What kind of gardener are you?

Well, one who loves plants is my answer. Garden and plant lovers rarely stay in a single lane and that’s exactly how it should be.
We may think we know what kind of gardener we are, but experience has taught me that gardening is a journey. You can become any kind of gardener the moment you step into a green space and feel at one with nature.

 

 

Early Summer: November & December

The Sweet Potato Vine: Ipomoea

In the nursery, the gorgeous Sweet Potato Vine is one of my go-to summer container plants. These Ipomoea varieties are perfect “fillers and spillers,” cascading beautifully over pots, hanging baskets, or garden edges while looking effortlessly cool.

This is one of those plants that has been around for years, quietly waiting for its time to shine. If you’re looking for an eye-catching container plant for a sunny Gauteng patio, this is it. They’re equally happy as a groundcover and thrive in half sun to full sun. My favourite remains Sweet Caroline Lime a lush, bright, and energetic. I’ve grown them on my patio, and they just keep going strong right through to the end of autumn.

Rudbeckia ‘Toto Gold’

This compact, waterwise flower is related to the sunflower and never fails to lift the mood. Rudbeckia Toto Gold radiates positive energy with its bright golden petals and deep chocolate-coloured centre, reminiscent of the yellow brick road and Dorothy’s famous dog’s nose.

Perfect for South African gardens, it thrives in full sun during hot summers. Plant it in well-drained soil, as it doesn’t enjoy wet feet. Use it in borders or patio containers, deadhead regularly to encourage continuous flowering, and give it a good feed at planting time - that’s all it needs for the season.

 

Plants for Pollinators: Veronica ‘Sunset Boulevard’

High on my list of summer favourites is the bright pink Veronica ‘Sunset Boulevard’. It just keeps flowering. Growing to just over a metre tall, it’s a standout pollinator plant that adds real buzz to the garden.
Flowering from early November right through summer, it’s ideal for filling gaps in sunny or half-day sun borders and works beautifully as a soft shrub in Gauteng gardens.

Rockin’ Through Summer: Salvia ‘Rockin’ Fuchsia’

Nothing is more satisfying than watching bees and pollinators make your garden their home. Salvias remain some of the best perennials for long-lasting colour and pollinator attraction in South Africa.

One standout performer is Salvia ‘Rockin’ Fuchsia’, a true rockstar with larger flowers and exceptional garden performance. Its deep pink blooms thrive in full sun and adapt well to most soil types. One plant can easily cover close to a square metre, making it incredible value for money.

The long flowering season is enhanced by the dark calyx on spent flowers, adding an extra layer of colour even after blooming.

It's time for the Cone Flowers to shine: Echinacea

We love seeing these bright plants for pollinators fill our perennial department with colour. They are heat and drought resistant and flower from late summer right through to autumns end. Growing to around 40cm high in a hot sun to afternoon sun spot and they come back year after year.

#DidYouKnow: Their botanical name Echinacea, is derived from the Greek word for hedgehog because of the spiny domed centre of the older flowers.

 

 

Midsummer: January & February

Midsummer is when the garden is at its lushest. It’s pure playtime whether you’re lying under a tree, tweaking borders, or finding new plants to grow. Gardens are our safe space for self-expression and joy.

 

Tropical Trumpet Vine: Mandevilla

Bold, bright, and impossible to miss, Mandevilla also known as Tropical Trumpet Vine, brings a strong tropical feel to summer gardens. With cascading flowers in white, pink, or red they scramble and cascade beautifully and will happily climb a small frame or trellis.

Look out for the Diamantina range, which flowers for most of the year and thrives in sunny to mostly sunny positions, making it ideal for Gauteng summers.

 

Cape Mallow Anisodontea

Cape Mallow dances in the summer breeze and brings pollinators straight to the garden. As a shrubby perennial, you’ll typically get two to three good years out of it.
Growing just over a metre high, it responds well to clipping if it needs reshaping or rejuvenation. It’s not just bees that love it, Cape Mallows are excellent butterfly magnets too, making them a valuable addition to any South African garden.

 

Easy Summer Colour with Begonias

Tuberous Begonias offer a spectacular world of summer colour when grown correctly. Varieties such as Begonia Non-Stop, Summer Wings, and Funky are real showstoppers.
As tuberous bulbs, they die back during the coldest winter months and return stronger each year with more flowers. Grow them in morning sun with afternoon shade, in well-drained soil to prevent tuber rot.
They’re perfect pot companions, and once you start growing them, your collection will inevitably grow too.

Summer Gardening for Pollinators

We all understand how vital bees are to our food systems and planting for pollinators is one of the most important things we can do as gardeners. It’s part of rewilding our garden spaces and reconnecting with nature.

Modern roses are now bred with more open flowers for easier bee access. Dahlias have followed suit, as have many bedding plants that were once tightly petalled. These changes make our gardens both beautiful and functional.

My summer favourites all have one thing in common they are purposeful and support Biodiversity-Positive gardens. Particularly when it comes to all the different pollinators, not just bees.

 

 

Summer Gardening FAQ – Johannesburg and Gauteng

• When does summer gardening start in Gauteng?

Summer gardening in Gauteng starts in early November and runs through February, with warm temperatures and summer rainfall driving rapid plant growth.

 

• What are the best summer plants for Johannesburg gardens?

Sweet Potato Vine, Salvias, Rudbeckia, Veronica, Mandevilla, and indigenous Cape Mallow are reliable summer performers in Johannesburg gardens.

 

• Which summer plants attract bees and pollinators in Gauteng?

Salvias, Veronica, Rudbeckia, Cape Mallow, dahlias, and open-flowered roses are excellent pollinator plants for Gauteng.

 

• How often should I water my garden in summer in Johannesburg?

Most Johannesburg gardens need deep watering two to three times a week, adjusted for rainfall and soil type.

 

• What plants cope best with full sun and heat in Gauteng?

Salvias, Rudbeckia, Sweet Potato Vine, Veronica, and Cape Mallow handle Gauteng’s full sun and summer heat well.

 

• Can I still plant in midsummer (January–February)?

Yes. Plant in the early morning or late afternoon, water thoroughly, and choose heat-tolerant plants.