The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 1 Winter 2012 | Page 10

Winter annuals

Colourful Winter Annuals
For Shady Areas
by Clare Vale

Visitors to Zimbabwe often
remark upon the many beautiful
and well-established trees
in our gardens. However, the
shade from these trees, along
with that from buildings and
hedges, means that we must
choose plants that can cope
with low light intensity as well
as generally cooler and moister
conditions; that’s where the
winter annuals come into play.
It is wise to plant the shady areas
with shrubs, perennials and ground
covers that can prosper there for a long
time with little attention. However,
annuals can offer a splash of vibrant
colour and give us the opportunity
to change the interest points of our
garden, experimenting with different
combinations of plants and colours,
from year to year. Not only are they
great for beds, but shade-loving winter
annuals in pots or hanging baskets can
also be stunning on verandas and in
entertainment areas, and by placing
window boxes on the South side of
buildings can often cheer up areas that
would otherwise be dull.
Here are some winter annuals that offer
a variety of colour, texture and do well
in different types of areas in the garden.

Cinerarias
A member of the Senecio family,
cinerarias are native to England. Their
immense popularity stems from the
wide variety of colours available and
their daisy-like flowers. They do very
well in pots