Guest: Andy de Wet - Botanist and Plant Breeder
Host: Jonathan Broekman
In this episode of Living & Investing with Jonathan Broekman, Jonathan visits The Aloe Farm to meet botanist and plant breeder Andy de Wet, whose passion for plants began more than 53 years ago. From breeding Aloes as a student to developing around 250 new plant varieties, including the Chelsea Flower Show-winning Agapanthus ‘BlackJack’, Andy has spent a lifetime exploring what is possible when science, patience and curiosity come together.
Jonathan and Andy explore the fascinating world behind the plants we see in our gardens, from the difference between breeding and propagation and how to create a waterwise garden, to the importance of soil and why indigenous plants can bring colour, wildlife and character to our outdoor spaces. They also discuss the extraordinary 21-year journey behind Agapanthus Poppin Pink and what it takes to develop a completely new plant variety.
The Man Behind The Aloe Farm
Jonathan: Andy, let’s start at the beginning. Why The Aloe Farm and where did it all start?
Andy: I’ve always loved plants. When I was a student I started making hybrids with Aloes. So I studied Botany and now I’m a botanist. That was 53 years ago and I’ve been making hybrids ever since.
The climate here is also perfect for growing plants and for breeding. We don’t have harsh winters that can damage seeds or stop the plants from growing, so it provides excellent conditions for what we do.
We’ve had The Aloe Farm for around 20 years now, but the interest in plants started much earlier than that.
From Aloes to Agapanthus and Beyond
Jonathan: You started with Aloes, but you’ve gone far beyond that. How did that happen?
Andy: When you love plants, there is a curiosity about everything else. When you see pollen on a plant and think it has potential, you want to try it and see if you can create something with it.
We started with Aloes, moved into Agapanthus and now we’re working with around 31 different types of plants.
I think it’s madness, but it’s such fun.
What Makes The Aloe Farm Special?
Jonathan: Aside from Aloes and Agapanthus, what makes The Aloe Farm such a special place?
Andy: We’re quite far away from the city, which means The Aloe Farm has to be a destination. We grow all sorts of colourful plants, not just Aloes and Agapanthus.
We group plants together so that people can discover different varieties and we always have rare plants because I’m obsessed with plants.
The idea is that when people visit, they should find things they don’t normally see elsewhere.
Creating A Waterwise Garden
Jonathan: With the threat of El Niño and water becoming an increasing concern, should people be looking at succulents and waterwise plants or is there still room for other types of plants?
Andy: Water is becoming more expensive and scarcer, so when you garden, you have to consider what it is going to cost you to keep the plants alive.
That’s why we breed and grow a lot of waterwise plants.
Fortunately, South African indigenous plants are generally very good when it comes to their water requirements.
Jonathan: Can you mix indigenous plants, waterwise plants and succulents in the same garden bed?
Andy: In your garden, you can do what you like. Plant what matches and design it so that it is soft on the eyes.
You can absolutely mix them. But remember that indigenous plants can also feed the birds and insects around you, which are very important to the garden.
Indigenous Does Not Mean Dull
Jonathan: People sometimes think indigenous plants don’t offer as much colour. Is that true?
Andy: No. They have plenty of colour.
You should come to The Aloe Farm in the middle of winter. It will blow your mind because there is so much colour.
Agapanthus is popular around the world because it is such a good plant and brings so much colour into a garden.
So don’t think indigenous means dull.
The Art Of Bonsai
Jonathan: Andy, your bougainvillea bonsai is magnificent. How long has it taken to create?
Andy: It’s about 23 years in the making.
We do bonsai because we love it. Bonsai is a mixture of horticulture and sculpture. You have to look after the plant, but you also have to style it.
Jonathan: And this one started from an established tree?
Andy: No, I started with a little cutting.
That’s what you can do if you love gardening. There is so much you can do. It was grown from a cutting, but it takes a bit of time.
This one has taken around 17 years to get to this stage.
But it’s a journey. It’s a journey of happiness.
Breeding And Propagation Are Not The Same
Jonathan: There’s a lot of talk about breeding and propagation. What is the difference?
Andy: Propagation means growing another plant. For example, I can take one of these cuttings, plant it and grow another plant. That is propagation.
Breeding is different. I would pollinate selected plants and create a hybrid between different parents. Then we raise the seeds and look for something new.
Eventually, somebody identifies an exceptional plant and gives it a new name.
What Actually Happens When Plants Cross?
Jonathan: Is it a myth that if you plant a yellow and orange Agapanthus next to each other, you might suddenly get an albino Agapanthus?
Andy: No. The genetics are fixed and they are in the seed.
If you plant yellow and orange next to each other, they won’t simply change from one colour to another. However, bees and birds can pollinate plants and create hybrids. But that change happens in the seed. You would have to plant that seed to see the mixture.
Getting The Soil Right
Jonathan: What kind of soil do Aloes need?
Andy: Aloes, unlike what most people think, actually like rich soil. An Aloe can survive on top of a rock with very little water, but if you want it to show off in your garden, plant it in rich soil with lots of compost. If you give it good conditions, it will reward you by growing better, growing faster and flowering more.
Jonathan: Does that apply to other plants too?
Andy: All plants need food and good conditions.
When you buy a plant at a nursery, there is only one day that is really important in its life and that is the day you plant it. Plant it properly, with lots of compost and good soil preparation. You can’t easily go back and fix the soil afterwards, but if you plant it well from the beginning, it makes gardening much easier.
Growing Plants From Cuttings
Jonathan: We’ve seen where the plants are grown and bred. What happens here in the propagation area?
Andy: This is where we do our cuttings. We take plants, make the cuttings and grow them in a special mixture. Once they have rooted in the trays, they are moved into bags and hardened off.
Jonathan: What does hardening off mean?
Andy: It means taking them out of the greenhouse and gradually introducing them to the sun so that they become accustomed to the conditions. That way, when we transplant them, there is no shock.
The Search For Something Better
Jonathan: You’re also breeding plants beyond Aloes and Agapanthus. What are you looking for when you develop a new variety?
Andy: We bred these Osteospermum to make them tougher. They are more resistant to fungal diseases, more resistant to drought and they flower for longer. They can flower basically the whole year.
That is part of what we do - taking the characteristics we want and improving the plants so that they perform better in gardens.
Twenty-One Years To Create Poppin Pink
Jonathan: Now we’ve reached Poppin Pink. How long has this journey taken?
Andy: It has been a long journey. Agapanthus breeders around the world have been trying for many years to breed a new pink Agapanthus. There are breeders working on this in Australia, America, Europe and the UK. We started 21 years ago. That is what it has taken us to breed it and get it ready for release.
Jonathan: So this is not just a South African achievement?
Andy: No. It has worldwide interest.
We are releasing Poppin Pink in South Africa and there are plans for its introduction in Europe as well. It will also be introduced at the Chelsea Flower Show.
From BlackJack To Poppin Pink
Jonathan: Before Poppin Pink, you had another major success at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Andy: Yes. We were lucky because at the Chelsea Flower Show, we won Best New Plant of the Year in 2023 with the Agapanthus ‘BlackJack’.
We select only the very best plants for release from many, many plants. BlackJack is very popular because it is a tough, strong and vigorous plant with excellent flowers. It also has a much longer flowering season than traditional Agapanthus, which generally flowers once a year.
250 New Varieties And Counting
Jonathan: How many plants have you developed over the years?
Andy: I can’t count them, but we’ve released probably around 250 new varieties. There are thousands of plants here that we’re still working with and the challenge is picking the best one.
Improving On Nature
Jonathan: Is plant breeding about fiddling with science or would you describe it as improving on nature?
Andy: We’re improving on nature. What we try to do is take a plant that you find in the wild but that may not grow well in your garden and improve it so that you can grow it successfully.
We adapt plants to gardening conditions. That is especially important with our indigenous plants. The Enchanted African Bush Garden
Jonathan: Andy, tell us about this part of The Aloe Farm.
Andy: This is our enchanted African bush garden. We’ve created it with lots of interesting indigenous plants and unusual trees. Some of these are plants that people wouldn't normally see elsewhere.
There is a ghost plum and a desert grape, which can look almost dead before flushing with foliage in spring and producing clusters of grapes. We’ve also got indigenous trees and plants that provide food for animals and insects. One of the trees is particularly special because it attracts the Victory Blue butterfly.
Jonathan: What are you trying to create with this garden?
Andy: You want the third dimension, which is up and down. When you create that, you create different feelings.
We’ve piled up soil, planted old trees and created different levels and spaces so that as you walk through the garden, there is always something else to discover. There is also an indigenous orchid that grows epiphytically on trees, as well as trees with their roots exposed to show their natural character.
The idea is to create an experience and an adventure as you move through the garden.
Looking To The Future
Jonathan: After 53 years of breeding plants, what keeps you going?
Andy: There are still thousands of plants here and so many possibilities. That’s what makes it exciting. You never really know what the next plant might become. The work continues and there is always something new to discover.
Jonathan: Andy, thank you for having us at The Aloe Farm and for showing us around.
Andy: Thank you. But you’ll have to come back again - watch this space. There are all sorts of things still in the pipeline.
Link to YouTube podcast: https://youtu.be/IJiNjv_cDqk
This article is based on a podcast conversation with Andy De Wet and reflects the views and opinions expressed by the guest. Homes of Distinction accepts no responsibility for the views, statements or claims made during the discussion.
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