Plants of the Week

Gasteria vlokii

Common names: Swartberg ox-tongue (Eng.); Swartberg-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria vlokii is one of the more or less 23 known Gasteria species endemic to southern Africa. It is easily propagated from leaf cuttings...

08 / 03 / 2010 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Moraea villosa

Common names: peacock moraea (Eng.); uiltjie (Afr.) Two subspecies are recognized: subsp. villosa and subsp. elandsmontana Goldblatt

Family: Iridaceae

The peacock moraea previously occurred in great abundance in the mass spring-flower displays of the Cape lowlands. Sadly, this attractive flower has lost...

08 / 03 / 2010 | Lize Von Staden | TSP

Asparagus scandens

Common names: climbing asparagus (Eng.); krulkransie (Afr.)

Family: Asparagaceae

Asparagus scandens is a delicate-looking yet sturdy forest-dwelling climbing perennial, ideal for a trellis in a small garden or as a groundcover under...

15 / 03 / 2010 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Babiana praemorsa

Common names: stompstertbobbejaantjie, perskussing (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

The flowers of Babiana praemorsa are beautiful — trumpet-shaped, deep purple, with striking white marks on the lower tepals....

15 / 03 / 2010 | Colleen Rust | Hantam NBG

Glottiphyllum regium

Common names: tongue-leaved mesemb (Eng.); tongblaarvygie, skilpadkos (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Glottiphyllum regium is a hardy, clump-forming succulent that produces masses of showy, large, yellow flowers from mid-winter until early summer....

22 / 03 / 2010 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Ursinia abrotanifolia

Common names: lace-leaf ursinia (Eng.); fynkruie, lammetjieskruie (Afr.) [= Sphenogyne abrotanifolia R.Br.(Prassler 1967)]

Family: Asteraceae

An extremely easy-to-grow and showy summer display bedding plant with charm and versatility underutilized by home gardeners....

22 / 03 / 2010 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Hypoestes aristata

Common names: ribbon bush (Eng.); seeroogblommetjie (Afr.); uhladlwana olukhulu, uhlonyane, uhlalwane (Zulu)

Family: Acanthaceae

The ribbon bush with its attractive lilac pink flowers is an excellent garden subject....

29 / 03 / 2010 | Patrick Mtsweni | Lowveld NBG

Rafnia triflora

Common names: three-flower rafnia

Family: Fabaceae

Rafnia triflora is a little known but striking fynbos shrub, with blue green leaves and bright yellow flowers in summer....

29 / 03 / 2010 | Musawenkosi Ndlovu | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloiampelos commixta

Common names: Peninsula rambling aloe

Family: Asphodelaceae

Offering a rich variety of growth forms, making excellent accent plants, suited to almost any climate and producing a flowering display of vibrant colours...

05 / 04 / 2010 | Julia Dabush | Kirstenbosch NBG

Notobubon galbanum

Common names: blister bush (Eng.); bergseldery, wilde seldery, droëdas (Afr.)

Family: Apiaceae

...

05 / 04 / 2010 | Anthony R. Magee | Compton Herbarium

Cotula sericea

Common names: silky cotula, buttons (Eng.); knoppies (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

...

12 / 04 / 2010 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ozoroa paniculosa

Common names: common resin tree, bushveld ozoroa (Eng.): gewone harpuisboom (Afr.); isifice (Zulu); monoko (N. Sotho/Sepedi); mudumbula (Venda)

Family: Anacardiaceae

An attractive, small to medium-sized tree. Its leaves are bluish grey above and silvery below with strikingly straight, parallel side veins....

12 / 04 / 2010 | Terence Mabela | Walter Sisulu NBG

Vachellia hebeclada subsp. hebeclada

Common names: candle thorn (Eng.); trassiebos (Afr.); mohae (S. Sotho)

Family: Fabaceae

This beautiful shrub to small tree is the most common naturally occurring vachellia in the Free State National Botanical Garden. It may reach up to 7 m...

19 / 04 / 2010 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG

Elegia nuda

Common names: none known

Family: Restionaceae

Elegia nuda is a neat upright-growing restio. The light green stems (called culms) contrast well with the black flower heads, and planted en...

19 / 04 / 2010 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG

Monsonia speciosa

Common names: umbrella (Eng.); sambreeltjie (Afr.)

Family: Geraniaceae

Monsonia speciosa is a hardy, summer-deciduous herb bearing masses of large showy pink flowers in spring (southern hemisphere)....

26 / 04 / 2010 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Pelargonium denticulatum

Common names: toothed-leaved pelargonium, pine-scented geranium, fernleaf geranium

Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium denticulatum with its attractive, strongly scented leaves and pinkish purple flowers is an interesting addition to the mixed herbaceous border,...

26 / 04 / 2010 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG

Mitriostigma axillare

Common names: dwarf-loquat (Eng.); dwerglukwart (Afr.) South African National Tree List no. 689.2

Family: Rubiaceae

With its green glossy leaves, white star-shaped flowers, bright orange fruits and sweetly fragrant aroma, this eye-catching small tree is undoubtedly a...

03 / 05 / 2010 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

Senecio bryoniifolius

Common names: Bryony-leaved flowering ivy

Family: Asteraceae

The Bryony-leaved flowering ivy (Senecio bryoniifolius) is a succulent-leaved creeper from the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal which shows promise as a...

03 / 05 / 2010 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG