Plants of the Week

Trichilia dregeana

Common names: forest mahogany, forest Natal-mahogany, Cape mahogany, thunder tree, Christmas bells, red ash (Eng.); rooiessenhout, bosrooiessenhout, basteressenhout

Family: Meliaceae

Trichilia dregeana is a lovely large tree that inhabits evergreen forests in high rainfall areas. It is a highly ornamental species with considerable cultural...

13 / 12 / 2004 | Jan-Hakon Burring | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cussonia spicata

Common names: cabbage-tree, common cabbage tree; kiepersol (Afr); umsenge(S, Z & Xh.); motshetshe (NS)

Family: Araliaceae

The cabbage-tree is a strikingly beautiful garden tree which is widely cultivated both locally and abroad for its striking evergreen foliage. Its unusual...

20 / 12 / 2004 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Momordica balsamica

Common names: balsam pear (Eng.); laloentjie (Afr.); mohodu (Sotho); nkaka (Thonga); intshungu, intshungwana yehlathi (Zulu)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

This climber with bright green leaves bears striking orange to red spindle shaped ripe fruit....

20 / 12 / 2004 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Polygala virgata

Common names: Purple Broom (Eng.); Persboom, Bloukappie (Afr.); Ea moru (Nd); Hlokoa leleue (Sotho); Ithethe (Z)

Family: Polygalaceae

This charming slender shrub, bearing spikes of bright purple magenta winged flowers is an eye-catcher in any garden. Polygala virgata is one of the beautiful...

20 / 12 / 2004 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Agapanthus caulescens

Common names: stem agapanthus

Family: Agapanthaceae

...

27 / 12 / 2004 | Richard Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Clivia caulescens

Common names: stem clivia, stalked clivia

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Clivia caulescens is a strong grower, with stems up to 2 m long. It flowers in midsummer and will attract birds to the garden....

27 / 12 / 2004 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ekebergia capensis

Common names: Cape ash, dogplum (E), essenhout (A), mmidibidi (NS), umnyamatsi (SW), nyamaru (Ts)

Family: Meliaceae

This is a large attractive evergreen tree that has been used as a street tree in many towns and cities of South Africa, Uganda and the Democratic Republic...

27 / 12 / 2004 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Helichrysum odoratissimum

Common names: most fragrant helichrysum (Eng.); kooigoed, kruie (Afr.); imphepho (Xhosa & Zulu)

Family: Asteraceae

As its name implies, this plant has a strong smell. It is widely used as a perfume, but also as an insect repellent....

27 / 12 / 2004 | N Swelankomo | Pretoria NBG

Euryops wageneri

Common names: Wagener's resin bush (Eng.); Wagener se harpuisbos (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Anyone who has seen this species will agree that this is probably one of the most magnificent of all the Euryops species. It has the same visual impact...

03 / 01 / 2005 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Salvia thermarum

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

Vernonia galpinii

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

Euryops chrysanthemoides

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

Euryops speciosissimus

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

Syncolostemon latidens

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

Tabernaemontana 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

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

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

Microsorum

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

Podocarpus elongatus

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

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

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