Africa

How to categorise ‘African’ plants? This huge continent spans both northern and southern hemispheres, encompassing mediterranean climate, monsoon and tropical regions, deserts, mountain ranges, arid plains, great lakes and rivers. Better by far to indulge in a little research, plant by plant to narrow down the area of origin.

Remember too that Africa was regarded as ‘The Dark Continent’ for many years, a place of mystery and wonder, so explorers and plant hunters tended to attach whatever names they saw fit. You could be forgiven for thinking that there is a clue in the name: surely Agapanthus africanus, known as the Nile Lily originated in Egypt, or Zantedeschia aethiopica comes from Ethiopia? Yet both these come not from the north but from southern Africa!

The list of African plants is huge and sometimes surprising, encompassing brilliantly flowered succulents and bulbs, sparsely foliaged desert plants, lush tropical beauties, tall reeds and papyrus, tough shrubs and resilient trees.