Make compound serene with semi-arid plants
YOU have probably not made time to pass by Serena Hotel in Kampala for a business or a pleasure meeting last July or early August. It was really hot, but amidst the blazing sun was an ever green garden.
By Kikonyogo Ngatya
YOU have probably not made time to pass by Serena Hotel in Kampala for a business or a pleasure meeting last July or early August. It was really hot, but amidst the blazing sun was an ever green garden.
The secret to having a green garden throughout the year is using plants that can withstand prolonged drought.
W. Hadijja, the in-charge of the gardens says some of the plants were imported although others can be got from local nurseries. They include lilies, lantana camara (kayukiyuki), tecomaria, hibiscus and borganvillea. They have different colours from pink, red, yellow, blue and red.
But of all the semi-arid plants, none pleased me like the plumbago. The plumbago (leadwort) or blue jasmine, as many gardeners including nursery employees call it, is a shrub that grows very easily, with no particular care needed.
It has a rich foliage and long-lasting flowers. It originally came from South Africa, but became popular in countries with moderate climate. In the past few years, new varieties have been introduced, with white, pink and dark blue flowers.
According to Mary Efanti, an expert on plumbago growing, the plant can be cultivated easily in pots and gardens. It can also be used for rock gardens, but its most suitable use is for borders if pruned low on fences or pergolas and trellises in order to create a flowery screen. It grows very quickly and under suitable conditions its height can outgrow two metres.
If you want to create a screen, try to tie the main branches horizontally, removing weak ones from the main trunk. The shape of the plant should remind you of the steps of a ladder. This shaping will provide full coverage of the trellis as the plant grows.
The plumbago is a sun-loving plant. Direct sunlight for many hours daily is necessary. The number of flowers produced depends mainly on how much sun the plant gets, in other words more sunlight, more flowers.
She says the blooming is very rich under good conditions. You will definitely appreciate a pale blue flowery trellis on your balcony or garden.
The plumbago is a deciduous plant – when the weather cools down it will drop leaves. This is the best time to prune to get rid of dead flowers and leaves. Try out the semi-arid plants for your garden, you will like the difference.
YOU have probably not made time to pass by Serena Hotel in Kampala for a business or a pleasure meeting last July or early August. It was really hot, but amidst the blazing sun was an ever green garden.
The secret to having a green garden throughout the year is using plants that can withstand prolonged drought.
W. Hadijja, the in-charge of the gardens says some of the plants were imported although others can be got from local nurseries. They include lilies, lantana camara (kayukiyuki), tecomaria, hibiscus and borganvillea. They have different colours from pink, red, yellow, blue and red.
But of all the semi-arid plants, none pleased me like the plumbago. The plumbago (leadwort) or blue jasmine, as many gardeners including nursery employees call it, is a shrub that grows very easily, with no particular care needed.
It has a rich foliage and long-lasting flowers. It originally came from South Africa, but became popular in countries with moderate climate. In the past few years, new varieties have been introduced, with white, pink and dark blue flowers.
According to Mary Efanti, an expert on plumbago growing, the plant can be cultivated easily in pots and gardens. It can also be used for rock gardens, but its most suitable use is for borders if pruned low on fences or pergolas and trellises in order to create a flowery screen. It grows very quickly and under suitable conditions its height can outgrow two metres.
If you want to create a screen, try to tie the main branches horizontally, removing weak ones from the main trunk. The shape of the plant should remind you of the steps of a ladder. This shaping will provide full coverage of the trellis as the plant grows.
The plumbago is a sun-loving plant. Direct sunlight for many hours daily is necessary. The number of flowers produced depends mainly on how much sun the plant gets, in other words more sunlight, more flowers.
She says the blooming is very rich under good conditions. You will definitely appreciate a pale blue flowery trellis on your balcony or garden.
The plumbago is a deciduous plant – when the weather cools down it will drop leaves. This is the best time to prune to get rid of dead flowers and leaves. Try out the semi-arid plants for your garden, you will like the difference.