A comprehensive guide to South African indigenous garden plants, titled "South African Indigenous Garden Plants: The Gardener's Guide," was released in March 2025. This significant publication, a culmination of a decade of work by leading horticulturalists, aims to showcase the vast array of native flora available to gardeners.
The book features approximately 2,400 indigenous plants and is structured into three key sections: an introduction covering climate and garden styles, an extensive plant catalogue organized by growth forms, and a practical plant selector. Each plant entry includes full-color photographs and detailed descriptions of mature size, flowering periods, and optimal growing conditions.
The guide is authored by three respected experts: Elsa Pooley, a renowned author and botanical artist with over fifty years of experience; Geoff Nichols, an award-winning horticulturist and natural historian who pioneered South Africa's first medicinal plant nursery; and Andrew Hankey, a specialist horticulturist at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden with over three decades of experience and contributions to naming new plant species.
"South African Indigenous Garden Plants: The Gardener's Guide" is available in hardcover and e-book formats through major retailers. The publication reflects a growing appreciation for indigenous flora and sustainable gardening practices, highlighting the resilience, low-maintenance requirements, and environmental benefits of native plants, such as water conservation and support for local wildlife.