The Zimbabwean Gardener Issue 16 Autumn 2016 Low res | Page 15

Garden profile
Going grey is not so bad
Grey plants are generally very water
wise, as the light colour reflects the
sun’s rays away from the plant, thus
keeping it cooler and reducing water
loss. The entrance to the Bottom
Drawer restaurant is flanked with a
variety of grey water wise plants, as well
as some hardy purple ones, like the
purple vitex and the tall Alternanthera
variety, which are a good contrast to
the grey.
Grey plants are extremely useful in any
flowerbed; they are great neutral fillers,
and they also help to soften the bed
if there are too many bright or dark
colours.

Vitex

Vitex trifolia ‘Purpurea’

Small leaf helichrysum
Helichrysum petiolare

Strobilanthes

Strobilanthes gossypinus
15