Plants of the Week

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E.g., 21/12/2024

Helichrysum cooperi

Helichrysum cooperi flowers
Common names: yellow everlasting (Eng), geelsewejaartjie (Afr.), bohloko, phefo-ae-thaba, toane-balimo, toane-balingoana (South Sotho), umadotsheni (Zulu)
Family: Asteraceae

This biennial aromatic herb grows in grassland, often near or on forest margins in the Free State, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal and Lesotho. The plant's...

09 / 02 / 2009 | Luambo David Rambuwani | Free State NBG
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Dregeochloa pumila

Dregeochloa pumila in its habitat. Note that the centre (inner canopy) of the plant is dead resulting in a circular outer canopy. Note the succulent leaves and compact growth.
Common names: Tom Thumb grass, Kleinduimpiegras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

The Tom Thumb grass (Dregeochloa pumila), a peculiar, little known grass from the coastal southern Namib Desert in South Africa and Namibia,...

02 / 02 / 2009 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Barleria holubii

Barleria holubii flowers and leaves
Common names: bushveld joy
Family: Acanthaceae

If you are an indigenous plant lover and you need an attractive, fast-growing, hardy plant for the rocky areas in your garden, Barleria holubii is...

02 / 02 / 2009 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Salvia disermas

Salvia disermas shrub
Common names: wild giant sage, Transvaal sage Eng.; grootsalie, teesalie Afr.; mogasane (Tswana)
Family: Lamiaceae

Occurring in a variety of colors and growth forms, the petite, pretty flowers of Salvia disermas will add charm to any garden in need of a hardy,...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Eulophia welwitschii

Eulophia welwitschii inflorescence
Common names: umlunge (Zulu)
Family: Orchidaceae

This attractive orchid makes a striking display in summer with its bright yellow inflorescence, especially when occurring in dense stands. It is often...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Beate Hölscher | Pretoria NBG
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Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. conocarpodendron

Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. conocarpodendron flower head
Common names: grey tree pincushion (Eng.); vaalkreupelhout, goudsboom (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The grey tree pincushion is endemic to the Cape Peninsula where it is a conspicuous feature of the northern and western mountainsides. It makes a decorative...

19 / 01 / 2009 | Enrico January | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Karomia speciosa

Karomia speciosa flower cluster
Common names: southern chinese hats, wild parasol flower (Eng); sambreelboom (Afr). (= Holmskioldia speciosa )
Family: Lamiaceae

This shrub to small tree with its two-tone dark and light green leaves produces the most interesting profusion of paper-like flowers with a pink and purple...

19 / 01 / 2009 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Osteospermum oppositifolium

Osteospermum oppositifolium flower
Common names: stinkskaapbos, skaapbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

The golden, orange or yellow flowers of Osteospermum oppositifolium make a stunning show in spring....

12 / 01 / 2009 | S Nonkululeko | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tripteris oppositifolia

Tripteris oppositifolia flower head
Common names: stinkskaapbos, skaapbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

This species is now known as Osteospermum oppositifolium. ...

12 / 01 / 2009 | | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Erica mammosa

Eerica mammosa pink-white, Malmesbury
Common names: nine-pin heath (Eng.); rooiklossieheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica mammosa is one of the few Erica species that has a spectacular range of flower colours, from white to pink, purple, orange and red....

12 / 01 / 2009 | Etienne Arendse | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aptenia cordifolia

Aptenia cordifolia
Common names: baby sun rose, red aptenia (Eng.); rooi brakvygie, brakvygie (Afr.); Ibohlololo, uncolozi omncane (Zulu)
Family: Aizoaceae

The glossy succulent leaves and bright magenta pink flowers are distinctive characteristics of Aptenia cordifolia. It is a well-known groundcover or creeping...

05 / 01 / 2009 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus pods
Common names: bead vine, coral bead plant, coral bean, crabs eye, licorice vine, love bean, lucky bean creeper, prayer beads, prayer bean, precatory pea, red bead v
Family: Fabaceae

The shiny red and black seeds of Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus make it a sought-after climber in tropical and subtropical areas....

05 / 01 / 2009 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria NBG
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Xysmalobium undulatum

Xysmalobium undulatum flowers
Common names: milk bush, milkwort, uzura, wild cotton, wave-leaved xysmalobium (Eng.); bitterhout, bitterwortel, bitterhoutwortel, melkbos (Afr.); leshokoa, poho-tÂ
Family: Apocynaceae

The wave-leaved xysmalobium is a well-known feature of the verges of most of the highways in the grassland biome during November and December. Initially...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Pearsonia sessilifolia

Pearsonia sessilifolia
Common names: silwerertjietee, vaalertjietee (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

The sulphur-yellow flowers of Pearsonia sessilifolia, once pollinated, turn bright organge, signalling to their pollinators to reserve their resources...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Alicia Grobler | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Leucadendron loeriense

Leucadendron loeriense female cones in flower
Common names: loerie conebush (Eng.); loerietolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron loeriense is one of the few members of the protea family that flower in mid-summer, producing its lovely star-shaped flowerheads and...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erica plukenetii

Erica plukenetii shrub
Common names: Plukenet's heath (Eng.); hangertjie (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica plukenetii is a common species that is found on mountain slopes throughout most of the Cape Floristic Region....

29 / 12 / 2008 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Justicia odora

Justicia odora
Common names: bushveld justicia (Eng.), bosveldjusticia (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

If you need a shrub for those difficult sunny areas in your garden, the attractive yellow flowering Justicia odora is just the plant that you are looking...

22 / 12 / 2008 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Erica hirtiflora

Erica hirtiflora flowers
Common names: hairy-flower heath, rough-flowered heath (Eng.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica hirtiflora is a beautiful shrub with masses of purple-pink flowers in summer and autumn; it adds an elegant touch to the garden....

22 / 12 / 2008 | Natacha Williams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dianthus albens

Dianthus albens plants
Common names: wild pink
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Many people think of Dianthus or carnations as cut flowers from places in Europe and very little is known about our very own indigenous species. Although...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Gary Shanks | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Chaenostoma cordatum

Chaenostoma cordatum flower
Common names: Trailing phlox (Eng.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Chaenostoma cordatum is the ideal groundcover for that garden spot with varying microclimates. Performing equally well in full sun to shady conditions...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Roger Oliver | Pretoria NBG
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