South Africa

A very diverse country, from lush tropical forest to cold upland grasslands. It’s the plants from the colder regions that are suitable for the U.K. gardens. Many plants are very familiar to the U.K such as Dierama or Kniphofia.

Most of these plants below prefer full sun and free draining soil

Agapanthus praecox
Perennial to 70cm, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, though top growth will be cut to root stock in a cold winter

*Agapanthus inapertus
Deciduous perennial to 70cm, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees,

*Aloe aristata
Succulent to 20cm, free draining soil fun sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, only if dry 

*Aloe striata
Succulent to 1m, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, only if dry

*Aloe polyphylla
Succulent to 30cm, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, the hardiest aloe

Amaryllis belladonna
Bulb to 30cm, free draining soil. hot situation, by a wall. Hardy to minus 8 degree

*Aristea ecklonii
Perennial to 30cm, free draining soil full sun. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

*Asparagus plumosus
Climbing plant to 2m, shade, free draining soil. roots Hardy to minus 5 degrees

*Blechnum tabulare Fern to 40cm, part sun moisture soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees, though leaves will be scorched

Gunnera perpensa
Herbaceous perennial to 40cm, boggy soil in full sun. Hardy to minus 8 degrees, if roots protected

*Melianthus comosus
Perennial to 70cm, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Melianthus major
Perennial to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees (roots only)

Protea grandiceps
Shrub to 3m, no phosphates, acid soil. full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Restio tenctorum
A Restio or grass like plant which grows to 3m, full sun moist soil. Mardy to minus 6 degrees, maybe to minus 8, but will be cut back to ground

Sparmania africana
Large shrub to 3m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 3 degrees, roots will take minus 5 degrees

Watsonia ‘Tresco Hybrids
Bulbous perennial to 70cm, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 6 degrees

Australia

There are many plants from the south west of the country that will grow in the UK, many prefer free draining acid soil in full sun.

Acacia dealbata
Tree to 5m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Acacia cultriformis
Tree to 3m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Acacia baileyana
Tree to 4m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Acacia melanoxylon
Tree to 5m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Acacia pravissima
Tree to 4m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Acacia retinodes
Tree to 3m, quick growing, lime and damp soil tolerant full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Acacia paradoxa
Tree to 3m, quick growing, full sun free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Callistemon laevis
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Callistemon linearis
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Callistemon rigidus
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Callistemon subulatus
Shrub to 3m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Callistemon sieberi
Shrub to 2m, (yellow flowers) full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Callistemon viridiflorus
Shrub to 3m, (yellow flowers)full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Correa backhousiana
Shrub to 2m, full sun and free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Cyathea australis
Fern to 3m, full sun to part shade, boggy soil. hardiest Cyathea, but only when the trunk is above 2m in height. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Dianella tasmanica
Perennial to 30cm, full sun. Moisture retentive soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Dodonea viscosa
Shrub to 3m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 7 degrees

Eucalyptus nicholii
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus cinerea
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus camphora
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil but will tolerate periods of water logged soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

*Eucalyptus polyanthemos
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 10 degrees

Eucalyptus perriniana
Tree to 5m full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 15 degrees

Eucryphia moorei
Tree to 4m full sun to part shade, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea rosmarinifolia
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil, no phosphates. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea 'Olympic flame'
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Grevillea 'Mount Tamboritha'
Prostrate shrub to 20cm, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Grevillea victoriae
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 5 degrees

*Kunzea ericoides
Shrub to 4m, full sun,wind tolerant, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Leptospermum lanigerum
Shrub to 3m, full sun, tolerates periods of wet soil, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees,

Leptospermum polygalifolium
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Leptospermum grandiflorum
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

Lomatia tinctoria
Suckering shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. no phosphates, Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca squarrosa
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca squamea
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

*Melaleuca pulchella
Shrub to 2m, full sun, free draining soil. Hardy to minus 8 degrees

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