NEWS
How to grow a grassland garden in South Africa
Zoë Chapman Poulsen
One of South Africa ’ s most biodiverse biomes , South Africa ’ s grasslands are found on the central inland plateau of the country , encompassing the inland and coastal areas of the Eastern Cape , KwaZulu-Natal , Gauteng , Northwest Province , Mpumalanga and Limpopo .
Our grasslands are biodiverse , yet highly threatened
The
grassland biome is the second largest in the country , covering around one third of South Africa ’ s land surface . Grasslands are known for their extraordinary biodiversity . Far from only being home to grasses , South Africa ’ s grassland ecosystems are home to a plethora of plant species , many of which are threatened or endemic to specific grassland vegetation types .
However , South Africa ’ s grassland biome is highly threatened , with extensive habitat loss due to the growth of urban development , ploughing of grassland for agriculture for crops including sugar cane , and the expansion of forestry plantations . Degradation by overgrazing , inappropriate fire management and alien invasive vegetation is a further cause of concern .
Figure 1 . Erythrina zeyheri in bloom during summer the grassland garden at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ( UKZN ) Botanical Gardens . Photo : Alison Young .
Grassland gardens in the spotlight
In recent years , growing grassland gardens has increased in popularity in South Africa , particularly on larger housing estates in KwaZulu-Natal , because of their combination of beautiful blooms at different times of the year , as well as how easy they are to maintain and waterwise they are .
It is important not to confuse grassland gardens with grass gardens . Grass gardens only comprise grasses of various shapes , colours and sizes , whereas grassland gardens also include a range of other plants alongside grasses , including bulbs , succulents and many other indigenous plants .
Figure 2 . Aloes add architectural structure to grassland gardens , with their bright candles of flowers adding light to the winter garden among the dry grasses . Photo : Alison Young
47 Grassroots Vol 22 No 1 March 2022