Plants of the Week

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E.g., 22/12/2024
E.g., 22/12/2024

Dovyalis rhamnoides

Dovyalis rhamnoides showing spines and male flowers
Common names: common sourberry (Eng.); gewone suurbessie (Afr.); ukhamgwindi (Zulu); umqaqoba (Xhosa)
Family: Salicaceae

This is a spiny, evergreen shrub or tree bearing edible fruit. It is easily cultivated and attracts birds to the garden....

08 / 10 / 2012 | C Mudau | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Drosera cistiflora

Form from Niewoudtville
Common names: poppy-flowered sundew (Eng.);doublom, snotrosie (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

The magnificent flower, colour and variety of Drosera cistiflora will captivate any carnivorous plant enthusiast....

01 / 10 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aristea ecklonii

Flowers
Common names: blue stars (Eng.); blousterre (Afr.); umhushuza (IsiZulu)
Family: Iridaceae

Aristea ecklonii is an indigenous, evergreen perennial with attractive, blue, star-like flowers that make quite a show in early summer and late spring....

01 / 10 / 2012 | Sthembile Zondi | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Leucadendron discolor

Flower head of male plant
Common names: Piketberg conebush, gold flame tips, red conebush (Eng.); rooi-tolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

For most of the year Leucadendron discolor is a grey-green filler, best planted towards the back of the shrubbery. During spring it comes alive with colour...

24 / 09 / 2012 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Croton pseudopulchellus

Flowers and leaves
Common names: small lavender fever-berry (Eng.); kleinlaventelkoorsbessie, sandkoorsbessie (Afr.); uHubeshane (isiZulu)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A pale white/yellow-flowered, shrubby, perennial plant with a sweet smell that attracts many insects....

24 / 09 / 2012 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Watsonia latifolia

Flowers
Common names: broad-leaved watsonia (Eng.); sidvwa (siSwati)
Family: Iridaceae

This is an attractive plant with very showy maroon-red flowers that make it stand out on hillsides where it grows amongst rocks....

17 / 09 / 2012 | Mkhipheni Ngwenya | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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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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Grewia bicolor

Grewia bicolor leaf and flower.  Image Geoff Nichols
Common names: white raisin (Eng.); witrosyntjie (Afr.); umsiphane (Swazi); nsihana, guguna, nsihani (Tsonga); mogwane (Tswana); murabva (Venda); umlalampunzi, imdli
Family: Malvaceae

The bicoloured-leaved Grewia bicolor has beautiful, bright yellow flowers. It is a frost-resistant, hardy shrub or small tree that is adaptable...

10 / 09 / 2012 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Drosera aliciae

Rosettes of Drosera aliciae
Common names: shepherd's crook sundew, alice sundew (Eng.); sondou (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

Drosera aliciae, with its interesting mounding habit and its long-lived nature, is a wonderful carnivorous plant and is endemic to South Africa....

10 / 09 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Watsonia mtamvunae

Photo Tony Abbott
Common names: Umtamvuna watsonia
Family: Iridaceae

...

03 / 09 / 2012 | N Petela | CREW
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Agathosma cerefolium

In flower
Common names: coast anise buchu (Eng.); anysboegoe, strandboegoe, klamboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

This floriferous buchu is ideal for the small and large garden alike. It is also grows well in pots....

03 / 09 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gasteria brachyphylla

Gasteria brachypylla growin near Oudtshoorn
Common names: Klein Karoo ox-tongue (Eng.); Klein Karoo-beestong, boesmanrys (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria brachyphylla is a medium-sized aloe-like, succulent-leaved plant with smooth leaves in two opposite rows and an elongated raceme with pinkish...

27 / 08 / 2012 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Clerodendron glabrum

Clerodendron glabrum
Common names: tinderwood (Eng.); moswaapeba (Sotho); tontelhout (Afr.); munukha-tshilongwe (Venda); umqwaqwanam (Xhosa); umQoqonga (Zulu); xinhunwelambeva (Tswana);
Family: Lamiaceae

This is a small tree with smelly leaves and scented flowers in summer. It has many traditional uses....

27 / 08 / 2012 | Lufuno Nenungwi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Grewia hexamita

Grewia hexamita.  Copyright Geoff Nichols
Common names: giant raisin (Eng.); reuserosyntjie, blinkblaarrosyntjie (Afr.); umsiphane (Swazi); nsihana, guguna, nsihani, sipane (Tsonga); mukunukunu (Venda); uml
Family: Malvaceae

The glossy dark green leafed Grewia hexamita has beautiful large, yellow, honey-scented flowers. It is a frost-resistant, hardy shrub or small...

20 / 08 / 2012 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Drosera trinervia

Drosera trinervia palnt in situ
Common names: small sundew (Eng.); klein sondouw (Afr.)
Family: Droseraceae

This opportunistic little Drosera is one of the most common carnivorous plant species in South Africa and can be found growing amongst fynbos during winter...

20 / 08 / 2012 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Encephalartos laevifolius

Encephalartos laevifolius
Common names: Kaapsehoop cycad (Eng.); Kaapsehoop-broodboom (Afr.); mayiphuku (Siswati)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos laevifolius is a tall, slender cycad with even, regular, smooth leafbases. It grows well in full sun and tolerates any soil type, provided...

13 / 08 / 2012 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Agathosma serpyllacea

Flowers
Common names: thyme buchu (Eng.), wildeboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

This pink, white or purple flowered buchu is an eye-catcher in a pot or in the garden when flowering....

13 / 08 / 2012 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Crotalaria natalitia var. natalitia

Crotalaria natalitia var. natalitia flowers
Common names: pioneer rattlepod (Eng.); usi, uvelabahleke (isiZulu)
Family: Fabaceae

The pioneer rattlepod is a shrubby yellow-flowered plant with a scent attractive to honeybees....

06 / 08 / 2012 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Allophylus dregeanus

Allophylus dregeanus leaves and flowers
Common names: forest false currant, simple-leaved false currant, forest bastard currant (Eng.); bosbastertaaibos, enkelblaarvalstaaibos, enkelblaarbastertaaibos (Af
Family: Sapindaceae

Allophylus dregeanus, found in the evergreen forest, will greet you with its sweetly scented flowers, surrounded by beautiful butterflies....

06 / 08 / 2012 | Hannelie Snyman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Streptocarpus cyaneus

Streptocarpus cyaneus
Common names: Cape primrose (Eng.)
Family: Gesneriaceae

Streptocarpus cyaneus is very attractive and is one of the few species of Streptocarpus that produces either white, pink or blue flowers depending on...

30 / 07 / 2012 | Rivash Maharaj | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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