Plants of the Week

Erica fastigiata

Common names: four-sisters heath

Family: Ericaceae

Erica fastigiata belongs to the largest genus in the Cape Floral Kingdom....

05 / 12 / 2005 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG

Merciera

Family: Campanulaceae

Merciera, with its white or purple tubular flowers, is a little-known member of the Campanulaceae, endemic to the Cape Floristic Region....

12 / 12 / 2005 | C Cupido | Compton Herbarium

Pseudoselago serrata

Common names: saw-tooth powderpuff, saw-tooth false selago (Eng.); blouaarbossie (Afr.)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

This striking, hardy perennial is the perfect filler to provide cheerful mauve blooms which attract butterflies and a host of other insects, increasing...

12 / 12 / 2005 | Antonia Xaba | Harold Porter NBG

Hilliardiella aristata

Common names: silver vernonia (E), ihlambihloshana, isibhaha sasenkangala, umlahlankosi-omhlophe, ileleva (Z)

Family: Asteraceae

Beautiful silky silver leaves and dark mauve-purple flowers in early summer, Hilliardiella aristata is an eye-catching plant for the sunny garden....

12 / 12 / 2005 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Croton gratissimus

Common names: bergboegoe, ilabele, inkubathi, isikhumampuphu, korannaboegoe, lavender croton, lavender fever berry, laventelbos, laventelkoorsbessie, maloga

Family: Euphorbiaceae

This is an attractive and versatile deciduous shrub or small tree in the home garden, but capable of becoming a large tree in certain instances....

19 / 12 / 2005 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Cryptocarya woodii

Common names: Cape laurel, Cape Quince, bastard camphor tree (E): rooikweper,Kaapse kweper (A); isithungwa, inqayana, ixobothi (Xhosa) umngcabe, umnqayane, isililan

Family: Lauraceae

This is a handsome tree for small gardens with a lovely shape when properly pruned. The shiny, purple-black fleshy fruits are showy and complemented by...

19 / 12 / 2005 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gunnera perpensa

Common names: river pumpkin, wild rhubarb (Eng.); rivierpampoen, wilde ramenas (Afr.); qobo (Sotho); uqobho (Swati); rambola-vhadzimu, shambola-vhadzimu (Venda); ip

Family: Gunneraceae

Is this what the dinosaurs ate? Read on to find out.The genus Gunnera has numerous unique characteristics, some of which indicate that these plants have...

19 / 12 / 2005 | R Glen | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Vachellia erioloba

Common names: camel thorn (Eng.); kameeldoring (Afr.)

Family: Fabaceae

The beautiful, slow-growing camel thorn grows well in poor soils and in harsh environmental conditions. It is an ideal shrub/tree for a small or large...

26 / 12 / 2005 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Common names: chincherinchee, wonder-flower, star-of-Bethlehem (Eng.), tjienkerientjee, tjienk, wit-tjienk, viooltjie (Afr.)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Showy bulbous herb of vast horticultural importance because of its long lasting flowers suitable for use as cut flowers....

26 / 12 / 2005 | Yashica Singh | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Gnidia triplinervis

See Lasiosiphon triplinervis...

01 / 01 / 2006 | | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Clivia nobilis

Common names: Eastern Cape clivia, Eastern Cape bush lily (Eng.); boslelie (Afr.); umayime (isiXhosa & isiZulu)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Clivia nobilis was the first species of Clivia to be described in 1828. It was a popular plant in England until the more spectacular Clivia miniata appeared...

02 / 01 / 2006 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG

Lasiosiphon triplinervis

Common names: None recorded

Family: Thymelaeaceae

An attractive yellow shrub that flowers throughout the year. This is one of the most underrated grassland forbs, drawing attention from a distance...

02 / 01 / 2006 | S Khanyile | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Agapanthus campanulatus

Common names: bell agapanthus (E), bloulelie (A), ugebeleweni (X), ubani (Z), leta-laphofu (SS)

Family: Agapanthaceae

A dainty deciduous agapanthus from the Drakensberg, this is a good choice for gardeners in cold areas who struggle to grow evergreen agapanthus....

09 / 01 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Watsonia canaliculata

Family: Iridaceae

Watsonia canaliculata is a lovely small, purplish-pink flowering Watsonia with unusual erect, grooved leaves. Rare and restricted to the...

09 / 01 / 2006 | S Khanyile | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Agapanthus praecox subsp. minimus 'Adelaide'

Common names: Adelaide agapanthus

Family: Agapanthaceae

This floriferous dwarf agapanthus is the first to start flowering and one of the last to finish, a star performer in full sun or semi-shade....

16 / 01 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Colchicum

Common names: cup and a saucer, men-in-a-boat (Eng.); bobbejaanskoen (Afr.)

Family: Colchicaceae

Members of the genus Colchicum are low, short-stemmed to stemless perennials with leaves spreading on the ground. The most noticeable characteristic of...

16 / 01 / 2006 | E T Rampho | National Herbarium Pretoria

Carpobrotus edulis

Common names: sour fig, Cape fig, Hottentots fig (Eng.); ghaukum, ghoenavy, Hottentotsvy, Kaapsevy, perdevy, rankvy, suurvy, vyerank, (Afr.); ikhambi-lamabulawo, um

Family: Aizoaceae

Carpobrotus edulis is an easy-to-grow succulent groundcover, ideal for low-maintenance and water-wise gardens. It is also a useful first-aid plant...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Orbea

Common names: carrion flower ( Eng. ); aasblom, bokhoring (Afr.)

Family: Apocynaceae

Stapeliads are one of the most interesting groups of succulents — the diversity in shape, colour, size and smell make them an enticing group to collect...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria

Olinia ventosa

Common names: hard pear ( Eng. ); hardepeer (Afr.); umNgenalahla, iNgobamakhosi, iNqudu, umNonono (Xhosa)

Family: Oliniaceae

This beautiful tree makes a striking impression in spring when it is in full flower and is a good choice for a shade tree or focal point in a garden with...

30 / 01 / 2006 | Penny Jaffe | Kirstenbosch NBG

Streptocarpus lilliputana

Family: Gesneriaceae

This is a recently discovered Streptocarpus, found in only a few locations in Pondoland that are under threat....

30 / 01 / 2006 | F Daniels | TSP

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