Plants of the Week

Bulbine narcissifolia

Common names: strap-leaved bulbine, snake flower (Eng.); lintblaar bulbine, geelslangkop, wildekopieva (Afr.); khomo-ea-balisa, serelelile (Southern Sotho)

Family: Asphodelaceae

The grey-green, laxly twisted leaves and compact inflorescence of yellow flowers and white bracts covering the flower buds, make the strap-leaved bulbine, Bulbine...

05 / 11 / 2007 | Ronell R. Klopper | Biosystematics

Burchellia bubalina

Common names: wild pomegranate (Eng.); wildegranaat (Afr.); iThobankomo (X), isiGolwane (Z); maHlosana (Sw)

Family: Rubiaceae

The wild pomegranate is an attractive ornamental shrub/tree that is also used to attract nectar-feeding birds. The combination of its bright red flowers...

14 / 02 / 2005 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Burkea africana

Common names: wild seringa (Eng.); wildesering (Afr.); mpulu (Tsonga), monato (Tswana); monatô (Northern Sotho); mufhulu (Venda)

Family: Fabaceae

An attractive, medium-sized, flat-topped tree, difficult to grow and not yet produced on a commercial scale....

25 / 01 / 2010 | T.T. Masupa | National Herbarium Pretoria

Buxus macowanii

Common names: African box, Cape box, small-leaved box (Eng.), buig-my-nie, Afrikaansebuksboom, Kaapsebuksboom, kleinblaarbuksboom (Afr.), igalagala (isiXhosa), umga

Family: Buxaceae

A small, very slow-growing tree with a clean slender stem and a dense crown of shiny green leaves; it is a good pot plant, can be clipped and trained into...

06 / 05 / 2002 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Babiana sambucina subsp. sambucina

Common names: fragrant babiana (Eng.); bobbejaantjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

Babiana sambucina subsp. sambucina is an attractive, dwarf, spring-flowering bulbous plant, which is drought tolerant and water-wise....

13 / 05 / 2019 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG

Barleria virgula

Common names: sand bush violet (Eng.); sandbosviooltjie (Afr.)

Family: Acanthaceae

‘The drier I get, the better I flower!’...

13 / 03 / 2017 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG

Babiana rubrocyanea

Common names: blue-and-red babiana, wine-cup baboon-root, winecup babiana (Eng.); kelkiewynbobbejaantjie, rooibloubobbejaantjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

Babiana rubrocyanea is perfect for those seeking a visually stunning and unique floral display. Its striking dark blue flowers with a red centre are truly...

05 / 02 / 2024 | Natasha Lombard | National Herbarium Pretoria

Buddleja dysophylla

Common names: white climbing sagewood (Eng.), witranksaliehout (Afr.); umhlabangubo (isiXhosa)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

A large, scrambling shrub with showy heads of sweet-scented, white flowers in winter, that are visited by bees and butterflies....

04 / 03 / 2024 | Ofentse Naanyane | Free State NBG

Babiana noctiflora

Common names: night-scented baboon flower, night bobbejaantjie (Eng.); aandbobbejaantjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

A night-scented bobbejaantjie that is rare in fynbos, with yellow flowers that are adapted to their night-flying moth pollinators by remaining open and...

01 / 11 / 2021 | Tamanna Patel | TSP

Barleria macrostegia

Common names: tongklapper (Afr.)

Family: Acanthaceae

A groundcover with a strange flower cluster....

12 / 08 / 2019 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG

Bulbine succulenta

Common names: compass plant (Eng.); kopiva, wildekopiva (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Bulbine succulenta is an attractive bulbous plant, and a low-maintenance and rewarding ornamental plant.Fig. 1: Bulbine succulenta, plants in flower, flowers...

29 / 11 / 2021 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG

Brunia albiflora

See Berzelia albiflora...

24 / 04 / 2004 | | Karoo Desert NBG

Brunia stokoei

See Berzelia stokoei...

06 / 08 / 2007 | | Karoo Desert NBG

Breonadia salicina

Common names: matumi, African teak, wild-oleander, Transvaal teak (Eng.); mingerhout, watermatoemie, waterboekenhout, basterkiaat (Afr.); mohlomê (Northern Sotho);

Family: Rubiaceae

A handsome, tall, evergreen tree, suitable for big gardens and parks, with a straight trunk and a dense, narrow crown, known to be an excellent wood for...

05 / 06 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG

Bulbine mesembryanthoides subsp. mesembryanthoides

Common names: stone-plant bulbine, window plants, water glass (Eng.); waterglas, waterkannetjies (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

...

21 / 02 / 2022 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG

Babiana nervosa

Common names: baboon flower, babiana (Eng.), bobbejaantjie, bobbejaanuintjie, katjetie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

...

07 / 03 / 2022 | Ofentse Naanyane | Pretoria NBG

Babiana stricta

Common names: baboon flower, babiana (Eng.), bobbejaantjie, bobbejaanuintjie, katjetie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

Babiana stricta is now known as Babiana nervosa....

07 / 03 / 2022 | | Pretoria NBG

Bowkeria cymosa

Common names: northern shellflower, escarpment shellflower (Eng.); noordelike skulpblombos, platorand-skulpblombos (Afr.); luchwimi (Siswati)

Family: Stilbaceae

A bushy shrub or small tree for sun or semi-shade, with dark green foliage and sprays of unusual, shell-like, white flowers in summer; a good backdrop...

04 / 09 / 2017 | Tumelo Mofokeng | Pretoria NBG

Barleria quadriloba

Common names: Limpopo white barleria, Limpopo white bush violet (Eng.), Limpopo-witbosviooltjie (Afr.)

Family: Acanthaceae

A shrublet with white flowers in late summer, autumn and winter; it performs best in dry conditions and is recommended for sunny, water-wise gardens....

18 / 09 / 2017 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG

Bergeranthus scapiger

Common names: polvygie (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

A dwarf, clump-forming, water-wise succulent, with smooth, glossy leaves and branched clusters of golden-yellow flowers in winter and spring. It is grown...

13 / 01 / 2020 | Sihle Nqentsu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

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