Plants of the Week

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E.g., 08/09/2024
E.g., 08/09/2024

Agathosma ovata 'Kluitjieskraal'

A.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
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Agathosma serpyllacea

Flowers
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
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Aloe varimaculata

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
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Albizia adianthifolia var. adianthifolia

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
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Albuca batteniana

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
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Albuca nelsonii

Flowers of Albuca nelsonii. (Alice Notten)
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
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Alepidea amatymbica

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
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Allophylus dregeanus

Allophylus dregeanus leaves and flowers
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
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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
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Aloe africana

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
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Alepidea genus

Alepidea amatymbica
Common names: alepidea, tinsel flower (Eng.); kalmoes (Afr.); ikhathazo (isiZulu); iqwili (isiXhosa); lesoko (South Sotho); inkatsankatsa (Swazi)
Family: Apiaceae

Alepidea is one of only two African-endemic genera within the Saniculeae tribe of the Apiaceae, the other being its sister genus Arctopus. Southern Africa...

22 / 07 / 2024 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Aloe albida

Aloe albida inflorescence
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
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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
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Aloe spicata

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
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Aloidendron barberae

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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Aloe brevifolia var brevifolia

Aloe brevifolia var. brevifolia
Common names: short-leaved aloe (Eng.); kleinaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

...

22 / 02 / 2010 | Vathiswa Zikishe | CREW
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Agathosma dielsiana

Agathosma dielsiana flowers are visited by bees
Common names: Diels buchu (Eng.); Diels-boegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

...

05 / 08 / 2024 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe broomii

Aloe broomii: Photo:E van Jaarsveld
Common names: mountain aloe, snake aloe (Eng.); bergaalwee, slangaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe broomii has a unique feature that no other aloe has - the flowers and buds cannot be seen when the flower is fully open because they are completely...

12 / 02 / 2007 | Lusindiso Xulubana | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe catengiana

Aloe catengiana, flowerhead. (Image Duke Benadon)
Common names: Catengue-aloe, Catengue-aalwyn, okandolle (umbundu tongue).
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe catengiana is only known from the Catengue Railway Station in southwestern Angola. It is a shrubby ascending aloe with spreading, leafy branches...

12 / 05 / 2014 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloiampelos

Aloiampelos ciliaris in a garden (AW Klopper)
Common names: climbing aloes, rambling aloes, scrambling aloes (Eng.); rankaalwyne (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Rambling aloes, with their usually slender stems and thin, narrow, widely spaced leaves, form much-branched, robust, leaning to creeping shrubs. They can...

09 / 10 / 2017 | Ronell R. Klopper | National Herbarium Pretoria
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