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., 28/12/2024
E.g., 28/12/2024

Aloe howmanii

Aloe howmanii
Common names: Howman’s cliff aloe (Eng.); waaier-grasaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

A rare, cliff-dwelling aloe, only known from sheer, south-facing cliffs of the Chimanimani Mountains near Chimanimani (formerly Melsetter), in eastern...

06 / 11 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe huntleyana

Aloe huntleyana
Common names: Huntley aloe (Eng.); Huntley-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe huntleyana is a small creeping aloe species with greyish green leaves ornamented at the base with white spots. It branches to form clusters of...

06 / 05 / 2014 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe kamnelii

Aloe kamnelii
Common names: Doorn River aloe (Eng.); Doringrivier-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe kamnelii is a shrubby, ascending aloe, with glossy green leaves and yellow flowers in spring, that is endemic to the Doorn River of the Western Cape,...

09 / 07 / 2018 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe khamiesensis

Aloe khamiesensis plants
Common names: Khamiesberg aloe (Eng.); Kamiesberg-aalwyn, tweederly (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

The bright red flowering spikes of Aloe khamiesensis against the blue Namaqualand skies are a sight to behold. The charismatic plants flower in abundance...

27 / 09 / 2010 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG
Read More

Aloe kniphofioides

Aloe kniphofioides
Common names: grass aloe, red poker grass aloe (Eng.); grasaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe kniphofioides is an attractive, stemless, grass-like aloe, with short serrated leaves and an ovoid, bulb-like swelling below ground. The lax inflorescence...

11 / 11 / 2019 | Mpho Mathalauga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Aloe komaggasensis

Aloe komaggasensis
Common names: Komaggas coral aloe (Eng.); makaalwyn, streepaalwyn, gladdeblaaraalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

 This aloe was previously known as Aloe striata subsp. komaggasensis.  It is relatively new to science and not established at all in horticulture...

18 / 07 / 2011 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Aloe kouebokkeveldensis

Aloe kouebokkeveldensis
Common names: Kouebokkeveld aloe (Eng.); kouebokkeveldaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe kouebokkeveldensis is a rare, medium-sized, cliff-squatting aloe with a decumbent to ascending rosette of faintly spotted, striate, pale-green leaves...

08 / 02 / 2021 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe krapohliana

Aloe krapohliana flowers
Common names: Krapohl's aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe krapohliana is a distinctive smallish aloe which falls under a group of aloes characterized by short stemless plants, leaf rosettes that form near...

18 / 05 / 2009 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG
Read More

Aloe linearifolia

Aloe linearifolia flowers
Common names: dwarf yellow grass aloe (Eng.); inkhuphuyana (isiZulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This aloe is useful for landscaping a grassland garden. It looks spectacular when it is in flower....

10 / 10 / 2011 | Lufuno Konanani | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Aloe lineata var. muiri

Aloe lineata var. muirii
Common names: Muir's striped aloe (Eng.); streepaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe lineata var. muiri is an attractive and rewarding garden plant. Its striking yellowish green leaves and tall flower spikes will give much needed contrast...

04 / 06 / 2018 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Aloe longistyla

Aloe longistyla flowers
Common names: Karoo aloe (Eng.); ramenas, Karoo-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe longistylsa is a small and elusive aloe that uses excellent camouflage to help it blend in with its environment. It is only easily seen in its natural...

01 / 06 / 2009 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG
Read More

Aloe maculata

Aloe maculata inflorescence
Common names: soap aloe (Eng.); bontaalwyn (Afr.); lekhala (S. Sesotho)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Although essentially a summer garden plant, it is indeed a garden plant for all seasons. There is always something of interest, even in mid winter (May-July)...

02 / 08 / 2010 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG
Read More

Aloe marlothii

Growing in Kirstenbosch
Common names: mountain aloe, flat-flowered aloe (Eng.); bergalwyn (Afr.); inhlaba, umhlaba (Zulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe marlothii is a striking, robust, large, single-stemmed aloe with a majestic presence. The mountain aloe is without doubt one of southern Africa's...

15 / 10 / 2007 | P Emms | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe melanacantha

Aloe melanacantha
Common names: black-thorn aloe, small mountain aloe (Eng.); swartdoringaalywn kleinbergaalwyn, goree (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

The true beauty of Aloe melanacantha can only be appreciated when seen flowering in the veld. Its formidable black thorns add an exquisite dimension when...

25 / 06 / 2007 | Werner Voigt | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe meyeri

Aloe meyeri
Common names: Rosyntjiesberg aloe (Eng.); rosyntjiesberg-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

A rare, small, cliff-dwelling aloe with drooping rosettes of greyish green leaves and simple inflorescences of small, tubular, orange-red flowers with...

04 / 01 / 2021 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe microstigma

Aloe microstigma
Common names: Karoo aloe, small-spotted aloe (Eng.); karoo-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe microstigma is one of the most floriferous aloes in South Africa. It is a common and widespread species that transforms the dull winter landscape...

14 / 07 / 2003 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Aloe mitriformis

Aloe mitriformis
Common names: mitre aloe (Eng.); krans aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

There are not many aloes from the Cape that flower during summer, hence those that do are more sought after. Those of you who love gardening with bright...

11 / 07 / 2005 | Werner Voigt | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe mudenensis

Aloe mudenensis
Common names: Muden aloe (Eng.); kleinaalwyn (Afr.); icena (IsiZulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe mudenensis is one of the most attractive spotted aloes, endemic to Muden and Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal....

24 / 11 / 2014 | Ntokoza Nkosi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Aloe neilcrouchii

Aloe neilcrouchii
Common names: Karkloof grass aloe (Eng.); karkloof grasaalwyn (Afr.); inhlaba (Zul.); inkalane (Xho.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe neilcrouchii is the largest and the most robust of the grass aloes (section Leptoaloe), with long, leafless stems, rosettes of white-spotted leaves...

08 / 02 / 2021 | Bathabile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Aloe nubigena

Aloe nubigena
Common names: Graskop cliff aloe (Eng.), Graskop krans-aalwyn (Afr.).
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe nubigena is an attractive small aloe with soft, strap-shaped leaves and is ideal for growing in hanging baskets....

11 / 05 / 2009 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More