Plants of the Week

Browse through all previous entries of Plants Of The Week

  • Sort by date added
  • Sort Alphabetically
Go to Plants of the Week Advanced Search
E.g., 13/11/2024
E.g., 13/11/2024

Mimetes cucullatus

Mimetes cucullatus
Common names: common mimetes, common pagoda, red mimetes, red pagoda ( Eng. ); rooistompie, stompie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Mimetes cucullatus is eye-catching, unusual and colourful all year round, and it is among the easiest members of the protea family to grow....

20 / 02 / 2005 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Erica denticulata

Erica denticulata
Common names: scented heath (Eng.); lekkerruikheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica denticulata stands out in a family of over 700 species as being one of the few that have scented flowers. The scent is reminiscent of carnations...

14 / 02 / 2005 | Roger Tuckeldoe | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Combretum woodii

Pale leaves and flowers on C. woodii
Common names: large-leaved forest bushwillow (Eng.); grootblaarvaderlandswilg (Afr.); iWaphu (Zulu); Mbondvo sehlatsi (Swazi)
Family: Combretaceae

...

14 / 02 / 2005 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
Read More

Burchellia bubalina

Burchellia bubalina
Common names: wild pomegranate (Eng.); wildegranaat (Afr.); iThobankomo (X), isiGolwane (Z); maHlosana (Sw)
Family: Rubiaceae

The wild pomegranate is an attractive ornamental shrub/tree that is also used to attract nectar-feeding birds. The combination of its bright red flowers...

14 / 02 / 2005 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG
Read More

Stenoglottis woodii

Stenoglottis woodii
Family: Orchidaceae

This easy to grow, miniature, terrestrial orchid from the eastern seaboard of South Africa, provides a long-flowering summer display on a protected patio...

07 / 02 / 2005 | B Tarr | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Maesa lanceolata

Maesa lanceolata
Common names: false assegai ( Eng. ); valsassegaai (Afr.); umalunguzalazikhakhona, inhlavubele, umaguqu, isidenda, ubhoqobhoqo (Zulu); intendekwane (Xhosa); ligucu,
Family: Maesaceae

An apple-green tree-shrub gives shade to a cool, inviting stream: this idyllic prospect is repeated a million times in KwaZulu-Natal , South Africa 's...

07 / 02 / 2005 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
Read More

Sorghum bicolor

Sorghum - head of grain
Common names: sorghum (Eng.); graansorghum (Afr); mabele (Pedi,Sotho,Ndebele); amabele(Z); amazimba (Xhosa)
Family: Poaceae

This crop plant has been cultivated in southern Africa for over 3 000 years....

31 / 01 / 2005 | E T Rampho | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Oplismenus hirtellus

Oplismenus hirtellus growing under tree ferns
Common names: basket grass
Family: Poaceae

An outstanding groundcover for those difficult shady areas under trees, the grass Oplismenus hirtellus makes an interesting textured carpet of deep green...

31 / 01 / 2005 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Berkheya purpurea

Flowers
Common names: purple berkheya (Eng.); bloudisseldoring (Afr.); Sehlohlo (SS)
Family: Asteraceae

A prickly thistle, Berkheya purpurea turns into a surprisingly beautiful perennial when flowering in midsummer....

31 / 01 / 2005 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Strychnos spinosa

Strychnos spinosa
Common names: spiny monkey orange/green monkey orange (Eng) doringklapper (Afr) morapa (NS) umKwakwa (Sw) nsala (Ts) muramba (V)
Family: Loganiaceae

This small to medium sized tree with its dark green glossy leaves and bright yellow fruit will make an attractive addition to your garden....

24 / 01 / 2005 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Podocarpus elongatus

Large tree at Kirstenbosch
Common names: Breede River Yellowwood ( Eng. ), Breeriviergeelhout, westelike geelhout (Afr.)
Family: Podocarpaceae

Many visitors to Kirstenbosch, remember the huge tree on the main lawn whose crown reached down to the ground and created a magical private sanctuary for...

24 / 01 / 2005 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Microsorum

Microsorum scolopendria
Common names: wart ferns
Family: Polypodiaceae

Three species of wart fern occur in South Africa and they all have potential as garden plants for shady, warm areas....

24 / 01 / 2005 | Koos Roux | Compton Herbarium
Read More

Toddalia asiatica

Fruits of Toddalia asiatica
Common names: orange climber (Eng); ranklemoentjie (Afr); gwambadzi (Venda)
Family: Rutaceae

Did you know that we have an indigenous orange in South Africa? This plant,Toddalia asiatica, is a woody vine (a liana) and bears fruit which, although...

17 / 01 / 2005 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Searsia pendulina

Searsia pendulina
Common names: White Karee, Willow Karee, River Karee (English), Witkaree, Rivierkaree, Kareehout, Kareeboom Rosynebos, Rosyntjiebos, Wilderosyntjieboom (Afrikaans),
Family: Anacardiaceae

Searsia pendulina is a perfect tree for the suburban garden, it is quick and easy to grow, tolerates wind and drought, is evergreen with a graceful habit...

17 / 01 / 2005 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Tabernaemontana ventricosa

Fruits of T.ventricosa
Common names: forest toad tree (Eng; bospaddaboom (Afr.); uKhamamasane (Zulu)
Family: Apocynaceae

This tree, with its unusual fruits, is excellent for gardeners wanting to bring nature back into their garden — it attracts birds, insects and small...

17 / 01 / 2005 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Syncolostemon latidens

Panicle of flowers
Common names: broad-tooth sagebush, broad-toothed pink plume
Family: Lamiaceae

The subtle beauty of the little known mauve-pink plume bush, Syncolostemon latidens, has won the hearts of those who have seen this small perennial shrub...

10 / 01 / 2005 | S Khanyile | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Euryops speciosissimus

In flower
Common names: giant resinbush, Clanwilliam euryops (Eng.); pronkharpuisbos, grootharpuisbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

The name of this species indicates that the plant must be something special. The Latin word speciosissimus means spectacular or the showiest of all. When...

10 / 01 / 2005 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Euryops chrysanthemoides

Flowers and leaves
Common names: golden daisy bush, daisy bush, resin bush (Eng.), geelmadeliefiebos, geelmargriet, harpuisbos (Afr.) (= Gamolepis chrysanthemoides DC.)
Family: Asteraceae

...

10 / 01 / 2005 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Vernonia galpinii

Bright flowers
Common names: Bloukwasbossie, Perskwasbossie (Afr)
Family: Asteraceae

This charming low-growing, purple-flowered perennial makes a wonderful edging for indigenous borders....

03 / 01 / 2005 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Salvia thermarum

Flowers
Common names: Goudini sage (Eng.)
Family: Lamiaceae

S. thermarum (also sometimes mistakenly called S. thermara), with its pale red flowers and red bracts, makes a beautiful garden specimen. An added bonus...

03 / 01 / 2005 | De La Cruz P | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More