Plants of the Week

Streptocarpus parviflorus

Common names: Cape primrose, wild gloxinia (Engl.)

Family: Gesneriaceae

This is a stemless, soft herbaceous, pot plant, with clusters of white, tubular flowers showing pretty violet streaks in a pale yellow throat....

08 / 06 / 2015 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Searsia burchellii

Common names: Karoo kunibush (Eng.); karookoeniebos (Afr.); mokhoamphiri, tshilabele (Sesotho); motshôtlhô (Tswana)

Family: Anacardiaceae

A much-branched, evergreen shrub or small tree with small, glossy, waxy leaves, common in the dry karroid regions of southern Africa, that is frost hardy...

05 / 12 / 2016 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG

Searsia tomentosa

Common names: bicoloured currant, furry currant, wild currant, current crowberry (Eng), korentebos, korentetaaibos (Afr.) umhlakothi, inhlokoshiyane (isiZulu).

Family: Anacardiaceae

Searsia tomentosa is an attractive, bushy shrub to small tree with multi-coloured foliage, that is commonly known as bicoloured currant. It produces flowers...

02 / 10 / 2023 | Luyanda Bhengu | Free State NBG

Syncolostemon canescens

Common names: coconut-scented sagebush, grey-haired sagebush

Family: Lamiaceae

A small, aromatic perennial, with dainty, purplish pink, summer flowers and leaves that have a strong and unusual fruity, coconutty scent; a ‘must-have’...

13 / 03 / 2017 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Saltera sarcocolla

Common names: saltera, Cape fellwort, vlieëbos

Family: Penaeaceae

Saltera sarcocolla belongs to the Penaeaceae, which is a family confined to the fynbos region. Despite interesting variations in plant and flower...

28 / 10 / 2013 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG

Serruria candicans

Common names: shiny spiderhead (Eng.)

Family: Proteaceae

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22 / 04 / 2019 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia africana

Common names: blue African sage, blue sage, wild sage, African sage, purple sage (Eng.); blousalie, bloublomsalie, Afrikaansesalie, perdesalie, wildesalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia africana is a decorative, aromatic shrub with medicinal properties. Keep it neat and pruned and it will reward you with flowers almost all year...

07 / 01 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia aurea

Common names: golden sage, beach sage, dune sage, sand sage (Eng.); bruinsalie, sandsalie, strandsalie, geelblomsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurea is an aromatic hardy shrub with unusually coloured flowers borne over a long period. It is fairly fast-growing, up to 2 m, and very attractive...

15 / 07 / 2002 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Sesamum eriocarpum

Dicerocaryum eriocarpum (Nicola van Berkel, iSpot)

Common names: devil’s thorn (Eng.); beesdubbeltjie, duiwelsdoring, seepbos (Afr.); intekelane (Ndebele); makanagwe (Tswana)

Family: Pedaliaceae

Sesamum eriocarpum is a perennial herb which creeps along the ground in the Kalahari, with beautiful, bright mauve flowers that magnificently compliment...

30 / 01 / 2017 | Lerato Hoveka | National Herbarium Pretoria

Sparaxis auriculata

Common names: Matsikamma sparaxis, ear satinflower (Eng.), fluweelblom, fluweeltjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

A flowering bulbous plant with large, bright mauve and yellow, two-lipped flowers with six petals. It is a local endemic from the Matsikamma Mountains...

27 / 11 / 2023 | Sisipho Mqungguthu | Karoo Desert NBG

Salvia albicaulis

Common names: white-stemmed sage (Eng.); witstingelsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A white stemmed shrub for sunny spots, which contrasts well with many other fynbos plants....

07 / 11 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Schizocarphus nervosus

Common names: white scilla, white wild squill (Eng.); sandlelie (Afr.); seboka (Sesotho); imbita-yebantwana, ndvwendvweni (siSwati); sabantwana, umagaqana, inkwitel

Family: Hyacinthaceae

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20 / 07 / 2015 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria

Salvia aurita var. aurita

Common names: oogseerbossie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurita var. aurita is a fast-growing, herbaceous perennial that makes a fantastic groundcover in gardens that can offer a little...

24 / 10 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia chamelaeagnea

Common names: Rough Blue Sage, Bloublomsalie

Family: Lamiaceae

Members of the sage family are known worldwide as excellent herbs and beautiful garden plants. Salvia chamelaeagnea, which grows wild in the south western...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia dentata

Flowers and clayx which remains after flower falls

Common names: Toothed sage (Eng.); bergsalie, blousalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia dentata is a wonderful, aromatic, evergreen shrub with prolific flowers suitable for water-wise gardens....

29 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia disermas

Common names: wild giant sage, Transvaal sage Eng.; grootsalie, teesalie Afr.; mogasane (Tswana)

Family: Lamiaceae

Occurring in a variety of colors and growth forms, the petite, pretty flowers of Salvia disermas will add charm to any garden in need of a hardy,...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Salvia dolomitica

Common names: dolomite sage, pilgrim's rest pink sage (Eng.)

Family: Lamiaceae

The dolomite sage is the perfect, hardy, frost tolerant shrub for every garden which will reward its gardener with its long summer display and aromatic...

01 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG