Courtney WestleyLiving in South Africa, we are so lucky to have such a vast spread of different climates and biomes. However, this also means that different plants will grow better or worse in different parts of the country. Here, we have put together a guide on some of the best plants to grow in the different South African climate zones.
Subtropical climate
Areas in this climate zone are fairly humid and tend to have dry winters and summer rainfall. In South Africa, this climate zone is found in KZN and the Eastern Cape.
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Fruits and vegetables
Avocados
Aubergine
Cabbage
Chillies
Figs
Green beans
Lychees
Peppers
Spinach
Tomatoes
Flowers and shrubs
Begonias
Dahlias
Eucalyptus
Hibiscus
Marigolds
Pansies
Strelitzias
Sunflowers
Semi-arid climate
This climate zone is located more inland, which means that it has significant changes in temperature between day and night. During winter, drought is often experienced in these areas, meaning that plants need to be able to survive extremely dry conditions. The inland areas of the Highveld and Karoo are part of this climate zone.
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Fruits and vegetables
Asparagus
Baby marrow
Beetroot
Celery
Corn
Olives
Peas
Peppers
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Flowers and shrubs
Aloes
Clivias
Geraniums
Lavender
Lemon balm
Mint
Rosemary
Violets
Mediterranean climate
The Mediterranean climate zones have winter rainfall and dry heat in summer. These zones can also experience pretty extreme cold in winter, which stretches late into spring. The Western Cape and surrounds fall under the Mediterranean climate zone.
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Fruits and vegetables
Artichokes
Beans
Beetroot
Cucumber
Figs
Grapes
Lemons
Oranges
Quince
Tomatoes
Flowers and shrubs
Agapanthus
Bougainvilleas
Dahlias
Geranium
Jasmine
Lavender
Lillies
Sage
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ALSO SEE: Easiest flowers to grow in South Africa
Featured image: Jonathan Kemper via Unsplash
