Plants of the Week

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Encephalartos cycadifolius

E. cycadifolius mature plant beginning to cone
Common names: Bedford cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos cycadifolius is a medium-sized, single to multi-stemmed  cycad that is both frost-tolerant and drought-resistant. It is an Eastern...

13 / 04 / 2009 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos ferox

Encephalartos ferox
Common names: Maputaland cycad, Zululand cycad, Tongaland cycad (Eng.), Maputalandbroodboom, Tongalandbroodboom (Afr.), umthobane, uthobani (Zulu), chihanga (Thonga
Family: Zamiaceae

A cycad with dark green, arching, holly-like leaves and striking red cones....

25 / 02 / 2002 | Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi

Cones emerging
Common names: white-haired cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

Although Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi experiences harsh growing conditions in its natural habitat, it is very adaptable to different climatic conditions....

14 / 08 / 2006 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos horridus

E.horridus. Photo Nat Grobbelaar
Common names: Eastern Cape blue cycad, blue cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

This cycad has been described as one of the most unusual of all the South African species. It has been very over-collected in the past, but sufficient...

07 / 04 / 2003 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Encephalartos inopinus

E. inopinus (female):Photo: Nat Grobbelaar
Common names: Lydenburg cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

This unusual, attractive African cycad (comparable to the Mexican companion Dioon or a Cuban Microcycas) tolerates both sun and frost, making...

12 / 07 / 2004 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG
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Encephalartos laevifolius

Encephalartos laevifolius
Common names: Kaapsehoop cycad (Eng.); Kaapsehoop-broodboom (Afr.); mayiphuku (Siswati)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos laevifolius is a tall, slender cycad with even, regular, smooth leafbases. It grows well in full sun and tolerates any soil type, provided...

13 / 08 / 2012 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Encephalartos lanatus

Encephalartos lanatus
Common names: Woolly cycad (Eng.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos lanatus  is normally a medium-sized, single-stemmed plant about 1–1,5 m high. In the garden, it enjoys a position in full sun...

31 / 03 / 2008 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Euphorbia globosa

Euphorbia globosa
Common names: globose euphorbia, globose spurge (Eng.); eierpol, knopmelkbol, langbeentjie (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

The Eastern Cape Province is home to the charming and spineless Euphorbia globosa. This dwarf succulent, from a near distance, appears as an arrangement...

13 / 02 / 2017 | Tandiwe Nkonki | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Encephalartos latifrons

Encephalartos latifrons
Common names: Albany cycad (Eng.), Albany-broodboom (Afr.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos latifrons is extremely rare and virtually extinct in its natural habitat. It is very attractive with the broadest leaves of all the cycad...

11 / 01 / 2016 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos lebomboensis

Encephalartos lebomboensis: Phot: N Grobbelaar
Common names: Lebombo cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

This cycad is said to be one of the most popular cycads in cultivation, although there is some confusion about its identity. Several populations of what...

14 / 04 / 2003 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Encephalartos lehmannii

Encephalartos lehmannii : Photo:Nat Grobbelaar
Common names: Karoo cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

This cycad has been described as the hardiest, most drought resistant of the South African species. In the past, many specimens of this cycad were removed...

21 / 04 / 2003 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Eriocephalus racemosus

Eriocephalus racemosus
Common names: coast wild rosemary (Eng.); strandveldkapok, kapkappie, strandkapokbos, kapokkie (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Eriocephalus racemosus is not only an ideal low screening plant but will also attract insects, and in turn the insects will encourage the birds to visit...

10 / 08 / 2015 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos longifolius

Encephalartos longifolius growing in the wild.
Common names: Thunberg's cycad, Suurberg cycad (Eng.); Suurbergbroodboom (Afr.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos longifolius and E. caffer were the first cycads to be scientifically recorded in South Africa as long ago as 1772. During...

19 / 06 / 2006 | D Bosenberg | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Euphorbia bupleurifolia

Euphorbia bupleurifolia
Common names: cycad spurge, pine cone plant (Eng.); melkbol (Afr.); intsele, insema (Xho.); inkamamasane, insema (Zul.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Resembling a pine cone, pineapple or, some may say, a cycad, Euphorbia bupleurifolia is one interesting Euphorbia....

20 / 05 / 2019 | Sibahle Gumede | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Encephalartos middelburgensis

E.middelburgensis in habitat
Common names: Middelburg cycad (Eng.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos middelburgensis is a blue-leaved cycad covered with persistent powdery bloom. It thrives in full sunlight and is frost-hardy. It is...

22 / 07 / 2013 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Encephalartos natalensis

Encephalartos natalensis: a "living fossil”
Common names: Natal cycad (Eng.); natalbroodboom (Afr.); isigqikisomkhovu, umhlungulo (Zulu); umguza, umphanga (Xhosa)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos natalensis, a "living fossil", is a quick-growing handsome giant tree cycad for your garden. This frost-hardy cycad prefers subtropical...

24 / 10 / 2011 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Eucomis montana

Eucomis montana
Common names: montane pineapple flower
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This is one of the six bicoloured species of Eucomis and one of the few dwarf species, occurring in the Mpumalanga Province....

27 / 05 / 2019 | Dineo Dibakwane | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Encephalartos paucidentatus

Graceful cycad
Common names: Barberton cycad
Family: Zamiaceae

The graceful crown of dark green glossy leaves, vigorous growth and strong stem of Encephalartos paucidentatus makes this one of the most striking of...

03 / 07 / 2006 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Elegia filacea

Elegia filacea
Common names: little golden curls
Family: Restionaceae

A magnificent small, upright, tufted restio that shows off its golden–tan sheaths and bracts in early to midsummer, and makes a spectacular filler...

03 / 06 / 2019 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encepharlatos princeps

Encephalartos princeps
Common names: Kei cycad (Eng.); keibroodboom (Afr.); umguza, umphanga (X)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos princeps is a lovely blue-leaved cycad that responds well to full sun and tolerates any soil type, provided that the soil is well drained...

08 / 08 / 2011 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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