Plants of the Week

Encephalartos transvenosus

Common names: Modjadji cycad (Eng.); Modjadji broodboom (Afr.)

Family: Zamiaceae

As a garden subject, Encephalartos transvenosus, with its glossy dark-green leaves, is one of the most spectacular and tallest of all cycad species. It...

14 / 03 / 2005 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG

Searsia discolor

Common names: grassveld currant ( Eng. ); grasveld taaibos (Afr.); Koppshane, mohlohlooane (Southern Sotho)?; inhlangushane (Sw)?; Inkobesehlungulu, intlokotshane,

Family: Anacardiaceae

This attractive shrub is grown mainly for its fine foliage. Along with several other species in this genus, it is overlooked as a garden plant. Very little...

14 / 03 / 2005 | Peter Gavhi | Free State NBG

Anisodontea julii

Common names: Drakensberg mallow, mountain mallow, African mallow (Eng.); bergroos (Afr.); letjeane-la-noka, llefeta (SS)

Family: Malvaceae

Anisodontea julii, valued for its quick growth, is a tall, graceful shrub with velvety, maple-like leaves and wonderful displays of large pink flowers...

21 / 03 / 2005 | L Badenhorst | Kirstenbosch NBG

Buddleja loricata

Common names: mountain sagewood (Eng.); bergsaliehout (Afr.); Lelora (Southern Sotho); umngane (Zulu)

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Mountain sagewood is an interesting Buddleja for small gardens or town houses, particularly those inland at higher altitudes. It has a tidy, rounded shape,...

21 / 03 / 2005 | Luambo David Rambuwani | Free State NBG

Kedrostis hirtella

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

Argyroderma theartii

Common names: baby-toes (Eng.); bababoudjies (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Argyroderma theartii is a beautiful, dwarf, cluster-forming, winter growing succulent plant, bearing striking, bright purple-pink flowers during the...

28 / 03 / 2005 | | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cussonia thyrsiflora

Common names: Cape coast cabbage tree (Eng.); Kaapse kuskiepersol (Afr.)

Family: Araliaceae

This evergreen shrub or small tree is an ideal specimen to include in coastal gardens, as it is very hardy and well-adapted to dry coastal scrub. It bears...

28 / 03 / 2005 | Antonia Xaba | Harold Porter NBG

Dimorphotheca ecklonis

Common names: Cape marguerite, Van Staden's River daisy, Sundays River daisy, white daisy bush, blue-and-white daisy bush (Eng.); Kaapse magriet, jakkalsbos, Vansta

Family: Asteraceae

Dimorphotheca ecklonis has beautiful, white ray florets and a dark blue centre (disc florets). A collection of these plants in full bloom certainly...

28 / 03 / 2005 | Paul Herman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Euryops tenuissimus

Common names: resin bush (Eng.); harpuisbos; grootharpuisbos; kortbeenharbuisbossie (subsp. trifurcatus) (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Travellers in large areas of the Western and Northern Cape will often stop during springtime to admire the stunning bright yellow flowering bushes along...

04 / 04 / 2005 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Rapanea melanophloeos

Common names: Cape Beech (Eng.); Boekenhout, Beukehout (Afr.); IsiCalabi, umaPhipha, iKhubalwane, isiQalaba sehlati (Zulu); isiQwane sehlati (Xhosa); iGcolo, udzili

Family: Myrsinaceae

The graceful Cape Beech is a hardy tree for a large, coastal garden setting, and for windy areas....

04 / 04 / 2005 | Phakamani Xaba | Harold Porter NBG

Senecio tamoides

Common names: canary creeper ( Eng. ); kanarieklimop (Afr.); uqobaqoba (Zulu)

Family: Asteraceae

...

04 / 04 / 2005 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Diosma prama

Common names: Little Karoo bitter-buchu

Family: Rutaceae

Take a closer look at Diosma prama with masses of tiny creamy white flowers covering the entire bush during its winter flowering season. It creates a...

11 / 04 / 2005 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Euphorbia

Common names: spurges, euphorbias

Family: Euphorbiaceae

The great charm of the South African euphorbias lies in their varied appeal. They offer something for every taste. A collection may comprise a few selected...

11 / 04 / 2005 | Robert Archer | National Herbarium Pretoria

Pelargonium grossularioides

Common names: gooseberry-leaved pelargonium ( Eng. ); rooirabas, rooirabassam, rooistingelhoutbas (Afr.)

Family: Geraniaceae

If you delight in tiny flowers then the gooseberry-leaved pelargonium is a plant you will enjoy!...

11 / 04 / 2005 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG

Nymania capensis

Common names: Chinese lanterns, Chinese lantern tree, kipkippers (Eng.); klapperbos, lanternbos, kiepkiepies, oumeidsbos, stuipebos (Afr.)

Family: Meliaceae

...

18 / 04 / 2005 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Trema orientalis

Common names: trema, pigeon wood (Eng.); hophout (Afr.); umVumvu, umVangazi, uPhakane (Xhosa); umSekeseke, umBhangabhanga, ifamu, iphubane, isikhwelamfene, ubathini

Family: Cannabaceae

Trema orientalis is a fast-growing shade tree with soft foliage, best suited to gardens and streets in the warmer and wetter regions of southern Africa...

18 / 04 / 2005 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Brunsvigia

Common names: candelabra flower (Eng.); kandelaarblom, Maartblom (Afr.)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

The sheer exuberance of brunsvigias flowering en masse is a natural spectacle that should not be missed....

18 / 04 / 2005 | D Snijman | Kirstenbosch NBG

Dioscorea elephantipes

Common names: turtle back, elephant's foot, Hottentots' bread

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Dioscorea elephantipes is one of the most beautiful, weird and wonderful, caudiciform plants around! It has a deeply fissured surface, resembling...

25 / 04 / 2005 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Encephalartos villosus

Common names: poor man's cycad

Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos villosus is one of the most common ornamental dwarf cycads in southern Africa. It is shade-loving and produces leaves which spread out...

25 / 04 / 2005 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG

Merxmuellera macowanii

Common names: molalashlolo, moseha (South Sotho)

Family: Poaceae

M. macowanii is a wiry grass, forming large, lax tussocks and flowering in summer. Grasses are the most important plant family in the world,...

25 / 04 / 2005 | Thabiso Mpongo | National Herbarium Pretoria

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