Meet Alex March, a gardening expert with a passion for all things indigenous.
The first tree name Alex March learned when studying horticulture was Erythrina lysistemon. The second was Citharexylum quadrangulare (a.k.a Fiddlewood). However, the indigenous coral tree had more appeal, and in a short time Alex became, by his own admission, an ‘indigenous nut’. “Trying to get my tongue around the botanical names took a while, but after a few months, I realised that I loved this and was hooked,” he remembered.
Much of Alex’s childhood was spent exploring the New Germany Nature Reserve near his home, where his awe of Nature was nurtured. Visiting the area as an adult armed with his new botanical knowledge was pure joy as he met Anastrabe integerrima, Faurea saligna, and Protorhus longifolia.
Always up for an adventure, Alex applied for a 2-year internship at Kirstenbosch. “This was a fantastic time. I went on every collecting trip possible—to Angola, the Wild Coast, and the mountains along the Eastern Cape. Many of these excursions were with legendary botanist Ernst J. Van Jaarsveld.”
Although he was offered a job at Kirstenbosch, he, endearingly nicknamed Alex-The-Tree-Man, knew that his heart lay in KwaZulu-Natal, where there is an abundance of trees.
But with adventure still calling, he headed to the UK for a few years, working as a gardener across London, where he clipped hedges for the Duke and Duchess of Kent, planted thousands of annuals for an Arab sheikh, raked copious autumn leaves, and travelled through Europe.
Upon his return to KwaZulu-Natal, he was offered land in Karkloof to grow proteas, and thus Nkosi Nursery, named for the spectacular King protea (Protea cynaroides), was born. Alex soon showcased his indigenous plant selection at fairs and markets as the nursery flourished.
In the early 2000s, indigenous plants experienced a growth spurt, driven by the construction of many estates. Alex was perfectly placed to meet this demand. One of his early clients was Nicky Firth; he went on to design two distinct gardens for her over a period of two decades. “Alex is one of our favourite people and has been a huge part of both these gardens of ours. He is a knowledgeable, creative, kind, and straightforward person who runs his business in a very professional way,” she enthused.
Many indigenous nurseries are based on the coast, where plants grow easily, but they are not tough enough for a Drakensberg garden. So, Alex focussed on Midlands plants that thrived in colder conditions. Jean and Ant Carte, who built Montusi Mountain Lodge on a neglected wattle wasteland, concur. “Alex has shared his experience, encouraged us to experiment and helped us propagate plants on-site. Our beautiful indigenous gardens are now a talking point amongst our guests. Other gardens might claim to be the best gardens in KZN but Montusi can certainly claim the title of Best Indigenous Nkosi Garden!”
In 2017, Nkosi Nursery was awarded the contract to rescue and rehabilitate the slopes created by the upgrade to Sani Pass. Elsa Pooley had told the contractors, “There is only one person qualified for the job, with experience in dealing with the harsh winters of the inland areas. Alex.” Sani was an interesting challenge for the Nkosi team. “We needed a multi-pronged approach—we gathered seed, collected plants, dug up sods, saved topsoil and took cuttings. Being a World Heritage Site, the steep banks couldn’t be plastered with easy options like kikuyu or concrete,” explained Alex. In many areas, the results were fantastic.
Elsa added, “His skill has been to re-establish the natural mix of species on the roadsides after construction of the road, with plants he rescued and grown on. Alex is a national treasure.”
After 23 years, Nkosi Nursery had outgrown the possibilities of the Karkloof site, and Alex looked around for a new home. “You have to bet on yourself,” he advised. “I took the leap in 2022 and bought the land in Howick where Nkosi is now based.” Alex and his team are now dreaming of producing a wider selection of plants, and developing a dedicated retail area for keen gardeners to find inspiration and shop.
Erythrina lysistemon will soon bloom. Their scarlet winter flowers will remind Alex of where his journey began, the time that he took his destiny into his soil-covered hands (with a few lucky bean seeds in his pocket), and planted roots to thrive in a new place.
11 Fyvie Road, Howick
www.nkosi nursery.co.za