As the country’s landscape shakes off winter’s chill, the spring weather brings life with some of the country’s most beautiful annual flowers. These flowers are not only beautiful, but they also mark the beginning of spring for flowering plants.
Most popular spring flowers in SA
Bush lily
Blooming in spring/ summer and native to Southern Africa, the bush lily is a flowering green plant that grows best in woodland environments. The flower gives off a fragrant scent but is toxic and poisonous if ingested. In their natural environment, bush lily plants tend to grow together in clumps. The plant’s bright orange, reddish leaves make it a wildlife favourite native to South Africa.
Cape leadwort
The Cape leadwort is scientifically known as the Plumbago auriculata. These purple-blue flowers are native to South Africa. With their ear-shaped leaves, the leadwort flowers serve food for caterpillars and other small insects.
The plant’s sticky leaf petals can sometimes grab animals as small as a housefly. When deciding to grow the flower it is best to grow in soils that are kept evenly moist.
Peace lily
Wonderful as houseplants, striking with glossy dark green leaves. The peaceful lily flowers in spring with graceful white leaves that almost look like a white flag, this is where they get the name as the flag is known to symbolize peace. Growing the plant will require you to consider its soil as it needs moisture.
Phlox
These beautiful annuals bloom throughout the spring and summer seasons. They produce large solid heads of bright rich colours filling your garden with a range of colours. Admired for being one of the top warm-season flowers to look out for, especially in botanical gardens. When you see phlox flowers blooming know spring has arrived.
Golden dewdrops
Known as the forget-me-not bush, this ornamental shrub is a good option for tropical gardens. The gentle purple blossoms of the flower are often visited by butterflies and hummingbirds, bringing a plethora of wildlife into your garden this spring. It can sometimes be considered a weed. In the hottest month of summer, the flowers may require more water than usual.
With spring approaching rapidly, anticipate a wide variety of colourful blooms in your gardens. Spring not only brings vibrant blooms but also an abundance of beneficial insects to your garden.
Compiled by: Marian Volkwyn
First published by Woman&home
