Plants of the Week

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E.g., 12/10/2024
E.g., 12/10/2024

Aloe cryptopoda

Common names: tweekleur-aalwyn, geelaalwyn (Afrikaans)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe cryptopoda is a very attractive and unique species; it is a popular garden plant and provides a spectacular display when in full flower. It thrives...

07 / 06 / 2010 | Patrick Mtsweni | Lowveld NBG
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Aloidendron dichotomum

Aloidendron dichotomum
Common names: quiver tree (Eng.); kokerboom (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

The quiver tree or Aloidendron dichotomum is probably the best known aloe found in South Africa and Namibia. Visitors to the Western Cape can see a ...

12 / 08 / 2002 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Aloidendron ramosissimum

Bush in flower
Common names: maiden's quiver tree (Eng.); nooienskokerboom (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This aloe is without a doubt the most profusely branched of all aloes. Like its closest relative, Aloidendron dichotomum or quiver tree, it has a very...

19 / 04 / 2004 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Aloe falcata

Aloe falcata growing in habitat
Common names: Vanrhynsdorp aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

...

10 / 07 / 2006 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Aloe ferox

Aloe ferox
Common names: bitter aloe, red aloe (English); bitteraalwyn, bergaalwyn (Afrikaans); iNhlaba (Zulu); iKhala (Xhosa)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This is one of the best known South african plants with a long history of medicinal use. An attractive form of Aloe ferox is found in KwaZulu-Natal,...

23 / 07 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Aloe gariepensis

Flowering in habitat
Common names: Gariep aloe, Orange River aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe gariepensis is a very hardy aloe from the arid regions of South Africa and Namibia and is restricted to the lower reaches of the Gariep River also...

17 / 12 / 2012 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Aloe greatheadii var. davyana

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana
Common names: spotted aloe (Eng.); Transvaalaalwyn, grasaalwyn (Afr.); kgopane (Tswana)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana is a drab and uninteresting plant, but when it flowers in winter, it is spectacular. It is a plant that will...

02 / 07 / 2007 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Aloe greenii

Aloe greenii
Common names: ground spotted aloe (Eng.); iCeza lesikhotha (isiZulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe greenii is an excellent rockery plant and makes a good display pot plant in the shade. It has an impressive pink inflorescence that attracts sunbirds....

17 / 09 / 2012 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe hardyi

Aloe hardyi in conservatory at Kirstenbosch
Common names: Penge aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe hardyi is a decorative pendent aloe with grey-green soft leaves in rosettes at the end of hanging stems. ...

12 / 03 / 2007 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Aloe pearsonii

Aloe pearsonii
Common names: Pearson's aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe pearsonii is a very distinctive aloe with its almost perfectly arranged vertical rows of leaves that cover the slender stems like a long narrow skirt....

26 / 11 / 2007 | Werner Voigt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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