Plants of the Week

Phylica pubescens

Common names: featherhead (Eng.); veerkoppie (Afr.)

Family: Rhamnaceae

This attractive bush is densely covered with hairy leaves and each hair seems to gather the sunlight and make it glow. Early morning or late afternoon...

06 / 12 / 2004 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG

Phyllanthus reticulatus

Common names: potato plant, roast potato plant (Eng); aartappelbos (Afr); intaba-yengwe, umchumelo (isiZulu); thethenya (xiTsonga)

Family: Phyllanthaceae

Phyllanthus reticulatus is usually a dense deciduous shrub or small tree with a distinct smell that is emitted by the minute flowers when they open...

21 / 06 / 2010 | Mandisa Kondlo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Phymaspermum acerosum

Common names: geelblombos (Afr.), isibhaha-segceke, umhlonishwa (Zulu)

Family: Asteraceae

The geelblombos will brighten up any dull area in the garden during the autumn months....

21 / 07 / 2008 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG

Piliostigma thonnigii

Common names: camel's foot (Eng.); kameelspoor (Afr.); mukolokote (Venda); mokgoropo (North Sotho); nkolokotso (TS)

Family: Fabaceae

This is a deciduous tree suitable for a large garden. It has large 2-lobed leathery leaves....

08 / 11 / 2010 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Pittosporum viridiflorum

Common names: Cheesewood, White Cape Beech (E), Kasuur, Witboekenhout (A), umVusamvu, Umkhwenkwe, Umphushamvu, Umphushane (Z), Kgalagangwe (NS), Mosetlela (SS), Mpu

Family: Pittosporaceae

This evergreen tree was selected to be one of the Trees of the Year for 2002....

28 / 01 / 2002 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Platycarpha

Common names: imboziza, inyathelo, imbozisayabesuthu (Zulu for P. glomerata )

Family: Asteraceae

Platycarpha is a relatively unknown genus of three species endemic to southern Africa. The plants are unusual because the inflorescences occur in the...

25 / 12 / 2006 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Plectranthus lucidus

Common names: shiny spurflower (Eng.); blinkblaar spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A fast-growing, resilient, shade-loving groundcover, recommended for coastal gardens....

23 / 04 / 2018 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Platycaulos callistachyus

Common names: none

Family: Restionaceae

Platycaulos callistachyus is a little known restio. Its interesting culms and dense growth make it a worthy landscaping plant suited to any medium...

08 / 06 / 2009 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plecostachys serpyllifolia

Common names: cobwebbush (Eng.); vaaltee, kooigoed (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

An easy-to-grow, grey-leaved perennial that forms a mound as its slender stems tangle together most delightfully. Perfect for a mixed herbaceous border...

10 / 12 / 2012 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus fruticosus 'James'

Common names: Pink Spur Flower (E), Muishondblaar (A), Vlieëbos (A)

Family: Lamiaceae

Walking up the Camphor Avenue at Kirstenbosch during autumn it is difficult to miss the striking pink beds of Plectranthus fruticosus 'James'.Beds...

22 / 04 / 2002 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus venteri

Common names: Sekukuni spurflower (Eng.); sekoekoeniespoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A relatively new species to horticulture, Plectranthus venteri is a uniquely aromatic, sun-loving, water-wise Plectranthus....

30 / 04 / 2018 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus ambiguus

Common names: pincushion spurflower ( Eng. ); speldekussing spoorsalie (Afr.); iboza elincane (Zulu)

Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus ambiguus brings soft green foliage and a splash of vivid violet-purple during autumn to shady areas in the garden, and it is easy...

30 / 04 / 2007 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch 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

Plectranthus fruticosus 'Liana'

Common names: Liana spurflower (Eng.); muishondblaar (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

A striking new cultivar with blue-mauve flowers for shade or semi-sun that will tolerate frost....

24 / 05 / 2010 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus grandidentatus

Common names: scented-leaved spurflower, big toothed spurflower (Eng.); groottand spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus grandidentatus is a trailing perennial groundcover with attractive toothed foliage and a flush of white flowers in autumn, ideal for a moist...

19 / 12 / 2011 | Kyle Smith | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus ' Mona Lavender'

Common names: spur flower, Mona Lavender (Eng.); muishondblaar (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender', a hybrid developed here at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, is becoming a hit around the world!...

03 / 11 / 2003 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Plectranthus neochilus

Common names: smelly spur flower, lobster flower (Eng.); rotstuinsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

This is a hardy, versatile herbaceous perennial, suitable both for shady subtropical and sunny water-wise gardens....

31 / 05 / 2004 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG

Plectranthus saccatus

Common names: stoep jacaranda, porch jacaranda (Eng.); stoepjakaranda, sak-spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

This is one of the more popular and well-known of the Plectranthus or spurflowers. It is known for its pretty flowers which are larger than those...

18 / 03 / 2002 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Plectranthus swynnertonii

Common names: Swynnerton's spur flower, cress spur flower; Debengeni spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus swynnertonii is an attractive, fast growing late summer to winter flowering herbaceous perennial that will thrive in a moist frost-free...

07 / 04 / 2014 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Paranomus longicaulis

Common names: woolly sceptre, exploding baked apple (Eng.); poppiesbos (Afr.)

Family: Proteaceae

Densely white-woolly, pink and brown flowerheads, forming a short bottlebrush on a long, flowering branch, in spring to summer, with unusual foliage, bearing...

28 / 05 / 2018 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG

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