saving water aloe garden xeriscape in south africa

A xeriscape garden is a water saving garden using endemic plants of your region. These plants would be used to the natural rainfall and would not need extra water.

Saving water is getting to be urgent in Africa as well as many countries around the world.

Gardening with succulent plants which need very little water is a wise way to garden.

In South Africa we have many plant species that have adapted to survive with very little water, of which lilies, Aloes, Euphorbias, Haworthias, mesembs, Delosperma, Stapelia are only a few. All these plants can grow with aloes in the garden. For more garden ideas go to succulentplants.net

[mesembs]

[gasteria]

[ cotyledons ]

[tylecodon]

[ kalanchoe ]

[asclepiads]

[ lilies ]

[ other ]

One common Oxalis species is mostly seen as a weed, but take a look at some beautiful rare endemic Oxalis species.

Water wise gardens are very easy to maintain and it can be eye catching with an assortment of different plants mainly for the flowers or the plants such as fatplants or succulents.

The number one point to remember is that the plants do not need or want to be watered more than is absolute necessary. If a plant starts to shrivel, check to see if the plant is rooted, before you give water. Often the plant shrivel because of root rot due to too much water and not because the plant is dry. - treat with anti-fungus and leave the plant dry, it will form new roots.

Succulents with root rot should be removed and placed in a dry place in shade until new roots form before they are planted again. Resurrecting an aloe

Click for a few aloe gardens on my garden website aloes with flowers, aloes with succulents or an aloe garden with rocks and stones

Choose an assortment of bulbs to bloom at different times of the year.

above left: - The Gazanias has been cultivated in many colors. They can take harsh treatment, but they do need some watering in the winter rainfall areas during summer if you want to keep them in bloom.. click for more photos
above right:- A colorful winter garden in the winter rainfall area is easy with daisies, mesembs and aloe.

	Many other succulent species have flowers that are not colorful but intriguing like Stapeliads. click for more photos


The idea of a Xeriscape garden is to make a garden by using endemic plants to fit into your ecology. It will not need to be watered more than the normal rain of the region. This garden will also be welcomed by the local critters. While they may not all be welcomed by the gardener, they do have their uses in nature and they can be very interesting citizens of your garden world.
	These bright metallic green little beetles play around on the mesemb blooms in the rainy (winter) season. They probably eat only pollen and nectar (assisting in pollination) as they do not eat the leaves of the plant or flowers. click for more photos

Wildlife is an interesting and beautiful part of the garden, even the small creepy ones, except for ants. They do a immense harm in an aloe garden. It is not just a few holes out of a flower or leaf.

Illegal plants

Category 1: These plants have been declared weeds and may not occur on land or inland water surfaces. They may not be sold. If they already occur in your garden, they have to be removed and destroyed immediately. Examples: Yellow and orange cestrum (Cestrum aurantiacum), morning glory (Ipomoea indica, I. alba) (applies only to Northern Province, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga), lantana species that produce seed, oleander (Nerium oleander)
Category 2: These plants may only be grown in areas that have been specifically set aside for this purpose. This usually indicates plants for agriculture or forestry purposes. Examples: Weeping willow (Salix babylonica), sisal hemp, sisal (Agave sisalena), castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis)
Category 3: If you already have plants of this category in your garden, they may remain, but no new plants may be propagated or sold. Examples: Orchid tree (Bauhinia variegata), cotoneaster (Cotoneaster franchetii), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), morning glory (Ipomoea indica, I. alba, I. purpurea)


Succulent plants are beautiful whether in bloom or not.
Gardening in pots and containers save water and it can be very impressive
Another interesting garden theme is a xeriscape garden

Xeriscape or succulent plants for the garden