Plants of the Week

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E.g., 15/09/2024
E.g., 15/09/2024

Protea coronata

Protea coronata flower head
Common names: green protea, green sugarbush (Eng.); groenhofiesuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea coronata has bright apple-green inflorescences hidden amongst its silvery foliage; it's not a showy garden shrub but the very attractive...

15 / 09 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium carnosum subsp. carnosum

Pelargonium carnosum
Common names: fleshy-stalk pelargonium (Eng.); vetplantmalva (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

This attractive, drought-resistant, deciduous, succulent pelargonium is a winter grower that does not sprout after fire....

01 / 10 / 2018 | Samkelisiwe Ntuli | Karoo Desert NBG
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Protea cynaroides

Protea cynaroides
Common names: King Protea, Giant Protea (Eng.), Reuse Protea, Koningprotea, Grootsuikerroos, Grootsuikerkan, Bergsuikerkan (Afr.), isiQwane esincinci (isiZhosa)
Family: Proteaceae

Surely the best known protea, prized worldwide as a magnificent cut flower and in South Africa honoured as the national flower....

09 / 07 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea eximia

Protea eximia flower head
Common names: broad-leaf sugarbush, duchess protea, (Eng.); breëblaarsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea eximia is a robust, easy-to-grow protea, presenting its showy, deep pink, purple-centred flower heads above greyish green foliage....

24 / 08 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Plumbago zeylanica

Plumbago zeylanica
Common names: wild white leadwort, Ceylon plumbago (Eng.); swartwaterbossie (Afr.)
Family: Plumbaginaceae

Plumbago zeylanica is a gorgeous, eye-catching shrub that adds intrigue into any garden; it is covered with pretty trusses of small white or rarely pale...

28 / 12 / 2020 | Keenan Williams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea laetans

Protea laetans flowerhead and bud
Common names: Blyde protea, Blyde sugarbush (Eng.); Blydesuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Blyde protea is a small tree with bluish-green foliage and deep carmine flowerheads, and is one of the few proteas that are found in the summer-rainfall...

16 / 07 / 2012 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea lanceolata

Protea lanceolata flower head
Common names: lance-leaf protea, lance-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); smalblaarsuikerbos (Afr.); isiqalaba (Xho.)
Family: Proteaceae

With its neat shape, white flower heads and tolerance for coastal and alkaline conditions, Protea lanceolata makes a perfect windbreak for a...

07 / 09 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea laurifolia

Protea laurifolia flower head
Common names: laurel protea, laurel-leaf protea, grey-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); louriersuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea laurifolia is a bearded protea with large, pale pink or cream flower heads during the winter months. It is also frost hardy, water-wise and...

15 / 06 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea lepidocarpodendron

Protea Lepidocarpodendron on St James Peak
Common names: Black-bearded Protea, Black-bearded Sugarbush, Black Protea ( Eng. ), Swartbaardsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Not as eye-catching as many of its relatives, this lovely protea has hairy, black and cream-white flowerheads that peek out through the dense foliage like...

10 / 07 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea magnifica

Protea magnifica
Common names: queen protea, queen sugarbush, bearded protea ( Eng. ); wolbaardsuikerbos ( Afr. )
Family: Proteaceae

Protea magnifica has the second largest flower head after P. cynaroides, the king protea. The queen protea is one of the most attractive and sought after...

27 / 01 / 2014 | Melissa Van der Burg | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea neriifolia

Protea neriifolia
Common names: oleander-leaf protea, narrow-leaf protea (Eng.), baardsuikerbos, baardsuikerkan, blousuikerkan (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea neriifolia is an excellent plant for the garden and an outstanding and long lasting cut flower....

30 / 07 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea nitida

Protea nitida in cultivation
Common names: wagon tree ( English); waboom, blousuikerbos, bobbejaansuikerbos, brandhout. (Afrikaans)
Family: Proteaceae

With its long history and good looks, Protea nitida is a gem in the fynbos world. It is the only species of Protea to form large trees yielding...

18 / 06 / 2007 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea obtusifolia

Protea obtusifolia
Common names: Bredasdorp protea, limestone protea, limestone sugarbush (Eng.); Bredasdorpsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea obtusifolia has shiny, richly coloured flower heads during winter, and it is one of the few proteas that thrive in alkaline or acidic soils,...

27 / 07 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea repens

Protea repens
Common names: sugarbush, common sugarbush, real sugarbush, honey protea (Eng.), suikerbos, stroopbos, opregtesuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea repens is an excellent addition to any wildlife-friendly garden as the large amount of nectar produced by the flowers attracts birds, bees and other...

03 / 06 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea comptonii

Protea comptonii
Common names: Barberton mountain sugarbush, Barberton sugarbush, Saddleback sugarbush, Compton’s protea (Eng.); barbertonse bergsuikerbos, barberton-suikerbos, co
Family: Proteaceae

A very impressive standing tree with a rounded, open crown, rich green leaves, and a water-lily-like inflorescence when fully in bloom, made up of white...

26 / 06 / 2023 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea rubropilosa

Flowerhead
Common names: transvaal sugarbush, transvaal mountain protea, red velvet protea, escarpment protea (Eng.); transvaalbergsuikerbos (Afr.); segwapi (Sotho)
Family: Proteaceae

The transvaal sugarbush is a striking protea. It has a neat habit and provides year round interest in the garden....

14 / 11 / 2011 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea scolymocephala

Protea scolymocephala
Common names: thistle protea, thistle sugarbush, small green protea, scoly ( Eng. ); kleingroenroos, witskollie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea scolymocephala is a dainty shrub bearing abundant pink-tinged, creamy-green flowerheads in winter/spring, ideal for small gardens on the sandy...

21 / 08 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium incarnatum

Pelargonium incarnatum
Common names: ring stork’s-bill (Eng.); horlosie, vrouebossie (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

This unusual pelargonium definitely has the all the hallmarks of becoming an ornamental hit in fynbos and succulent gardens. It doesn’t need plenty...

19 / 11 / 2018 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea stokoei

Protea stokoei bush
Common names: pink sugarbush
Family: Proteaceae

The Cape Floristic Region is known for its extraordinary plant diversity and for the gems that can be found amongst it. One of these gems is Protea...

24 / 05 / 2010 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG
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Protea susannae

Protea susannae
Common names: stink-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); stinkblaarsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

This easy-to-grow protea has lovely flowers throughout the winter months....

31 / 01 / 2011 | Olivia Tyambetyu | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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