Plants of the Week

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E.g., 11/12/2024
E.g., 11/12/2024

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Kumara haemanthifolia

Kumara haemanthifolia
Common names: haemanthus-leaf aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Kumara haemanthifolia is a peculiar and interesting aloe. Its tightly arranged leaves with red to pinkish margins resemble a fan or the pages of a partly...

14 / 11 / 2011 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Kumara plicatilis

Kumara plicatilis
Common names: fan aloe, Franschhoek aloe (Eng.); waaieraalwyn, Franschoekaalwyn, bergaalwyn, tongaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Kumara plicatilis is a unique and striking much-branched shrub or small tree. This plant was previously called Aloe plicatilis....

01 / 01 / 2003 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG
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Kalanchoe longiflora

Kalanchoe longiflora in flower
Common names: Tugela cliff-kalanchoe, long-flower kalanchoe (Eng.); Tugela kransplakkie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe longiflora is a little-known succulent shrub with attractive multi-hued foliage and yellow flowers in autumn to winter. It is suitable for...

26 / 05 / 2014 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Kalanchoe rotundifolia

Kalanchoe rotundifolia
Common names: common Kalanchoe, round-leaf kalanchoe (Eng.); nentabos, plakkie (Afr.); idambisa, uchane, umadinsane (Zul.); umfayisele yasehlatini, ipewula (Xho.)
Family: Crassulaceae

A brittle succulent plant which grows up to 1 m tall under favourable conditions. It is a delightful little plant that puts up a brave show in clumps among...

21 / 05 / 2001 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Kalanchoe luciae

Kalanchoe luciae
Common names: northern white lady, flapjack plant, flipping pancakes (Eng.); geelplakkie, meelplakkie, plakkie, voëlbrandewyn (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

The Afrikaans name meelplakkie is most appropriate for this plant as it does indeed look as if the whole plant has been liberally dusted with flour (meel)....

01 / 08 / 2005 | Andrew Hankey | 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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Kedrostis hirtella

Green fruits forming
Common names: bobbejaankomkommer (Afr.); mogakangwaga (Tswana)
Family: Cucurbitaceae

This climber, with bright green velvety leaves, bears bright orange-red fruit that will attract birds to your garden....

21 / 03 / 2005 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Khadia

K.acutipetala
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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Khaya anthotheca

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
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Kigelia africana

Flowers of 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
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Kiggelaria africana

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
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Kirkia acuminata

Kirkia acuminata trunk
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
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Kirkia wilmsii

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
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Kleinia fulgens

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
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Kniphofia gracilis

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
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Kniphofia ensifolia

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
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Kniphofia species

Red-hot pokers are not always red!
Common names: red-hot poker or torch lily (English), vuurpyl (Afrikaans)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Red-hot pokers are grown in temperate gardens around the world. Ranging in colour from reds, oranges through yellow to lime green and cream, numerous cultivars...

05 / 08 / 2002 | Marc Stern | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Kniphofia leucocephala

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
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Kniphofia linearifolia

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
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Kraussia floribunda

Kraussia floribunda foliage and flowers
Common names: rhino-coffee; renosterkoffie, wildekornoelie (Afr); isiKhukhankobe, isiKhubashane, uTholomba (Zulu)
Family: Rubiaceae

This is a pleasing garden shrub with faintly scented, attractive white flowers which appear in midsummer followed by a further season of interest in winter...

08 / 11 / 2010 | Sarah Curtis | Kirstenbosch NBG
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