Most gardens have shady spots, but some gardens have a real shade ‘problem’. Whether it is caused by large or overhanging trees, tall buildings, or just being on the ‘wrong side of the street’, finding the best plants for a shady area can be challenging, particularly if the rest of your garden basks in sunshine all year round. Shade plants are not necessarily tropical, although many tropical plants thrive in shade. Some delicate leafy plants will scorch and burn in hot sun, some plants lik...

Most conventional gardening books assume that everyone experiences the same conditions in their garden, no matter where they live, but this is seldom the reality. Coastal Gardening in South Africa sets out to offer advice to gardeners who live in coastal suburbs, towns and villages, where strong winds, salt-laden air and, often, high humidity, can play havoc with your planting scheme. Many plants that grow happily on the Highveld, for example, or in the leafy suburbs, shrivel and die when ...