Plants of the Week

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E.g., 30/12/2024
E.g., 30/12/2024

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Dyschoriste setigera

In flower
Common names: Fairy Stars
Family: Acanthaceae

This is a delightful low-growing groundcover up to 150-300mm high that requires little or no maintenance and is particularly suitable for water-wise gardens...

31 / 03 / 2014 | Zoleka Maphanga | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dais cotinifolia

Dais cotinifolia at Kirstenbosch
Common names: pompon tree, pincushion tree (Eng.), kannabas, speldekussing, basboom (Afr.), intozani (Xhosa); intozwane-emnyama (Zulu)
Family: Thymelaeaceae

The pompon tree is one of the best known and well-loved indigenous trees, tough enough to be used as a street tree and small enough to fit into most gardens....

25 / 12 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dalbergia obovata

Fruits of D.obovata.Photo G Nichols
Common names: climbing flat bean (Eng.); bobbejaankoudoring, rankplatboontjie (Afr.); udukuduku, isibandhlube, uphandlazi (Zulu); umzungu, umzungulu (Xhosa)
Family: Fabaceae

...

18 / 12 / 2006 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Daubenya aurea

Daubenya aurea
Common names: none recorded.
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Although it is dormant during summer and autumn and has a very narrow distribution area, this extraordinary, beautiful member of the Hyacinth family is...

13 / 01 / 2014 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Deinbollia oblongifolia

Deinbollia oblongifolia
Common names: dune soapberry (Eng.); duineseepbessie (Afr.); iqinisamasimu, igolo-lenkawu, iphengulula, umuthi-wezithutha, maqinisa, intisamasimu (Zul.); umasibele,
Family: Sapindaceae

Deinbollia oblongifolia is a shrub or small tree with masses of pale yellow fruits during the winter months; it is an excellent plant to feed garden wildlife,...

27 / 07 / 2009 | Alec Naidoo | Pretoria NBG
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Delosperma

Delosperma cooperi
Common names: Afrikaans names of species: D. carolinense, D. vogtsii : klipvygie, rotsvygie; D. floribundum : skaapvygie; D. herbeum : witbergvygie; D. macellum : r
Family: Aizoaceae

This predominantly summer rainfall genus has long been overlooked as a garden plant. Growth forms vary vastly and showy flowers are produced over long...

17 / 10 / 2005 | P Burgoyne | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Delosperma lydenbergense

Delosperma lydenburgense groundcover
Common names: Lydenburg vygie (Eng.); klipvygie, rotsvygie (Afr.)
Family: Mesembryanthemaceae

This flat-growing ground cover or small shrub with its purple flowers can take full sun and is an attractive plant for gardens in warmer climates....

23 / 11 / 2009 | K Bayloyi | Pretoria NBG
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Dermatobotrys saundersii

Dermatobotrys saundersii
Common names: tree jockey
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Dermatobotrys saundersii is unusual in that it is an epiphytic shrublet, which grows in the forks of a variety of trees, and occasionally on the forest...

30 / 09 / 2002 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Dialium schlechteri

Dialium schlechteri tree
Common names: sherbet tree, zulu podberry (Eng.); zoeloepeulbessie (Afr.); umThiba (Zulu); ensiba (Tsonga); enziva (Ronga)
Family: Fabaceae

This very attractive forest tree, with shiny leaves and mottled white bark, will appeal to every tree lover in South Africa....

09 / 01 / 2012 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Dianthus albens

Dianthus albens plants
Common names: wild pink
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Many people think of Dianthus or carnations as cut flowers from places in Europe and very little is known about our very own indigenous species. Although...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Gary Shanks | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dianthus zeyheri

Dianthus zeyheri flowers.  Image Martin von Fintel
Common names: wild pink dianthus, African carnation (Eng.); grasangelier, wild-angelier (Afr.); iningizimu, isidala, umzima (isiZulu)
Family: Caryophyllaceae

This beautiful, hardy African carnation adds a mass of pink colour to the garden....

20 / 10 / 2008 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Diascia insignis

Diascia insignis flower Photo: M. Kuhlmann
Common names: horinkies (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Diascia insignis, with its beautiful tiny reddish-purple flowers, is known only in and around Nieuwoudtville....

20 / 02 / 2012 | Colleen Rust | Hantam NBG
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Diascia integerrima

Diascia integerrima
Common names: twinspurs (Eng.); horinkies (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

This lovely delicate plant is a jewel in the garden for it flowers abundantly throughout the summer....

26 / 11 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diascia lewisiae

Diascia lewisiae flowers
Common names: Joyce Lewis' diascia (Eng.); horinkies (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

According to K.E. Steiner, who described the species, Diascia lewisiae is known from only two localities on the Roggeveld escarpment near Nieuwoudtville...

26 / 03 / 2012 | Eugene Marinus | Hantam NBG
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Diascia patens

Diascia patens 'Cheeky Chief'
Common names: twinspurs (Eng.); horingkies (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Little is known about the petite Diascia patens with its clambering habit and long flowering season. It should have made its appearance as a quaint addition...

05 / 07 / 2010 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diascia rigescens

Diascia rigescens
Common names: twinspur, bride's saddle
Family: Scrophulariaceae

This attractive, dainty South African perennial will do well in temperate gardens around the world. Easy to grow and long-flowering, this is an ideal plant...

20 / 05 / 2002 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Diascia vigilis

Diascia vigilis flower
Common names: twinspurs (Eng.); horingkies (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

...

26 / 10 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella buekii

Diastella buekii in flower
Common names: Franschhoek silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

Historical records suggest that Diastella buekii was once common in the area between Paarl and Franschhoek. This enigmatic species is now confined...

16 / 02 / 2009 | Ismail Ebrahim | CREW
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Diastella proteoides

Diastella proteoides: Photo Nigel Foreshaw
Common names: Flats' Silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

This dainty member of the protea family is threatened with extinction as its habitat disappears....

17 / 06 / 2002 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dichrostachys cinerea

Common names: sickle bush (Eng.); sekelbos (Afr.); uGagane (Zulu)
Family: Fabaceae

Dichrostachys cinerea is a spiny, deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 7 m high, with a rounded crown, 3 m wide....

28 / 09 / 2009 | M Cheek | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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