Karoo Desert National Botanic Garden

Plants of note

This is truly the most magical time of the year, when the garden bursts forth in a artist's palette of colour. Tiny oxalis (clover or suuring) flowers provide masses of colour, especially on lawns.
Namaqualand daisies in an array of colours are flowering in all the various beds. The orange namaqualand daisy is the most common; whites, yellows, salmon, browns & even pretty bicoloured versions pop-up here and there. Other annuals in flower include ursinas, which look like namaqualand daisies.

Another profusion of vividly flowering annuals. There more -- some sky blue, others pink, bright yellow, snow white and tangerine. Later in spring the gazanias (gousblomme) appear, displaying sheets of clear bright orange, burnt orange, crimson & vermilion.

As late spring gives way to early summer, the mesembs, or vygies, start flowering. These cheerful, sun- loving plants come in a wide array of colours, except black, blue or brown. The iridescence of their metallic colours is almost blinding. In the Garden, huge, sweeping beds of shimmering flowers beckon the visitor forth.
The weather is still cool at this time of the year. Maximum temperatures are 28C and early morning temperatures are 6C. Snowfall on the surrounding mountains is possible as late as October.