Module 10 - List of indigenous herbaceous perennials and ground covers

South African plants for Cape Town gardens

Herbaceous perennials / groundcovers
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Agapanthus spp.	Agapanthus, Bloulelie	Large (up to 1,5m) or miniature (to 50cm) forms; strap-like leaves; white or blue flower heads on tall stems	√	√	√	√	√	√
	Aloe ciliaris		Hardy succulent climber up to 5 m long; leaves in a rosette; red flowers with yellow tips all year	(Eastern Cape)	√	√	√	√	√	Flowers attract sunbirds
	Aloe commixta		Succulent shrub to 1 m with yellow to orange flowers in Spring	√	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract sunbirds
	Arctotis stoechadifolia	Kusgousblom	Sprawling, silvery woolly perennial to 35cm; cream-coloured flowers	√	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Asparagus densiflorus		Compact groundcover to 50 cm; feathery leaves on arching stems; small white flowers and red berries		√	√	√		√	Fruit attracts birds
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Barleria obtusa	Barleria, Bosviooltjie	Sprawling, slightly hairy shrub to 2m; mauve to blue flowers	(Humansdorp northwards)	√	√	√	√	√
	Carpobrotus spp.	Sour fig, Suurvy	Spreading groundcover; large juicy leaves; bright yellow or magenta flowers; edible fruits	√	√	√	√	√		Baboons and people eat fruit
	Cliffortia ferruginea	Glastee, Teringtee, Pypsteelbos	Sprawling shrublet with reddish branches; inconspicuous flowers	√	√	√		√
	Clivia miniata	Bush Lily, Boslelie	Evergreen bulb to 60 cm; strap shaped dark green leaves; cluster of orange tubular flowers			√	√		√
	Crassula multicava	Fairy crassula	Mat-forming evergreen groundcover; dainty pink flowers in late Spring		√	√	√		√
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Crassula spathulata		Fast-growing groundcover to 40 cm with smooth leaves and white flowers; needs water in summer	(Knysna to E Cape)	√	√	√		√
	Crocosmia aurea	Montbretia	Summer growing bulb with bright yellow star shaped flowers		√	√	√		√
	Diascia integerrima	Twinspur, Pensies	Bushy perennial to 45cm; pink or white flowers with 2 spurs in Summer			√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Diascia mollis	Diascia	Soft, spreading groundcover; rounded leaves; many pink flowers			√	√		√	Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Dietes bicolor	Peacock flower, Uintjie	Clumps to 75cm; sword-like leaves; yellow flowers with brown blotches; semi-hardy geophyte		√	√	√	√
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Dietes grandiflora	Wild Iris	Clumps to 1m; sword-like leaves; white & mauve flowers with yellow markings; hardy geophyte		√	√	√	√
	Dracaena aletriformis	Dragon Tree	Upright shrub with a rosette of long leaves; sweetly scented white flowers			√	√		√
	Dymondia margaretae	Carpet Gazania	Mat-forming perennial to 5cm; rosette of leaves; yellow flowers		√	√	√	√
	Felicia aethiopica	Wilde-astertjie	Soft, hairy shrub to 1m; blue daisy with yellow centre	√	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Felicia filifolia	Draaibossie	Branched shrub to 1m; needle-like leaves; mauve daisy, yellow centre	√		√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Gazania rigens	Trailing Gazania,	Spreading groundcover; leaves green above & white below; yellow daisy flowers all year around	(George eastwards)	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Geranium incanum	Carpet Geranium, Vrouetee, Bergtee	Spreading groundcover; feathery leaves; light pink to mauve flowers	√	√	√		√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Hebenstretia dura		Perennial with narrow leaves; spikes of white flowers with orange throats in summer	√	√	√	√	√
	Helichrysum cymosum	Everlasting, Sewejaartjie	Groundcover to 50cm; greyish leaves; small yellow flowers	√	√	√		√
	Helichrysum petiolare	Kooigoed	Straggling grey, woolly groundcover; aromatic leaves	√	√	√	√	√
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Helichrysum petiolare ‘Limelight’	Kooigoed	Spreading groundcover with yellow-green leaves; aromatic leaves; lives 2-3 years		√	√	√		√
	Helichrysum retortum	Strooiblom	Straggling, silvery shrublet to 50cm; flower heads shiny white	√	√	√		√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Hermannia pinnata	Doll's Rose	Small sprawling shrub with fine leaves and scented yellow-orange flowers in Spring	√	√	√		√	√
	Jordaaniella dubia		Creeping perennial vygie, rooting at nodes; flowers in Winter	√	√			√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Lampranthus species (e.g. L. reptans, L. filicaulis)	Vygies	Creeping perennials with flowers in Winter or Spring	√	√	√		√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Limonium perigrinum	Sea Lavender, Papierblom	Shrub to 1m; branches leafy at tips; papery magenta flowers	√	√	√		√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Monopsis lutea	Yellow Lobelia	Sprawling herbaceous perennial with yellow flowers in Summer	√	√	√		√	√
	Osteospermum ecklonis	Trailing Daisy, Van Staden’s Daisy	Trailing shrub to 1,5m;white daisy flowers with purple centres	√	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Osteospermum jucundum	Mauve Trailing Daisy, Bergbietou	Perennial trailing groundcover; purple daisy flowers Autumn to Spring			√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Pelargonium tomentosum	Peppermint-Scented Pelargonium	Strong groundcover to 40 cm; velvety peppermint-scented leaves and smal white flowers in Spring and Summer	√	√	√	√	√	√
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Plectranthus madagascariensis	Forest Sage, Spoorsalie	Sprawling plant; green & white leaves; spikes of white flowers		√	√	√		√
	Plectranthus neochilus	Spur flower	Semi-succulent groundcover; aromatic leaves; dense flower spikes		√	√	√	√	√	Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Plectranthus verticillatus		Groundcover to 50 cm with white flowers in Autumn			√	√		√	Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Psoralea repens		Sprawling shrublet with trifoliate, fleshy leaves and violet flowers in Summer	√	√			√
	Scabiosa africana	Scabious	Soft perennial up to 1m; mauve flower heads July-November	√	√	√	√	√		Flowers attract insect pollinators
	Scientific name	Common name	Brief description	Indigenous to Cape Town	Calcar- eous sand	Acid sand	Clay	Sun	Shade	Animals
	Scadoxus multiflorus		Striking bulb with large, upright, spreading leaves and large bright red flower clusters on long stems to 1.5 m		√	√	√		√
	Sutera cordata	Stinkbossie	Sprawling, softly hairy perennial; white flowers with yellow throat	(George to East London)	√	√	√	√
	Thorncroftia succulenta		Aromatic herb with succulent leaves and stems to 60 cm; tubular mauve flowers in Autumn		√	√	√	√
	Veltheimia bracteata	Forest Lily, Sandui	Deciduous bulb that grows in Winter; glossy bright green leaves; cluster of pink flowers in Spring to 60 cm	(Humansdorp to E Cape)	√	√	√		√	Flowers attract sunbirds