The Garden Centre Association (GCA) and Life is a Garden, the marketing arm of the South African Nursery Association (Sana), have launched a four-week Plants for Hope charity promotion to support the Cancer Association of South Africa’s (Cansa) 80th anniversary celebrations.
With the theme, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Cansa’s anniversary celebrations strike a chord with many gardeners who have revelled in the glorious spring blooms of the white, lilac and purple flowers of the brunfelsia, commonly known as the yesterday, today and tomorrow. Lilac is also the colour of hope and the promotion is focused on plants for hope.
Garden centres have all approached the promotion from a different angle. Some have targeted lilac, purple and white flowering plants, while others have set up a lilac corner filled with a variety of plants including a range of perennials, shrubs and climbers.
In addition to plants, suppliers have included a colourful selection of gumboots for the Cansa promotion in lilac, pale blue and pale green which would make fabulous gifts for the festive season. R2 from the purchase of every plant (and each pair of gumboots) identified as a Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow promotional item will go to Cansa South Africa.
Depending on their use, many of the promotional plants can be combined to create a calm, romantic haven or an impactful striking garden. It is also important to make sure that plants which thrive in full sun are placed together.
A highlight of the Cansa promotional plants this summer is the large number of agapanthus cultivars which have been chosen for the promotion. Agapanthus thrive in full sun and flower in midsummer.
Plumbago Cape royal is a cultivar with dark blue flowers and will be a winner if planted beside the whispy pink butterfly bush (Gaura lindheimeri siskiyou pink). The butterfly blooms of gaura provide textural delicacy. They also look superb planted en masse.
For impact plant the blue-flowering agapanthus and plumbago beside the golden to almost orange blooms of day lilies such as Double Talk. Agapanthus, plumbago, gaura and day lilies are all water-wise plants and can be easily overwatered for little effect.
Although the flowering season of the yesterday, today and tomorrow bush may be coming to an end, the large flowers of the magnificent Brunfelsia pauciflora floribunda make it a worthy addition to any garden.
If you have a shade garden, look out for hydrangea endless summer pink and hydrangea you & me, both of which thrive in semi-shade and will provide a great contrast to the lilac blooms of Plectranthus Mona lavender. Also look out for a host of fuchsia hybrids which are in flower.
This is the full list of Plants for Hope available in Gauteng during November:
* Colour pots: Pelargonium royal white and royal night, petunia cascades great spark, vinca titan Burgundy and titan polka dot
* Indoor plants: Anthurium andreanum, peace lilies.
* Perennials: Agapanthus, Anthericum saundersii, bacopa blue and white, evolvulus blue daze, gaura, day lily double talk, Inca lilies (princess), Tulbachia silver lace, verbena.
* Shrubs: Brunsfelsia, camellia sasanqua, cordyline red sensation, cycas revolute, duranta variegated, euphorbia diamond fizz and diamond frost, Fuchsia hybrids, gardenia Belmont, hydrangea, lavendula Margaret Roberts, Murraya exotica, ophiopogon, pentas, plectranthus Mona lavender, plumbago, rosemary, serissa foetida variegata, strelizia regina, cocos palms and viburnum sinensis.
* Participating Cansa promotion garden centres in Gauteng include Builders Express, Builders Warehouse, Colourful Corner (Randburg), Colourful Splendour (Craighall Park), Flora Farm (Boksburg), Garden Pavilion (13 retailers – try Bedfordview, Kempton Park, Brackendowns, Honeydew and Vereeniging), Lifestyle Garden Centre (Randburg) and Plantland (nine branches from Krugersdorp to Midrand and Pretoria). Go to www.lifeisagarden.co.za - Saturday Star