiful blooms to brighten up your life.