Plants of the Week

Combretum imberbe

Common names: leadwood (Eng.); hardekool (Afr.); motswiri (Pedi); ummono (Sotho); mondzo (Tsonga); motswere (Tswana); umbondwe omnyama (Zulu); mohwelere-tshipi (Nor

Family: Combretaceae

Combretum imberbe is the most impressive of our combretums; even when it is dead, leadwood presents an imposing display, with its almost white trunk...

10 / 04 / 2006 | Patrick Mtsweni | Walter Sisulu NBG

Gasteria glomerata

Common names: Kouga gasteria (Eng.); Kouga-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria glomerata is a very attractive, dwarf species, bearing rounded clusters of grey-green, slightly rough (tuberculate) leaves. It is ideal for...

03 / 04 / 2006 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cynodon dactylon

Common names: couch grass, quick grass, Bermunda quick grass, finger grass, running grass (Eng.); kweekgras, fynkweek, anosterkweek, renosterkweek, elandskweek, gem

Family: Poaceae

This well-known grass is adaptable and is found almost world-wide, from deserts to the lawn in your garden. Most gardeners, if not most people, will know...

03 / 04 / 2006 | C Mudau | Pretoria NBG

Harpagophytum procumbens

Common names: devil's claw, harpago, grapple plant, wool- and woodspider (Eng.); duivelsklou, bobbejaandubbeltjie, kloudoring, veldspinnakop (Afr.); teufelskralle,

Family: Pedaliaceae

Tread with care where Harpagophytum procumbens, or devil's claw, is lurking. It has nasty, spiny fruits but it is one of the chief medicinal plants...

01 / 04 / 2006 | S Smithies | National Herbarium Pretoria

Moraea amissa

Family: Iridaceae

Moraea amissa has all the ingredients to be an absolutely sensational plant. It is probably one of the most rare and most threatened plants in the...

27 / 03 / 2006 | Ismail Ebrahim | CREW

Widdringtonia nodiflora

Common names: mountain cedar, mountain cypress ( Eng.); bergsipres (Afr.)

Family: Cupressaceae

Widdringtonia nodiflora is a bush/tree with a columnar crown and attains a height of 5-7 m. The slender and upright form of the mountain cedar during...

20 / 03 / 2006 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG

Trochomeria macrocarpa

Common names: bobbejaankomkommer (Afr.)

Family: Cucurbitaceae

The bright red, juicy fruits of this climber will attract birds to your garden....

20 / 03 / 2006 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria

Mimetes hirtus

Common names: marsh pagoda, red and yellow bottlebrush, tall pagoda, hairy mimetes, pineapple bush ( Eng. ); kreupelboom, vleistompie, rooistompie, pynappelstompie

Family: Proteaceae

Sima Eliovson, author of Proteas for pleasure, referred to Mimetes hirtus as 'the most magnificent species of Mimetes, the...

13 / 03 / 2006 | Von Witt C | CREW

Gasteria batesiana

Common names: wart-leaf gasteria (Eng.); knoppies-beestong (Afr.); indvololwane (siSwati)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria batesiana is a small charming species bearing rough tuberculata brittle leaves. It is ideal for containers in a shady spot. It is at once...

13 / 03 / 2006 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ocotea bullata

Common names: stinkwood, black stinkwood, Cape laurel, (Eng), stinkhout, swartstinkhout, laurelhout (Afr), umnukani (Zulu), umhlungulu (Xhosa)

Family: Lauraceae

The black stinkwood, or stinkwood as it is commonly known, is a large evergreen tree suitable for large gardens and parks. Along with yellowood, its timber...

06 / 03 / 2006 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Bolboschoenus maritimus

Common names: alkali bullrush (Eng.); snygras, snyruigte (Afr.)

Family: Cyperaceae

...

06 / 03 / 2006 | Victoria Wilman | Working For Wetlands

Pelargonium triste

Common names: night-scented pelargonium ( Eng. ); kaneeltjie, rooiwortel (Afr.); wit n/eitjie (Khoi)

Family: Geraniaceae

This night-scented pelargonium, with its attractive carrot-like leaves, makes an interesting addition to collections of Cape plants....

27 / 02 / 2006 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG

Juncus kraussii

Common names: dune slack rush, matting rush (Eng.); Incema (Zulu)

Family: Juncaceae

The great physical strength and versatility of this rush make it an asset in wetlands. Juncus kraussii prevents erosion and also make a perfect fibre for...

27 / 02 / 2006 | M Goge | Working For Wetlands

Dissotis princeps

Common names: purple dissotis, royal dissotis, wild tibouchina, purple wild tibouchina (Eng.); kalwerbossie (Afr.); sichobochobo, umpongamponga (Swazi)

Family: Melastomataceae

Dissotis princeps is an outstanding garden plant with magnificent flowers and decorative foliage. It is easy to grow, and is ideal for the water or vlei...

20 / 02 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Codon royenii

Common names: honey bush (Eng.); heuningbos, suikerkelk (Afr.)

Family: Boraginaceae

...

20 / 02 / 2006 | Elizabeth Retief | National Herbarium Pretoria

Bauhinia natalensis

Common names: Natal bauhinia (Eng.); Natalsebeesklou (Afr.)

Family: Fabaceae

This is a versatile, dainty shrub with butterfly-shaped leaves and pretty, white, maroon-striped flowers....

13 / 02 / 2006 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Asystasia varia

Common names: Asystasia

Family: Acanthaceae

This lovely garden plant grows very well in shady gardens, as well as in containers (hanging baskets), which is probably the most innovative way to optimize...

13 / 02 / 2006 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG

Arctotis venusta

Common names: Karoo marigold (Eng.); Karoo gousblom (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Arctotis venusta is one of the few indigenous annuals that are easy to grow and provide a reliable, colourful display in summer....

06 / 02 / 2006 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe albida

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe albida is a dwarf aloe with small white flowers. This species likes misty mountain grassland habitats and thrives in crevices amongst mossy rocks...

06 / 02 / 2006 | Leigh Potter | TSP

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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