garden design photos with aloes and lilies are water saving.

Lilies which have the same needs as the aloes and succulents(fat plants) in the water wise garden can bring color to the garden without any extra maintenance. There are many lilies that can grow with the aloes. Choose the lilies that fit your climate. Some lilies loose their leaves in the dry summer months others go dormant in the cold winter months but the Amaryllis is one which will keep leaves if it is watered throughout the year - provided the winter is mild.
As with the design of any garden, first draw up a sketch on paper. Group the lilies of the same color for a stronger effect. Mixing colors gives an informal effect which can also be pretty. Choose an assortment of bulbs to bloom at different times of the year. Plant winter blooming bulbs with aloes that need little or no water in summer (a winter rainfall climate) and the other way round for summer rainfall plants. This garden is easy to care for.
Here are lilies endemic to South Africa as well as two endemic terrestrial orchids. Most lilies species will grow well with aloes. The aloes do not need much water so that the hardy lilies can stay in the ground year round.

click on the links for gardens planted with:- succulents, flowers, bulbs and caudiciform plants.
aloe gardens	aloe & flowers	aloe formal	aloe & rocks	succulents	cotyledons
Please note. The name lily is used as a common name. All these plants do not belong to the Liliaceae family.

These photos are for the pleasure to look at the succulent plants, it is not for an identification guide.

above an endemic Amaryllis and right an endemic Iris used world wide in water saving gardens.

A few endemic lilies from the Western Cape Province and Namaqualand, South Africa

photo left. Two different lilies left front with Euphorbia left back and Aloe sabaea to the right.

photo right; The large bulb and beautiful leaves of Boophane disticha.


Photo above left : Amaryllis belladonna a scented lily known as March lily. (March is autumn in the southern hemisphere) This lily blooms before the leaves appear.
Photo right: Haemanthus coccinius known as Paintbrush
The seeds of these lilies are large soft and fleshy and should be planted before drying out, therefore it is not possible to ship these seeds.



The lilies above are Ferraria sp.
seeds available

Photo left Gladiolus species

Gladiolus orchidiflorus


photo above left *Synnotia variegata*. These lilies grow very easy from seeds
photo right :- Babiana species

Veltheimia glauca and Veltheimia capensis are beautiful lilies from the winter rainfall Western Cape. These lilies do not loose their leaves if they are watered in the summer, but water sparingly late evening or early morning when the day is cool. Dry is better than too wet - in dry weather they will only loose their leaves, too wet they rot.

photos from left to right:-

A lovely lilac-blue Lachenalia sp., Lachenalia alooides and another bright pink Lachenalia species


Scilla peruviana from the Mediteranean Islands. Not endemic to South Africa but it grows very well in the winter rainfall climate of the Western Cape.
Thank you Rosemarie from California for the info.

Something special - Terrestrial Orchids

These terrestrial orchids (center front) shed their leaves and disappear in the dry summer. The glossy leaves are pretty but the flowers are inconspicuous to say the least. The large leaves to the right is Haemanthus coccinius a lily (each leaf is approximate 30 cm long) and the small blue-green plant in the background left, next to the stone is an aloe hybrid

This terrestrial orchid Eulophia petersii grows widespread in eastern Africa. It is very happy in the aloe garden even in dry times as long as it is in shade. The relative small flowers are charming with the curling petals.

lily seeds available $2.50 per packet	quantity per packet
Veltheimia capensis	20
Veltheimia glauca	20
Feraria uncinata	30 + small seeds
Lachenalia namaquensis	50 + small seeds
Lachenalia sp. mixed	50 + small seeds
Synnotia variegata	50 + small seeds
The small seeds are difficult to count. A packet contains not less than the amount stated, usually more seeds. The large seeds of Veltheimia are more expensive as there is only one seed per pod. Contact us for information on availability and how to order..