Grow your favourite things

Inspiration is all around. What season it is, is always a hot debate in our household. Just because it’s hot doesn’t mean it’s summer! Autumn in Gauteng runs from late February through April and while I don’t always win the argument, there are early signs of autumn all around.

It’s a great time to get into the garden. The days are still hot, but cooler mornings and evenings slow plant growth. Many plants look their best now with less heat stress and more intense colours make them favourites for the season.

Correa White Bells

Growing in full sun is what you’d expect from their grey leaves, but what makes Correa White Bells so useful is their tolerance of shade. They’ll grow in shaded spots, but flower more heavily in a sunny position.
Flowering through autumn, they’re covered in buds with creamy-white, almost fuchsia-shaped bellflowers. After flowering, just clip them to shape and the plants will become denser and even more charming. Extremely versatile, Correa makes a fantastic hedge or garden ball… so clip, clip, clip!

Tecomaria: Cape Honeysuckle

Who doesn’t love an indigenous rockstar shrub? When it’s a plant for pollinators, even better. Cape Honeysuckle flowers in autumn and again in spring, and it’s finding a new generation of gardeners. We’re so here for it!
I often recommend it as a natural nectar source and not just for bees, but for sunbirds, attracted to orange and red and sometimes yellow flowers. In colder zones, provide frost protection and as with most pollinator-friendly plants, a mostly sunny spot is ideal.

Liriope Evergreen Giant: Purple Lily Turf

If you love the look of lavender flowers but have too much shade there’s a solution in the grassy department. Planted along a shady border the purple flowering Lily Turf makes an easy border.
I can be a bit of a lazy gardener sometimes but this is one perennial that won’t mind. They do like a soil that has loads of compost in it to retain moisture and look good all year. Just as the new leaves show late spring a heavy cutback will clean them up and then it’s plain sailing until they put on their spectacular flower show in autumn.

Rusellia Fire Cracker

Grow something different in a large pot or cascading over the edge of your pond or water feature. The autumn flush of the Fire Cracker Fountain Grass, Rusellia is worth discovering.
Look for your favourites and plant them. Autumn is a great time to plant new shrubs and perennials even as growth slows, roots are still developing, setting them up for a vibrant spring.

My Autumn Garden Philosophy

I like to plant things that look good each season, so my garden is never dull. And in my home, there’s never a dull moment - even if someone reads this and says, “Are you sure it’s autumn?” My answer is always: YES!

Autumn Gardening FAQ – Johannesburg and Gauteng

• When does autumn gardening start in Gauteng?

Autumn starts in late February and runs through April. The days are still warm, but cooler mornings and evenings slow growth and bring out the best colours in your plants.

• What are the best autumn plants for Johannesburg gardens?

My favourites are Correa White Bells, Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria), Royal Purple Lily Turf (Liriope Muscari), and Russelia Fire Cracker—all brilliant for colour and structure in autumn.

• Which autumn plants attract bees and sunbirds in Gauteng?

Correa, Cape Honeysuckle, Liriope, and Russelia are pollinator-friendly and will bring bees, sunbirds, and butterflies into your garden.

• How should I care for autumn flowering plants?

Plant in well-drained soil, give them full to partial sun, water moderately, and clip or prune after flowering to keep them dense and vibrant.

• Can I plant shrubs and perennials in autumn for spring blooms?

Absolutely! Autumn planting lets roots establish even as growth slows, so your garden is set for a strong and colourful spring display.

• How do I keep my autumn garden colourful and fun?

Plant things that look good each season, include pollinator-friendly plants, mulch beds, and don’t be afraid to let a few plants cascade, spill, or just look fabulous in pots.