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., 10/02/2026
E.g., 10/02/2026

Trichodiadema pygmaeum

Trichodiadema pygmaeum succulent shrub
Common names: pygmy diadem vygie (Eng.); kareemoer vygie, perdevygie, donkievygie, doringkroon vygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Trichodiadema pygmaeum is a lovely dwarf succulent shrub with pretty pink flowers and hairy leaves. It is suitable for growing in a rockery and since...

| Olivia Tyambetyu | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
Read More

Ximenia afra

Ximenia caffra © Geoff Nichols
Common names: large sourplum (Eng.); grootsuurpruim (Afr.); umThunduluka-obmvu (Zulu); Morokologa (Northern Sotho)
Family: Olacaceae

The large sourplum is a small tree or shrub with many traditional uses and colourful fruit. It is suited to growing in a bush clump or as part of a boundary...

| J K Baloyi | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Scilla natalensis

This plant is now called Merwilla plumbea....

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia ataxacantha

See Senegalia ataxacantha...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia erioloba

See Vachellia erioloba...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia xanthophloea

See Vachellia xanthophloea...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia polyacantha

See Senegalia polyacantha...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia tortilis

See Vachellia tortilis...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Calopsis paniculata

See Restio paniculatus....

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Acacia caffra

This tree is now called Senegalia caffra...

| | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Berkheya setifera

Berkheya setifera (Photo Marinda Koekemoer)
Common names: buffalo-tongue thistle (Eng.); rasperdissel, rasperdisseldoring (Afr); ikhakhasi, ulimi-lwenkomo, ulimi-lwenyathi (isiZulu); indlebe-lenkomo (isiXhosa
Family: Asteraceae

A robust perennial, with profuse, bright yellow flowers and bristly leaves; one of the 71 species that are found in South Africa out of the 75 species...

| Bathabile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Ximenia americana var. microphylla

Ximenia americana var. microphylla
Common names: small blue sourplum (Eng.); kleinblousuurpruim (Afr.); ukolotshane, umtunduluka-omncane, umkholotshwana (Zul.);umtfundvuluka, umthunduluka (Swa.); nt
Family: Olacaceae

A spiny shrub of African savannas that bears brightly coloured, edible fruits, and has a long history of medicinal value for traditional healers and western...

| Mpho Mathalauga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Grewia afra

Grewia caffra
Common names: climbing raisin, yellow starflower (Eng.); rankrosyntjie (Afr); ilalanyathi, umunyumunu, iphata, iklolo, isaka, isilandula (isiZulu); likholo, (siSwat
Family: Malvaceae

A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a climbing habit, often seen sprawling into nearby plants for support. It bears striking, yellow, star-like flowers...

| Robert Jooste | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Uvaria afra

Uvaria caffra
Common names: small-fruited cluster-pear, small cluster pear, (Eng.), kleinvrugtrospeer, kleintrospeer (Afr.), idwaba (isiXhosa), inkonjane, umazwenda omnyama, umaz
Family: Annonaceae

...

| Umpha Pharamela | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Combretum afrum

Combretum afrum tree in fruit, Kirstenbosch NBG
Common names: Eastern Cape bushwillow (Eng.); Kaapse vaderlandswilg (Afr.); umdubu (isiXhosa); umdubu (isiZulu)
Family: Combretaceae

A graceful, spreading tree, known for its attractive willow-like foliage, distinctive 4-winged reddish-brown fruits, and adaptability to a range of ecological...

| Clara Sitoe | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Faurea macnaughtonii

Faurea macnaughtonii
Common names: Terblans, Terblans beechwood, Egossa beech, Macnaughton's beech (Eng.); terblans, terblanshout, egossabeukehout, bosboekenhout, rooiboekenhout (Afr.);
Family: Proteaceae

Rising tall and graceful in South Africa’s deep forests, Faurea macnaughtonii is a rare evergreen whose glossy leaves, sweetly scented summer blooms,...

| Siphesihle Precious Sibiya | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Hemarthria altissima

Hemarthria altissima
Common names: red vlei grass, Batavian quick grass, red swamp grass, swamp couch (Eng.); Bataviese kweek, perdegras, perdekweek, rooikweek, rooivleigras (Afr.); mar
Family: Poaceae

Red vlei grass can be recognised easily from other grasses, because the whole plant has a distinctive rust-red colour. It has a mat forming habit, which...

| Aluoneswi Caroline Mashau | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Freesia laxa subsp. azurea

Freesia laxa subsp. azurea
Common names: small blue freesia, blue flowering grass (Eng.) Natal bloupypie (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Small blue freesia is a corm with lilac or pale blue flowers with striking purple markings toward the center....

| Sibahle Gumede | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
Read More

Leucospermum heterophyllum

Leucospermum heterophyllum
Common names: trident pincushion, snakebush (Eng.); rankluisie, slangbossie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

This is a wonderful cascading fynbos shrub that spreads widely and produces numerous flowerheads, displaying shades of yellow, green and red that gradually...

| Mashudu Nndanduleni | Thohoyandou NBG
Read More

Othonna auriculifolia

Othonna auriculifolia
Common names: lobe-leaf baboon cabbage (Eng.); sandkool, wildepatat (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A low-growing plant with a rosette of fleshy leaves and bright yellow daisies on erect stems, from the arid interior of southwestern and western South...

| Samuel Lekhetho | Free State NBG
Read More