Plants of the Week

Aloe mudenensis

Common names: Muden aloe; kleinaalwyn (Afr.); icena (IsiZulu)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe mudenensis is one of the most attractive species of spotted aloes, endemic to Muden and Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal....

24 / 11 / 2014 | Ntokoza Nkosi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Agathosma imbricata

Common names: sand buchu (Eng.); sandboegoe (Afr.)

Family: Rutaceae

This sweetly scented shrublet is a real gem which not only copes with a variety of soil-types and conditions, but also provides a magical splash of colour...

17 / 10 / 2011 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agave americana

Common names: American agave, American aloe, century plant (Eng.); Amerikaanse aalwee, Amerikaanse aalwyn, blou-aalwee, blougaringboom, gareboom, kaalgaarboom, maka

Family: Agavaceae

Century plants are popular ornamental plants that are native to Central America, southern North and northern South America. Agave americana is no exception...

14 / 08 / 2017 | Cynthia Mikateko Baloyi | National Herbarium Pretoria

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

Agathosma capensis

Common names: spicy buchu (Eng.); anysboegoe, steenbokboegoe (Afr.)

Family: Rutaceae

Agathosma capensis is a variable shrub with either hairy or hairless leaves. Flower colour ranges from mauve, pink to white or a bluish purple. Crushed...

04 / 08 / 2008 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agathosma mucronulata

Common names: prickly buchu (Eng.), stekelboegoe (Afr.)

Family: Rutaceae

Agathosma mucronulata is an attractive evergreen aromatic shrub, belonging to the Rutaceae family. This family also includes the Cape chestnut, Calodendrum...

29 / 07 / 2002 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agathosma ovata 'Kluitjieskraal'

Common names: Kluitjieskraal false buchu (E); Kluitjieskraalbasterboegoe (A)

Family: Rutaceae

Agathosma ovata is a variable shrub and occurs from the Western Cape up into KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. It is commonly known as the false buchu. 'Kluitjieskraal'...

25 / 06 / 2001 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agathosma serpyllacea

Common names: thyme buchu (Eng.), wildeboegoe (Afr.)

Family: Rutaceae

This pink, white or purple flowered buchu is an eye-catcher in a pot or in the garden when flowering....

13 / 08 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe varimaculata

Common names: Humpata aloe (Eng.); Humpata-aalwyn (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

A small shrubby aloe with rosettes of beautifully mottled, recurved leaves with fairly large, sharply pointed teeth, and orange-reddish flowers with yellowish...

28 / 08 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Albizia adianthifolia var. adianthifolia

Common names: flat-crown albizia, rough-bark flat-crown, West African albizia (Eng.); platkroon (Afr.); umgadankawu, iGowane, umNalahanga, umNebelele, uSolu (Zulu);

Family: Fabaceae

Are you looking for a fabulous shade tree, rich in a unique cultural history and adored by elephants and butterflies alike? Then look no further than the...

22 / 01 / 2007 | Alicia Krige | National Herbarium Pretoria

Albuca batteniana

Common names: Wild Coast Albuca

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Albuca batteniana is not a commonly grown garden plant, but a collector's jewel and specialist species. Albucas, as can be seen from the photograph,...

08 / 08 / 2005 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Albuca nelsonii

Common names: candelabrum lily, Nelson's slime lily (Eng.), slymstok (Afr.), intelezi (Xhosa), umaphipha-intelezi (Zulu)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Albuca nelsonii may be found in specialist collections but it is not often seen in gardens. Yet it has attractive flowers, and it is considered a good...

12 / 10 / 2007 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Alepidea amatymbica

Common names: giant alepidea, larger tinsel flower (Eng.); kalmoes, slangwortel (Afr.); iqwili (isiXhosa); ikhathazo (isiZulu); lesoko (South Sotho), inkatsankatsa

Family: Apiaceae

Alepidea amatymbica has extremely popular and highly sought after rhizomes, for medicinal use, and is an important component of the healer's pharmacy....

26 / 05 / 2003 | Siyabulela Nonjinge | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Allophylus dregeanus

Common names: forest false currant, simple-leaved false currant, forest bastard currant (Eng.); bosbastertaaibos, enkelblaarvalstaaibos, enkelblaarbastertaaibos (Af

Family: Sapindaceae

Allophylus dregeanus, found in the evergreen forest, will greet you with its sweetly scented flowers, surrounded by beautiful butterflies....

06 / 08 / 2012 | Hannelie Snyman | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe genus

Common names: aloe (English); aalwyn (Afrikaans); aalwee (Afrikaans; Dutch); hlaba, lekhala (Southern Sotho); icena (Ndebele); imboma (Zulu).

Family: Asphodelaceae

With their usually spiny leaves arranged in neat rosettes, and tall candle-like inflorescences in predominantly red and vibrant orange hues, aloes are...

22 / 11 / 2010 | Ronell R. Klopper | Biosystematics

Aloe africana

Common names: Uitenhage Aloe, African Aloe (Eng.), Uitenhaagsaalwyn (Afr.), Ikhala (Xhosa)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe africana is a very attractive aloe which adapts to a wide range of conditions. Aloes are characteristic of the African continent where most species...

20 / 09 / 2004 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe albida

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe albida is a dwarf aloe with small white flowers. This species likes misty mountain grassland habitats and thrives in crevices amongst mossy rocks...

06 / 02 / 2006 | Leigh Potter | TSP

Aloe arborescens

Common names: krantz aloe (English), kransaalwyn (Afrikaans), ikalene (Xhosa), inkalane or umhlabana (Zulu)

Family: Asphodelaceae

The krantz aloe is a valuable garden asset, it has large beautiful flowers, attractive foliage, decorative form, and it is easy to grow. It is also a 'must-have'...

24 / 05 / 2004 | Andrew Hankey | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe spicata

Common names: Lebombo aloe, bottle-brush aloe, Gazaland aloe (Eng.); lebombo-aalwyn (Afr.); inhlaba (isiZulu), tshikhopa (Tshivenda)

Family: Asphodelaceae

A most rewarding plant to cultivate, as they can tolerate long periods of drought, but still thrive and flower beautifully. Their striking beauty and often...

06 / 01 / 2020 | Thato Moeketsane | Walter Sisulu NBG

Aloidendron barberae

Common names: tree aloe (Eng.); boomaalwyn, mikaalwyn (Afr.); ikhala (Xhosa); umgxwala, indlabendlazi, impondonndo, inkalane-enkulu (Zulu)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloidendron barberae is a striking sculptural tree aloe bearing a rounded, neat crown. It was previously known as Aloe barberae. It forms an...

30 / 06 / 2003 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

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