Plants of the Week

Chaenostoma hispidum

Common names: bristly skunkbush (Eng.); stinkbossie (Afr.)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

A small, aromatic, perennial shrublet with attractive white, pink to mauve star-shaped flowers in summer, good for garden borders....

03 / 04 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG

Carpobrotus edulis

Common names: sour fig, Cape fig, Hottentots fig (Eng.); ghaukum, ghoenavy, Hottentotsvy, Kaapsevy, perdevy, rankvy, suurvy, vyerank, (Afr.); ikhambi-lamabulawo, um

Family: Aizoaceae

Carpobrotus edulis is an easy-to-grow succulent groundcover, ideal for low-maintenance and water-wise gardens. It is also a useful first-aid plant...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Carpobrotus quadrifidus

Common names: West Coast sour fig, eland sour fig (Eng.); Weskus suurvy, elandsvy (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Carpobrotus quadrifidus, formerly named C. sauerae, stands out in the varied conglomeration of mesembs as the one species with the largest flowers....

17 / 02 / 2014 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG

Cephalaria pungens

Common names: none kown

Family: Dipsacaceae

Attractive cream, white or pale yellow flower heads, with protruding greyish anthers, attracts you from afar, especially when growing gregariously and...

10 / 04 / 2017 | Mkhipheni Ngwenya | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

Cassia abbreviata subsp. beareana

Common names: long-tail cassia, sjambok pod, wild senna (Eng.); sjambokpeul, peulboom, peulbos, boontjieboom (Afr.), molepelepe, monêpênêpê (Tw), muboma, mulamb

Family: Fabaceae

The long-tail cassia is ideal for small to medium-sized gardens where it will attract attention with both its beautiful deep yellow, sweetly scented flowers...

03 / 03 / 2008 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG

Cassinopsis ilicifolia

Common names: Lemon Thorn (English), Lemoentjiedoring (Afrikaans), iMamba eluhlaza (Zulu), iCegceya (Xhosa)

Family: Icacinaceae

15 / 04 / 2002 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Commiphora woodii

Common names: forest corkwood (Eng.); boskanniedood (Afr.); iminele, wehlathi, umhlunguthi (isiXhosa); iminyela, umdewehlathi, umubu, umunde wehlathi (isiZulu)

Family: Burseraceae

The forest corkwood is one of the few corkwoods that does not have flaking or peeling bark. ...

18 / 10 / 2021 | Siphesihle Precious Sibiya | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cassine peragua

Common names: Cape saffron, bastard saffron, false saffron, bastard saffronwood (Eng.); bastersaffraan, lepelhout (Afr.); iKhukhuzi (Xhosa); umKhukhuze, umBofanyamo

Family: Celastraceae

Cassine peragua is a medium-sized tree suitable for suburban gardens, with fragrant flowers and decorative, bird-attracting fruits, but its most attractive...

20 / 06 / 2005 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Catha edulis

Common names: Bushman's tea (Eng.); Boesmanstee (Afr.); umhlwazi (Zulu); iqgwaka (Xhosa); khat (Arabic)

Family: Celastraceae

This is a very attractive, small deciduous tree, with bright green leaves that turn to a pleasing yellowish colour in autumn. Its beauty is also complemented...

17 / 02 / 2003 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Celtis africana

Common names: white stinkwood; witstinkhout (Afr.); umVumvu (Xhosa); uSinga lwesalukazi (Zulu); Modutu (Sotho & Tswane); Mpopano (Venda)

Family: Cannabaceae

There is no doubt that this is an excellent tree to use in a landscape, and it is a rewarding garden tree. It gives shade in summer, and is fast and easy...

03 / 02 / 2003 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Clausena anisata

Common names: horsewood (Eng.); perdepis, perdepisboom, lemoenhout, perdeboom, perdebos , perdepisbos , perdepisbossie, stinkbas, basternieshout (Afr.); umnukelambi

Family: Rutaceae

Clausena anisata is a very neat and attractive small tree, that gives off a strong scent that is considered by many to be unpleasant; when the leaves are...

01 / 11 / 2021 | Thamsanqa Msweli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cenchrus ciliaris

Common names: foxtail buffalo grass (Eng.); bloubuffelgras (Afr.)

Family: Poaceae

Cenchrus ciliaris is a perennial, tufted grass. The inflorescence is a bristly 'spike' (like a cat's tail) and is nearly always purple to...

31 / 05 / 2010 | Aluoneswi Caroline Mashau | National Herbarium Pretoria

Cephalophyllum alstonii

Common names: rankvygie (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Cephallophyllum alstonii is a creeping perennial succulent, ideal as a ground cover, or as a pot plant on a patio. The spectacular, brightly coloured...

09 / 07 / 2007 | Shireen Harris | National Herbarium Pretoria

Crocosmia paniculata

Common names: zigzag crocosmia (Eng.); waaierlelie (Afr.); khala-ea-bokone, moloke (Sesotho); undwendwi, umlunge (Zulu)

Family: Iridaceae

Crocosmia paniculata is a robust, deciduous geophyte with sculptural, zig-zag flower spikes and attractive, pleated leaves that make it a strong accent...

24 / 04 / 2017 | John Manning | Compton Herbarium

Ceratotheca triloba

Common names: wild foxglove(Eng.); vingerhoedblom (Afr.); ludvonca (Sw); udonqa (Sw,Z); undoncalwabathwa, udonqabathwa (Z)

Family: Pedaliaceae

Flowering during the warm summer and into autumn, this tall elegant annual adds a cool and lush feeling to the garden. In nature they are commonly found...

05 / 03 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ceropegia ampliata

Common names: Bushman's Pipe (Eng.); Boesmanspyp (Afr.)

Family: Apocynaceae

Members of the genus Ceropegia are characterized by tubular flowers specially adapted for the temporary capture of insects for pollination purposes. The...

03 / 05 / 2004 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria

Crassula fascicularis

Common names: fragrant crassula, sweet-scented crassula (Eng.); ruiksissie, klipblom, karnaatjieblom, keiserskroon (Afr.)

Family: Crassulaceae

An elegant little succulent shrub, with beautiful and fragrant spring flowers, ideal for pots, rockeries and fynbos gardens....

19 / 10 / 2015 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Chaenostoma cordatum

Common names: Trailing phlox (Eng.)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Chaenostoma cordatum is the ideal groundcover for that garden spot with varying microclimates. Performing equally well in full sun to shady conditions...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Roger Oliver | Pretoria NBG

Chaenostoma pauciflora

Common names: trailing phlox; rankende floks (Afr.)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

This is an attractive, dainty-looking, trailing perennial groundcover with small, triangular, dark leaves and tiny white flowers....

12 / 08 / 2013 | Sthembile Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Crassula fusca

Common names: stone crop (Eng.)

Family: Crassulaceae

This is an attractive plant and probably one of the most low maintenance Crassula, as it requires little watering and prefers semi-shade.Fig. 1. Crassula...

22 / 11 / 2021 | Kagiso Sharlene Mashego | National Herbarium Pretoria

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