Plants of the Week

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E.g., 02/06/2023
E.g., 02/06/2023

Erythrophleum lasianthum

Erythrophleum lasianthum
Common names: Maputaland ordeal tree, Swazi ordeal tree, sasswood (Eng.); maputalandoordeelboom, swazi-oordeelboom (Afr.); umbhemise, umhlakazane, umkhwangu (isiZul
Family: Fabaceae

A medium to large tree with glossy, dark green foliage and honey-scented flowers in spring and early summer, followed by woody pods that remain on the...

28 / 12 / 2020 | Mmapitsi Malebye | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Erica rhopalantha var. rhopalantha

Erica rhopalantha (Loretta Floors)
Common names: club-shaped erica (Eng.); maroenheide, pienkheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

...

15 / 10 / 2018 | Karen Wall | Harold Porter NBG
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Eucomis comosa

Eucomis comosa var. comosa flowers. (Neil Crouch)
Common names: slender pineapple flower (Eng.); krulkoppie, pynappellelie (Afr.); ubuhlungu-becanti (Zul. and Xho.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This is one of the sweet-scented species in the genus Eucomis, which is one of the reasons why it is such a popular garden plant. Like other pineapple...

29 / 10 / 2018 | Dineo Dibakwane | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Euphorbia tuberosa

Euphorbia tuberosa
Common names: milk-ball, wild charlock (Eng.); melkbol, wilderamenas (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A hardy, drought tolerant plant that is dormant in summer when conditions are harsh, by losing its wavy, grey-green leaves and leaving its succulent stem...

05 / 11 / 2018 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Encephalartos ngoyanus

Encephalartos ngoyanus
Common names: Ngoye dwarf cycad (Eng.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos ngoyanus is a small cycad with a subterranean stem that is kept underground by contractile roots. This cycad rarely produces suckers, unless...

08 / 03 / 2021 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Eriosema umtamvunense

Eriosema umtamvunense
Common names: Umtamvuna eriosema
Family: Fabaceae

Eriosema umtamvunense is an erect perennial shrub, with densely hairy stems, leaves and pods, red and yellow flowers in summer, a horizontal woody rootstock,...

07 / 01 / 2019 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Eriosema kraussianum

Eriosema kraussianum
Common names: pale yellow eriosema (Eng.)
Family: Fabaceae

Eriosema kraussianum is an erect, fairly small, tufted, perennial herb, with its stems covered in silvery silky hairs and with pale yellow flowers. It...

13 / 04 / 2015 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG
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Erica densifolia

Erica densifolia
Common names: sticky red-and-green heath (Eng.)
Family: Ericaceae

This evergreen shrub produces tubular red flowers with light yellow tips, from spring until autumn, and is a great addition for attracting birds to your...

12 / 04 / 2021 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Elegia spathacea

Elegia spathacea
Common names: pagoda goldreed (Eng.)
Family: Restionaceae

This is a small, aesthetic, slender plant, with striking tan-coloured spathes with reddish brown speckles, suitable for planting in containers....

19 / 04 / 2021 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erica grandiflora subsp. grandiflora

Erica grandiflora subsp. grandiflora
Common names: golden heath (Eng.); goueheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

A sturdy fynbos shrub with outstanding bright orange flowers at the hottest, driest time of the year....

11 / 02 / 2019 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ehretia rigida

Ehretia rigida in flower. Image Geoff Nicols
Common names: puzzle bush (Eng.); deurmekaarbos (Afr.); umHlele (Zulu); Morobe (Northern Sotho); iBotshane (Xhosa); Mutepe (Venda)
Family: Boraginaceae

Ehretia rigida is a deciduous small tree or shrub, usually multi-stemmed, with an untidy rounded crown. It has tangled branches which arch downwards or...

23 / 12 / 2003 | Avhurengwi Phillemon Ndou | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ehrharta calycina

Ehrharta calycina
Common names: common ehrharta, common veld grass (Eng.); gewone ehrharta, rooigras, polgras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

Ehrharta calycina is usually perennial with strongly geniculate culms (stems), red-flowers and a creeping, branched rhizome....

01 / 09 / 2008 | Aluoneswi Caroline Mashau | Pretoria NBG
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Ekebergia capensis

Fruit (Photo Geoff NIchols)
Common names: Cape ash, dogplum (E), essenhout (A), mmidibidi (NS), umnyamatsi (SW), nyamaru (Ts)
Family: Meliaceae

This is a large attractive evergreen tree that has been used as a street tree in many towns and cities of South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic...

27 / 12 / 2004 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ekebergia pterophylla

Flowers and berry
Common names: rock ash (Eng.); rotsessenhout (Afr.); maGwedla (Swahili)
Family: Meliaceae

This is a tidy, attractive, evergreen shrub/tree, with sweetly scented flowers, bearing berries....

07 / 11 / 2005 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Euphorbia flanaganii

Euphorbia flanaganii
Common names: Transkei medusa’s head, Flanagan’s euphorbia (Eng.); vingerpol (Afr.); nhlehle, isihlehle (Zul.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

...

04 / 03 / 2019 | Ntuthuko Mabuya | Pretoria NBG
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Elaeodendron croceum

Fruit of E. croceum
Common names: saffron; saffron wood, forest saffron (Eng.); saffraan, bossafraan (Afr.)
Family: Celastraceae

Elaeodendron croceum is an attractive, evergreen tree with a neat, upright shape which can with care be cultivated in gardens large and small....

07 / 06 / 2004 | Robert Archer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Elaeodendron transvaalense

Elaeodendron transvaalense. Image copyright Geoff Nichols
Common names: bushveld saffron (Eng.); bosveldsaffraan, lepelhout (Afr.); iNgwavuma, uMgugudo (Zulu); shimapana (Tsonga); monamane (Northern Sotho)
Family: Celastraceae

Elaeodendron transvaalense is an attractive, small to medium tree that fits perfectly in a small garden. Those gardening for biodiversity will find this...

28 / 05 / 2007 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Encephalartos cerinus

Encephalartos cerinus (Willem Froneman)
Common names: waxen cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos cerinus is a small cycad with a subterranean stem that may be partly exposed when growing among rocks. Leaves and cones are covered by a...

11 / 03 / 2019 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Elegia aggregata

Elegia aggregata
Common names: Hermanus riet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

Elegia aggregata is a tufted plant with attractive smooth stems. The stems are blue-green with dark brown inflorescences. This plant can be used in...

06 / 01 / 2014 | Zitobile Sikova | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Elegia capensis

Elegia capensis
Common names: horsetail restio (Eng.); besemriet, fonteinriet, katstert, kanet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This restio is a tall, dark green, elegant plant with large, decorative, papery sheaths along the stems. It is a good feature plant next to a pond, a swimming...

09 / 02 / 2004 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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