Plants of the Week

Senegalia ataxacantha

Common names: Flamethorn (E), Vlamdoring / Rank wag-'n-bietjie (Afr), umThathawe (Z), Mologa (N.Sotho), Mogôkatau (Setsw), Muluwa (V), umNga (X).

Family: Fabaceae

The most striking feature of this plant are the deep red to purple-red pods which are held in conspicuous bunches and account for the common name "flame...

14 / 05 / 2001 | Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG

Osteospermum moniliferum

Common names: bietou, boneseed, tickberry, brother berry, bush-tickberry (Eng.) bietou, boetabessie, bosluisbessie, bokbessie, weskusbietou, skilpadkos (Afr.), inku

Family: Asteraceae

A fast growing shrub with bright yellow daisies in autumn and winter followed by edible berries; a useful pioneer, screening plant and popular with birds...

07 / 05 / 2001 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Dombeya burgessiae

Common names: pink wild pear, pink dombeya, persdrolpeer (Afrikaans), ibunda (Zulu)

Family: Malvaceae

The pink wild pear is a garden favourite used by many gardeners and landscapers for its profusion of pink to white flowers borne in dense clusters which...

07 / 05 / 2001 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Clivia gardenii

Common names: Major Garden's clivia, Natal drooping clivia (English); boslelie (Afrikaans); umayime (Zulu)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Clivia gardenii is a subtle and delicately pretty sister to the well known Clivia miniata (Bush Lily), which has been in cultivation for many...

30 / 04 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Syncolostemon obermeyerae

Common names: Soutpansberg sagebush, pink sagebush (Eng.); Soutpansbergsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Syncolostemon obermeyerae is a fast growing, much branched shrub which can grow to 1,8m tall....

30 / 04 / 2001 | Ebrahim Lawrence | Kirstenbosch NBG

Tecomaria capensis

Common names: Cape honeysuckle, tecomaria (Eng.); Kaapse kanferfoelie, trompetters (Afr.); malangula (Swazi); umsilingi, icakatha (Xhosa); lungana, incwincwi, uchac

Family: Bignoniaceae

...

23 / 04 / 2001 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Agathosma lanceolata

Common names: Honey Buchu (E); Heuningboegoe (A)

Family: Rutaceae

Gently crush the leaves of this buchu and you will discover its liquorice scent. Interesting....

23 / 04 / 2001 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Thamnochortus insignis

Common names: Albertinia thatching reed (Eng.); dekriet, mannetjiesriet (Afr.)

Family: Restionaceae

A stunning accent plant with its slender stems tipped with small, golden-brown inflorescences in late summer, and water-wise too!...

16 / 04 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus

Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus is the largest South African genus in the mint family (Lamiaceae), with 44 species natural to our region, most of which occur on the...

09 / 04 / 2001 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Aerva leucura

Common names: aambeibossie

Family: Amaranthaceae

It is not the size of the flowers, but rather the reliable show Aerva leucura gives in the herbaceous border from summer to autumn, that makes this a worthwhile...

09 / 04 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Dissotis canescens

Common names: pink wild tibouchina, pink marsh dissotis, ordeal bean (Eng); kalverbossie (Afr); imfeyesele (Zulu)

Family: Melastomataceae

This pretty shrub looks remarkably like a dwarf version of the related South American tibouchina trees (Tibouchina spp.) which are grown in the more...

02 / 04 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Plectranthus ecklonii

Common names: tall spurflower, Ecklon's plectranthus (Eng.); groot spoorsalie, Ecklon spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A fast-growing shrubby perennial with showy spikes of pink, blue or white flowers in autumn, ideal for shade or semi-shade....

26 / 03 / 2001 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe cooperi

Common names: isiPutumane / isiPhukutwane (isiZulu), Cooper's aloe

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe cooperi is a South African grassland aloe....

26 / 03 / 2001 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Barleria greenii

Common names: wild bush petunia, Green's barleria

Family: Acanthaceae

A beautiful shrub with large pink to white, night-scented flowers in summer....

19 / 03 / 2001 | Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG

Amaryllis belladonna

Common names: belladonna lily, March lily, naked lady (Eng.); Maartblom, Maartlelie, belladonnalelie (Afr.)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

The flowering stems of this bulb emerging from the bare ground is a sign that summer is coming to an end in the Cape....

12 / 03 / 2001 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe reitzii var. reitzii

Common names: Reitz' aloe

Family: Asphodelaceae

Although it is a rather rare species of aloe, it is easily distinguished by the handsome erect red flower spikes that are produced in summer (unlike most...

12 / 03 / 2001 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Cunonia capensis

Common names: red alder, butterspoon tree (English); rooiels (Afrikaans); umqwashube (Xhosa); umlulama (Zulu)

Family: Cunoniaceae

Cunonia capensis is a beautiful evergreen garden tree which attracts insects to its flowers....

05 / 03 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

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

Strelitzia reginae

Common names: crane flower, bird of paradise, orange strelitzia (Eng.); isigude (Nguni); kraanvoëlblom (Afr.)

Family: Strelitziaceae

Strelitzia reginae is one the most popular horticultural perennials around the world. It flowers for long periods with its vivid orange and bright...

26 / 02 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. katharinae

Common names: fireball lily, blood flower, katharine wheel, poison root (Eng.); bloedblom, gifwortel (Afr.); inkupulwane (isiXhosa); idunjana, ubukhoswane (isiZulu)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

This plant explodes into flower, producing huge orange-red flower balls in mid to late summer, it's a plant for semi-shade or shade in well-watered,...

26 / 02 / 2001 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

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