Ageratum is an excellent plant for beginners as it is very easy to grow.  Ageratum can be grown year round but will not survive frost. 

Allysum are small bedding plants and flower in abundance.  They are easy to grow and are excellent for borders and rock gardens.  They can be grown throughout the year but will not take frost.

Alternantera's are grown for their brilliant colouured foliage which ranges from red to green.  Their growth habit is neat and compact making them good for edging.  Their white flowers are inconspicious.  Beware they are frost tender so mostly grown as annuals.

The Aster producees large clusters of delicate daisy like flowers in white, lavender, purple, pinks and reds.

Australian Violet is also known as viola hederacea.  It is an evergreen perennial with stems that are short, erect and tufty.  It has kidney to egg shaped dark green leaves.  The violet and white flowers are slightly scented and it blooms in summer.

Begonias are very versatlie they do well in flower beds, hanging bowls, containers and even as indoor plants.  They flower almost all of the time and can be grown year round but will not survive frost.  They can be brought indoors before frost and placed outside again when the last frost has occured. 

Calendula is a very prolific annual.  Known as pot marigolds.  They produce orange and yellow flowers on long stems.  Calendula petals can be used in soups, stews and salads.  Calendula can take light frost but will die in severe frost.

Carnation flowers produce a spicy clove like fragrance.  They can be planted in flower beds, containers and rockeries.

Celosia is also known as "Cockscomb " and "Woolflower".  They are noted for their brilliant plumes of flower.  Celosia do well in borders and as edging.  They cannot handle frost. 

For a winter flower bed or pot exploding with bright colours look no further than the magnificent Cineraria. 

Excellent for containers, hanging baskets, outdoors and indoors.  Also good for borders or directly in the garden.  Their colourful leaves are the main reason for their popularity as the flowers are not very impressive.  They are very frost tender. 

Dahlias are a very old and well known bedding plant with bright and cheerful flowers.

Delphineums can be very rewarding planted in the right setting in your garden.

Dianthus plants produce richly fragrant flowers in spring and summer right up to the first frost.  Great for flowerbeds or rockeries.  They can be planted singly or in groups.  Dianthus are Bi - Annuals.

Festuca is an ornamental grass.  It is an ideal low maintainance edging plant.

Gazanias have daisy like flowers.  Relatively drought tolerant and easy to grow. 

Hypoestes are delicate care free annuals that make a spectacular groundcover or border plant.  They are also heat tolerant.  Grown more for their foliage than their unremarkable flowers. 

Currently not being produced due to the ongoing problem in south africa with Downy Mildew.  Substitute with Begonia or New Guinea Impatiens

Lobelia is also known as Indian tobacco.  They are profuse summer bloomers, very popular as border plants, container plants, hanging baskets and windowsills.  Medicinally they have been used to treat Asthma, Bronchitis and coughs. 

Lysimachia Numelaria is a groundcover with round leaves that forms a thick matt.  Flat growing and spreads readily.  Lysimachia is quite hardy.

Marigolds are very prolific easy to grow annuals.  They will flower right until they get frost.  Marigolds give off a pungent odour that makes them a good companion plant amongst vegetables to keep insects away.  They do well in borders, general garden beds and in containers. 

Mazus is a matt forming ground cover with tiny flowers in spring that resemble snapdragons.

If you are looking for a flower that will add colour and frangrance o your garden and attract butterflies and sunbirds then don't leave out the Nemesia.  They can take light frost but a severe frost will kill them. 

Pansys are one of the most popular winter bedding plants today with their almost heart shaped overlapping petals in bright colours and often face-like centre markings.  Although delicate pansys are surprisingly hardy.  The flowers are edible and are often used in salads.  Pansys are compact and low growing making them ideal for containers, borders and between rock walls and stone paths. 

Botanical Name  - Mentha Pulegium

Petunias have been the No 1 Seller for over 20 years.  Offering a huge colour range and very suitable to South Africa's climate.  Petunias don't like heavy rains.  

Here is an old fashioned annual that deserves more recognition than it gets.  The large clusters are very showy on compact plants.  Great in containers and window boxes. 

Spreading groundcover that grows very easily, with beautiful flowers.

Poppies are popular and attractive winter bedding plants.  After world war 2 poppies became the symbol of both tragedy and renewal of life.

If you live in an area of heat and drought you will love growing portulaca.  This little plant needs little moisture to thrive and bloom well.  A tough annual.  Very bright flowers make portulaca an increasingly popular bedding plant.

Primula malcoides blooms early in the winter season with tiny flowers on soft hairy stalks.  They are good for containers and flower beds.

Salvia have spiky flowers borne on bushy plants.  Salvia make nice bouquets fresh or dried.  Salvia are not hardy. 

Snaps/Anthirrhinums are very easy to grow and will provide you with lashings of colour most of the year.  They can tolerate a little frost. 

Verbenas are good looking and fragrant.  they are also drought resistant.  Verbena look great in flower beds, window boxes, rock gardens and containers.  They make a good groundcover too.

Vincas are also known as "periwinkle" and "myrtle".  They are very heat and drought tolerant making them ideal for hot and dry areas.  Vincas are grown for their beautiful flowers and glossy green foliage. They are used in containers, borders and general plantings in flower beds. 

Vygies are a very low maintainance, tough and drought resistant plant.  An excellent groundcover for planting on banks etc.