Plants for Small Gardens

PLANTING SOLUTIONS

Plants for Small Gardens

Garden sizes are constantly shrinking resulting in the need for smaller, dwarf and more compact plants to fit into the confined space. Despite selecting these lesser sized plants, small gardens need regular pruning and trimming to keep the plants in proportion. This applies mainly to the larger trees and shrubs which need to be kept in check.

 

This list is by no means complete but includes some of the more recent introductions that comply with these requirements. Suitable for gardens in KwaZulu-Natal. Their botanical name is listed first with common names in (brackets).

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Annuals and Perennials

(Low Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns 

  • Agapanthus ‘Barley Blue’
    (dwarf blue agapanthus) (ED) (I)
  • Agapanthus ‘White Ice’
    (dwarf white agapanthus) (E) (I) – Note: many dwarf agapanthus’ are suitable for small gardens
  • Agapanthus africanus ‘Summer Gold’
    (variegated dwarf agapanthus) (E) (I)
  • Ajuga reptans Hybrids
    (carpet bugle) (ED)
  • Aloe ‘Peri Peri’
    (clump forming aloe) (E) (I) – Note: many smaller aloes are good in small gardens
  • Alstroemeria ‘Inticancha Hybrids’
    (dwarf Inca lily) (D)
  • Alternanthera brasiliana ‘Purple Prince’
    (purple leaf alternanthera) (E)
  • Angelonia angustifolia Hybrids
    (angelonia) (E)
  • Begonia semperflorens Hybrids
    (bedding begonia) (E)
  • Begonia x Baby Wings Hybrids
    (bushy begonia) (E) – Note: there are many different begonias for small gardens
  • Brachyscome hybrid ‘Brasco Violet’
    (Swan river daisy) (E)
  • Clivia miniata all colours and hybrids
    (bush lily) (E) (I)
  • Conifer: Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’
    (creeping juniper) (E)
  • Crassula multicava
    (fairy crassula) (E) (I) – Note: there are many crassula species for small gardens
  • Diascia integerrima hybrids
    (wild snapdragon) (E) (I)
  • Dymondia margaretae
    (daisy ground cover) (E) (I)
  • Erigeron karvinskianus
    (Mexican fleabane) (E)
  • Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘Diamond Frost’
    (spurge) (D)
  • Felicia amelloides
    (kingfisher daisy) (E) (I)
  • Gaura lindheimeri ‘Belleza Dark Pink’
    (angel wings) (ED) – Note: all Gauras are suitable for small gardens
  • Gazania x hybrida
    (star flowers) (E) (I)
  • Hemerocallis ‘Tex’
    (day lily) (E)
  • Impatiens x hawkeri hybrids
    (New Guinea impatiens) (E)
  • Lavandula stoechas
    (French lavender) (E)
  • Lavandula x intermedia ‘Margaret Roberts’
    (lavender) (E)
  • Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Daisy Mae’
    (shasta daisy) (E)
  • Nemesia caerulea hybrids
    (wild nemesia) (E) (I)
  • Osteospermum ecklonis
    hybrids (African daisy) (E) (I)
  • Phlox subulata hybrids
    (alpine phlox) (E)
  • Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’
    (plectranthus) (E) (I)
  • Portulaca oleracea hybrids
    (purslane) (E)
  • Rosmarinus officinalis
    (rosemary) (E)
  • Ruschia lineolata
    (mountain vygie) (E) (I)
  • Solenostemon scuttellariodes Hybrids
    (coleus or Joseph’s coat) (E)
  • Stachys byzantina
    (lamb’s ear) (E)
  • Tulbaghia violacea ‘Silver Lace’
    (variegated wild garlic) (ED) (I) (B)
  • Viola hederacea
    (Australian violet) (E)
  • Viola x wittrockiana
    (pansy) (E)

Shrubs & Climbers

(Medium to Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns 

  • Abelia x grandiflora ‘Kaleidoscope’
    (variegated abelia) (E)
  • Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Lemon Queen’
    (marguerite daisy bush) (E) – Note: all daisy bushes are suitable for small gardens
  • Arundina bambusifolia
    (bamboo orchid) (E)
  • Barleria albostellata
    (grey barleria) (E) (I)
  • Begonia oadi
    (pink pearl begonia) (E)
  • Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’
    (dwarf red barberry) (D)
  • Bougainvillea x buttiana ‘Temple Fire’ and ‘Tom Thumb’
    (dwarf bougainvillea) (D)
  • Buxus microphylla ‘Faulkner’
    (dwarf box) (E)
  • Callistemon citrinus ‘Little John’
    (dwarf bottlebrush) (E)
  • Carissa bispinosa
    (forest num-num) (E) (I)
  • Conifer: Platycladus orientalis ‘Aurea Nana Compacta’
    (dwarf arborvitae) (E)
  • Conifer: Thuja occidentalis ‘Rheingold’
    (dwarf conifer) (E)
  • Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Sunset’
    (red leaf mirror bush) (E) – Note: there are different types of coprosmas for small gardens
  • Cordyline banksii ‘Electric Pink’
    (dwarf cabbage tree) (E)
  • Cordyline banksii ‘Red Fountain’
    (dwarf red cabbage tree) (E)
  • Cotyledon orbiculata
    (pig’s ears) (E) (I)
  • Crassula ovata
    (jade plant) (E) (I)
  • Cuphea mexicana ‘White Wonder’ plus other colours
    (false heather) (E)
  • Euryops pectinatus
    (yellow daisy bush) (E) (I)
  • Euonymous japonicus Microphyllus ‘Gold Dust’
    (dwarf Japanese spindle) (E)
  • Freylinia tropica
    (honey bush) (E) (I
  • Fuchsia hybrids
    (ballerina flowers) (ED)
  • Hebe pinquifolia pagei
    (veronica) (E) – Note: all hebes are excellent dwarf shrubs
  • Hydrangea macrophylla hybrids
    (mophead) (D)
  • Jasminum multipartitum
    (wild jasmine) (E) (I) (C)
  • Justicia brandegeeana
    (shrimp plant) (E)
  • Leonotis leonurus
    (wild dagga) (ED) (I)
  • Leptospermum scoparium ‘Cherry Brandy’
    (dwarf red tea bush) (E)
  • Mackaya bella
    (river bells) (E) (I)
  • Mandevilla sanderi Hybrids
    (bush dipladenia) (E)
  • Metarungia longistrobus
    (sunbird bush) (E) (I)
  • Myrsine africana
    (Cape myrtle) (E) (I)
  • Nandina domestica ‘Pygmaea’
    (dwarf sacred bamboo) (ED)
  • Pentas lanceolata hybrids
    (Egyptian star clusters) (E)
  • Phormium tenax rubra
    (red New Zealand flax) (E) – Note: many different phormiums are suitable for small gardens
  • Polygala myrtifolia
    (September bush) (E) (I)
  • Portulacaria afra
    (pork bush) (E) (I)
  • Rhododendron kurume hybrids
    (Japanese azalea) (ED)
  • Salvia leucantha
    (Mexican sage) (E)
  • Salvia ‘Salmia Hybrids’
    (autumn sage) (E) – Note: many salvia types are ideal for small gardens
  • Spiraea x arguta
    (Dwarf may bush) (D)
  • Strelitzia juncea
    (narrow leaf strelitzia) (E) (I)
  • Tecoma capensis ‘Lutea’
    (yellow Cape honeysuckle) (E) (I)
  • Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Gold Rush’
    (golden star jasmine) (E) (C)
  • Tracelospermum jasminoides
    (star jasmine) (E) (C)
  • Viburnum tinus ‘Gwenllian’
    (dwarf evergreen viburnum) (E)

Trees

(Tall Growing)

Key:  (B) = bulb (C) = climber (D) = deciduous (E) = evergreen (F) = fruit (H) = herb (I) = indigenous (N) = nectar rich (S) = seed (T) = thorns 

  • Acer palmatum 
    (Japanese maple) (D) 
  • Bauhinia natalensis 
    (Natal bauhinia) (D) (I)
  • Bauhinia tomentosa 
    (yellow tree bauhinia) (D) (I)
  • Burchellia bubalina 
    (wild pomegranate) (E) (I)
  • Camellia sasanqua hybrids 
    (Japanese camellia) (E)
  • Citrus aurantiifolia 
    (Bear’s lime) (E) (F)
  • Croton gratissimus 
    (lavender fever berry) (E) (I)
  • Dais cotinifolia 
    (pompon tree) (D) (I)
  • Dombeya rotundifolia 
    (wild pear) (D) (I)
  • Dombeya tiliacea 
    (forest wild pear) (D) (I)
  • Erythrina humeana 
    (dwarf coral tree) (D) (I)
  • Ficus carica ‘White Genoa’ 
    (edible fig) (D)
  • Greyia sutherlandii 
    (Natal bottle-brush) (D) (I)
  • Heteropyxis natalensis 
    (lavender tree) (ED) (I)
  • Indigofera jucunda 
    (river indigo) (ED) (I)
  • Laurus nobilis 
    (bay leaf tree) (E)
  • Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ 
    (dwarf bull bay) (E)
  • Magnolia x soulangeana 
    (tulip magnolia) (D)
  • Malus floribunda 
    (Japanese crab apple) (D)
  • Ochna natalitia 
    (mickey mouse bush) (ED) (I)
  • Prunus persica hybrids 
    (flowering peach) (D)
  • Prunus serrulata hybrids 
    (Japanese flowering cherry) (D)
  • Rothmannia globosa 
    (September bells) (E) (I)
  • Senegalia caffra 
    (common hook thorn) (D) (I) (T)
  • Turraea obtusifolia 
    (small honeysuckle tree) (D) (I)
  • Vachellia karoo 
    (sweet thorn) (D) (I) (T)
  • Vachellia tortilis 
    (umbrella thorn) (D) (I) (T)

Disclaimer:

Whilst every care and caution has been taken in compiling these lists in terms of correctness and accuracy, Blackwood’s, nor any of their employees can be held liable or responsible if any of the recommendations are found to be incorrect in any way whatsoever. They are merely a guide to help gardeners and staff in finding solutions to gardening problems. All plants listed may not be available for sale at times. They do however all grow in the greater KwaZulu-Natal area and are to be found growing successfully in local gardens.