Mother Nature and bietou in our gardens

by Diana Studer

- gardening for biodiversity

in Cape Town, South Africa

September 2015 renamed Osteospermum moniliferum 

from Chyrsanthemoides monilifera

(Updated post again October 2021)

Casa Mariposa brings a Mother Nature who roars (learning to listen) when we ignore her courteous – this plant won't grow in your garden, THAT plant will take over. Benjamin Vogt of the Deep Middle says – ‘Using plants native to your locale is a moral and ethical choice’ - while he campaigns for prairie.  

Osteospermum moniliferum  at Cape Columbine in July 2010

Osteospermum moniliferum  at Elephant's Eye

Three garden bloggers led me to September’s choice in Dozen for Diana. Planted by birds who enjoy the little black berries, it appeared in our Camps Bay garden. It grew into a graceful gnarled ‘Bonsai’ tree, pruned by nature and me, as Deb does her crape myrtle in her Alabama Summer garden paths (showcased against the lawn in her Woodland Garden). When we left I had a cutting in a one litre yoghurt bakkie, which is now a green hulk shrub brushing my shoulders, with a gang of bullies circumference opposing me. Needing their arms and legs lopped off to keep the path to the front door open. 

Osteospermum moniliferum  flowers with berries in April 2010

As I was digging thru my blog archive for pictures WITH berries (there were none to be seen on the bush today) I found the plant growing wild by the sea at Cape Columbine. The picture is my proof this chosen plant will flourish, when I take cuttings for the birds in our False Bay garden. On the shore the bush is sculpted close to the ground by salt sea breezes and the prevailing Southeaster. 

Leaves and seeds of Osteospermum moniliferum 

Detail of young leaf of Osteospermum moniliferum 

As the young leaves of Osteospermum moniliferum  emerge, they are covered with a cobweb of fine grey fur. Growing up to be green, shiny, leathery, succulent. The berries go from shellacked green to black, finally brown seeds. 

Osteospermum moniliferum  in our garden on an overcast day

My bietou shrub is shaded by next door’s tree and the Spanish reeds, but it does, always have some flowers. 

Macro in a Mason jar with
flowers of Osteospermum moniliferum 

With patience and camera in hand, there is usually a bee, beetle or butterfly to capture. For the fine details on plants, I use the Macro in a Mason jar technique. 

April 2011 Osteospermum moniliferum 
with common hairtail butterfly

From PlantZAfrica – Chrysanthemoides, like a Chrysanthemum, meaning ‘yellow flower’; while monilifera means ‘bearing a necklace’ for the shiny fruit around the daisy flower. Only 2 species are in the genus, both endemic to southern and eastern Africa, and with the sweet and edible berries, which separate them from all other daisies / Asteraceae. Found along the coast of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape, along the Drakensberg, to Zimbabwe. The Afrikaans bietou is from the original Khoi, and San who used the berries as food. 

Dozen for Diana
the year round, big picture, foliage effect
Top - bietou, garlic buchu, Cape honeysuckle
Middle - variegated plectranthus (spurflower), lavender star, strandsalie
Bottom - bulbinella, dune crow berry Searsia/Rhus crenata, plakkies

Dozen for Diana
the seasonal colour from the flowers
Osteospermum moniliferum , Agathosma apiculata, Tecoma capensis, Plectranthus madagascariensis
Bulbine frutescens, Cotyledon orbiculata, Grewia occidentalis, Salvia africana-lutea

Ticks all my boxes for the Dozen for Diana. Indigenous. Tough and waterwise, grows easily from cuttings. A splash of yellow from the flowers. Food for insects. I've never seen, birds eating the berries – but we do have fruit eating mousebirds. 

 Dozen for Diana 

What is your September plant? 

Gardens Eye View - Simply the best herbs by Donna in New York State inspires me to plan a border of delectable Italian parsley. 

Plant Postings - Plant of the month by Beth in Wisconsin. Her ground cherries, are my Cape gooseberries. Delicious on both sides of the great pond!

Experiments with plants near London has rediscovered anemones. Tall pale beauties dancing in the shade.

Pictures and text by Diana Studer
AKA Diana of Elephant's Eye (on False Bay)
- wildlife gardening in Porterville,
near Cape Town in South Africa

(If you mouse over teal blue text,
it turns seaweed red.Those are my links.)