Applegarth Gardens and Nursery

About Applegarth Gardens and Nursery

Applegarth Gardens and Nursery are breathtakingly beautiful, serene and luscious, perfectly exemplifying the greenbelt and forest of Hogsback.

Approximately 4 ha in extent, the gardens are best viewed in the early morning or in the late afternoon in the cooler times of the day, when bird life is also particularly rich.

The owners of Applegarth are understandably proud of their gardens and nursery, and personally guide tourist groups, individuals and garden clubs around on a comprehensive tour, pointing out the different plant and tree species, both indigenous and exotic. The south-west facing slopes are ideal conditions for the culture of Rhododendrons; the slopes are dry, moss grows readily, perfect for the germination of the Rhododendron seed.

From October to June, a variety of mushrooms can be seen, including three varieties of the Boletus mushroom, namely edulis (Cep), the Poplar (Leccinum duriusculum) and the Chestnut Bolete (Gyroporus castaneus). Three varieties of the Amanita mushroom also grow prolifically including the strikingly red fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) with its spots of white.

The Nursery offers frost hardy shrubs and trees from the garden, many of which are relatively rare in South Africa. There is in particular a good variety of deciduous azaleas.