Conservation is a big deal to us at Lalibela, in all shapes and forms. If you read our previous blogs, you’ll know that we recycle and have an ongoing project working towards removing all the alien trees.

It’s a small action but planting indigenous plants and trees is a wonderful (and easy) way to help the planet. Whilst alien plants remove nutrients and prevent the natural habitat from growing, indigenous plants help it flourish. They are also more water-friendly and help sustain the bees!

Here are five water-wise indigenous plants to look out for on your visit to Lalibela. If you’re South African, then these plants are worth growing in your garden. They’re beautiful and good for the planet.

1. Aloes

You’ll quickly spot these beautiful bright orange flowers throughout Lalibela. Aloes are extremely tough plants that also have fantastic medicinal properties. They also do not require lots of watering, as it makes them more susceptible to disease.

2. Strelitzia

If you’re not a local, you might have spotted these bird-like flowers back home. They are one of our top flower exports and have even become Los Angeles’ official flower. Stretitzias or Birds of Paradise are great to plant because they’re hardy, drought-resistant and grow in both shade and sun.

3. Bulbine

This is another orange flower you might spot at Lalibela. Bulbine are little succulents that make for a beautiful water-wise plant border. When planted at the base of young trees, they also help with water-retention.

4. Spekboom

We’ve written about Spekboom before, but it deserves second mention. It is a miracle-worker for the environment. Spekboom is more effective than the Amazon Rainforest at removing carbon dioxide from the environment. It is resilient, undamaged by droughts and has lovely pink flowers when it blossoms.

5. Tulbaghia

Tulbaghia is more commonly known as Wild Garlic. It is a long-stemmed plant with beautiful pink-purple flowers. They are low-maintenance plants, withstand both droughts and heatwaves and can be planted in sunny to semi-shade spots. They also flower for a long time which means you’ll often have a mass of these pretty flowers in your garden.

In search of more reading? Read more about Spekboom!