The South African Garden in July, looking towards The House
With a somewhat unlikely title, especially on our north facing slope drenched by 60″ (152cm) of rain each year is the South African Garden, the first area you enter on The Long Walk. This area is home to a huge range of species and their derivatives from South Africa brought together to form a dazzling meadow planting from about June onwards (sunglasses required!).
Kniphofia caulescens 'Oxford Blue'
The core of the show is from an ever increasing selection of some well-known South African perennials. Conspicuous among them are dieramas, one of the garden’s signature plants, which are planted in colours from white through pink to the darkest purple starting into flower towards the end of June. A number of different kniphofias bloom in sucession throughout the season, some such as the bromeliad-like K. northiae and steely blue-leaved K. caulescens ‘Oxford Blue’ striking for their foliage even without their flowers!
Visitors are fascinated by the large sideways looking lilac heads of the spine-clad Berkheya purpurea. Phygelius (Cape Figworts) provide a long season with their stems of tubular flowers in pale yellow through orange to red, and fuchsia pink. No such garden could be without agapanthus, plentiful in this area, and flowering from late July onwards in cultivars ranging from pure white to darkest inky blue – always much sought after in the plant centre. Crocosmias are also well represented adding vibrant oranges and reds to the scheme from August onwards.
Added to the perennial plantings each year are an evolving list of annuals including South African Dimorphotheca, Ursinia and species of Arctotis. These are supplemented by other long-flowering and colourific species from elsewhere which include poppies, Elscholtzia, species of Linum (flax) Nemophilla and Clarkia.
The Spring Garden in mid May
Accessed by taking the paths sharp right as you first enter or as you leave The South African Garden is The Spring Garden visible for its grouping of Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’. Theses are surrounded by a sophisticated tapestry of evergreen azaleas, Daboecia and the seldom seen Richea scoparia. At their best in May are some fabulous compact rhododendrons in cluding the terracotta orange ‘Fabia Tangerine’ and gorgeous, black-crimson flowered Thomaleum Group.
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Next: The Cottage Garden
