Plants of the Week

Kniphofia northiae

Common names: broad-leaved poker, Marianne North’s poker, giant red-hot poker, octopus torch (Eng.); icacane, umathunga (isiZulu.); leloele (Sesotho)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Kniphofia northiae, is an award-winning, gigantic red-hot poker, its striking architectural leaves and hardiness making it significant in gardening.Fig....

16 / 10 / 2023 | Vathiswa Zikishe | CREW

Kniphofia linearifolia

Common names: common marsh poker (Eng.); vuurpyl (Afr.); Icacane, Umathunga (Zulu)

Family: Asphodelaceae

This is an attractive plant, with showy greenish yellow to yellow flowers and long, narrow leaves. It is suited to temperate gardens where it forms a strong...

09 / 12 / 2002 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Kniphofia leucocephala

Family: Asphodelaceae

This delicate white wetland poker is so rare that it is now known from only one locality in KwaZulu-Natal, and does not even have a common name. Unless...

08 / 09 / 2003 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Kniphofia ichopensis

Common names: Ixopo red-hot poker (Eng.), Ixopovuurpyl (Afr.) icacane (isiZulu).

Family: Asphodelaceae

This is a delicate, grass-like plant, with dull green, distichous leaves and mostly creamy or rarely pink flowers in a lax inflorescence in summer....

08 / 08 / 2022 | Bongekile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Kniphofia gracilis

Common names: graceful/slender red-hot poker

Family: Asphodelaceae

Kniphofias, or red-hot pokers as they are more commonly known, are popular, showy garden plants that have been valued for their dramatic appearance in...

08 / 11 / 2004 | B Tarr | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Kniphofia ensifolia

Common names: torch lily (Eng.); vuurpyl (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

This torch lily is an attractive plant with erect, grey-green, deeply keeled leaves, forming large clumps with attractive white to greenish white or greenish...

16 / 12 / 2002 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Kniphofia acraea

Common names: highlands poker

Family: Asphodelaceae

A rare, small Kniphofia that is endemic to South Africa, only known from two areas high in the mountains of the Eastern Cape Province, near Cradock and...

28 / 05 / 2018 | Ntuthuko Mabuya | Pretoria NBG

Kleinia venteri

Common names: Venter’s kleinia (Eng.); uitlopertjie (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

An unusual, cryptic, stoloniferous succulent up to 70 mm high, with flat, oblong, rolled back, succulent leaves and inconspicuous flowers in winter. This...

27 / 04 / 2020 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Kleinia longiflora

Common names: paintbrush flower (Eng.); sjambokbos (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Kleinia longiflora is an unusual, succulent shrub, with striking, thin, pencil-shaped, segmented, upright or sprawling stems, that is drought resistant...

12 / 08 / 2019 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG

Kleinia fulgens

Common names: coral senecio

Family: Asteraceae

This is a stunning, grey-leafed plant with a profusion of scarlet flowers. It is ideal for hot, dry spots in the garden....

16 / 09 / 2002 | B Tarr | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Kleinia chimanimaniensis

Common names: Chimanimani kleinia (Eng.); Chimanimani-kleinia (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Kleinia chimanimaniensis is a sprawling shrublet with succulent leaves and stems and scented yellow flowers, in summer. It is confined to cliffs of the...

11 / 04 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Kleinia cephalophora

Common names: blazing glory, mountain fire, cliff kleinia

Family: Asteraceae

Kleinia cephalophora is a striking succulent-stemmed perennial, with blue-green leaves and large, beautiful, nodding flowerheads....

08 / 06 / 2015 | Luvo Magoswana | Compton Herbarium

Klattia stokoei

Common names: Stokoe's klattia, red klattia (Eng.); kwasblom, kwasbos (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

This woody irid, with its crimson-red inflorescences, is one of the unique and breathtaking plant species of the Cape Floristic Region; it is endemic to...

18 / 07 / 2016 | Ebraime Hull | Harold Porter NBG

Kirkia wilmsii

Common names: mountain kirkia, wild pepper tree, mountain seringa (Eng.); bergsering, wildepeperboom (Afr.); Modumela (Northern Sotho)

Family: Kirkiaceae

This medium to large tree has a spreading, irregular canopy that presents a spectacular sight when in full, bright red autumn colours. Any gardener with...

10 / 05 / 2004 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG

Kirkia acuminata

Common names: white seringa (Eng.); witsering (Afr.); mvumayila (Tsonga); modumela (Tswana ); mubvumala (Venda)

Family: Kirkiaceae

This splendid tree does not yet enjoy the fame it deserves, but it is a good choice for those gardeners who prefer something different. It was selected...

03 / 05 / 2004 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Killickia grandiflora

Common names: Cathedral Peak killickia

Family: Lamiaceae

The relatively unknown small genus, Killickia, consists of four species: three are endemic to the Drakensberg Mountain Centre and the fourth species has...

01 / 03 / 2021 | Portia Kgaboesele | National Herbarium Pretoria

Kiggelaria africana

Common names: wild peach, wildeperske (Afr.), umKokoko (Xhosa), uMunwe (Zulu), Monepenepe (North Sotho), Lekgatsi (South Sotho), Muphatavhafu (Venda)

Family: Achariaceae

This widespread tree is said to attract lightning, but some people use it to protect their homes!...

02 / 12 / 2002 | Pitta Joffe | Pretoria NBG

Kigelia africana

Common names: sausage tree (Eng.); worsboom (Afr.); umVunguta, umFongothi (Zulu); Modukguhlu (North Sotho); Muvevha (Venda)

Family: Bignoniaceae

The sausage tree boasts long, open sprays of large, wrinkled, maroon or dark red trumpet-shaped flowers that are velvety on the inside and that virtually...

04 / 08 / 2003 | Pitta Joffe | Pretoria NBG

Khaya anthotheca

Common names: African Mahogany, East African Mahogany, Nyasaland Mahogany, Red Mahogany (Eng.); Oos-Afrikaanse mahonie (Afr.); Acaujo (French)

Family: Meliaceae

This fairly fast growing tree — up to 1.5 m per year — is neat and decorative for larger gardens and parks in warm areas and is ideal...

17 / 09 / 2007 | Alec Naidoo | Pretoria NBG

Khadia

Common names: khadiwortel (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

The succulent plants of this genus have long been known as an additive to alcoholic fermentations, making them extra potent. It is the thick underground...

08 / 11 / 2004 | P Burgoyne | National Herbarium Pretoria

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