Plants of the Week

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E.g., 21/12/2024
E.g., 21/12/2024

Protea lanceolata

Protea lanceolata flower head
Common names: lance-leaf protea, lance-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); smalblaarsuikerbos (Afr.); isiqalaba (Xho.)
Family: Proteaceae

With its neat shape, white flower heads and tolerance for coastal and alkaline conditions, Protea lanceolata makes a perfect windbreak for a...

07 / 09 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Barleria scindens

Barleria scindens flower
Common names: none recorded
Family: Acanthaceae

Barleria scindens,  not a very well known species in the genus, produces beautiful mauve flowers from February to July. It is ideal for sunny areas...

07 / 09 / 2009 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Strychnos cocculoides

Strychnos cocculoides tree
Common names: corky-bark monkey-orange (Eng.); kurkbasklapper (Afr.); morapa (North Sotho); omusu (otjiHerero); liguni, maguni (Ovambo) Tree No: Zimbabwe 881
Family: Loganiaceae

Strychnos cocculoides is a monkey-orange with distinctive corky bark, leaves without sharp tips and large, green, cannonball-like fruits, and is found...

31 / 08 / 2009 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Pelargonium quercifolium

Pelargonium quercifolium flowers
Common names: oak-leaf pelargonium (Eng.); muishondbos (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium quercifolium is an attractive shrub with oak-like foliage and flowers throughout the year; it adapts to any garden....

31 / 08 / 2009 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trachyandra ciliata

Trachyandra ciliata flowering stalks
Common names: hotnotskool, veldkool, wildeblomkool (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Trachyandra ciliata is a common, seasonal herb that is best known for its edible flower buds....

24 / 08 / 2009 | S Boatwright | Compton Herbarium
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Protea eximia

Protea eximia flower head
Common names: broad-leaf sugarbush, duchess protea, (Eng.); breëblaarsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea eximia is a robust, easy-to-grow protea, presenting its showy, deep pink, purple-centred flower heads above greyish green foliage....

24 / 08 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Geissorhiza splendidissima

Common names: blue pride of Nieuwoudtville (Eng.); blou trots van Nieuwoudtville (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Because of its beautiful, brilliant, dark purple-blue flowers, Geissorhiza splendidissima is called the blou trots van Nieuwoudtville (blue pride of Nieuwoudtville)...

17 / 08 / 2009 | Colleen Rust | Hantam NBG
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Cotyledon pendens

Cotyledon pendens
Common names: cliff cotyledon (Eng.); kransplakkie, kransklokkie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Cotyledon pendens is a rare succulent shrublet with hanging branches and flowers, only known from sheer cliff faces along the Mbashe River in the...

17 / 08 / 2009 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Cucumis metuliferus

Cucumis metuliferus fruit
Common names: African horned cucumber, jelly melon, kiwano (Eng.); rooi-agurkie, rooikomkommer (Afr.); mokapana (Tswana)
Family: Cucurbitaceae

This African climber is cultivated in various parts of the world for its showy, edible fruits....

10 / 08 / 2009 | M Welman | Pretoria NBG
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Crassula sericea var. sericea

Crassula sericea var. sericea growing in its shady cliff face habitat on the Rosyntjiesberg, Richtersveld (Northern Cape)
Common names: kransplakkie
Family: Crassulaceae

Crassula sericea var. sericea is a common cliff-dwelling succulent shrublet in southern Namibia and in the lower Gariep (Orange River) region in the Northern...

10 / 08 / 2009 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis

Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis
Common names: Potberg sugarbush, Potberg shuttlecock protea (Eng.); Potberg-langknopsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis flowers in early winter when little else is flowering in the garden. The flowers are large and when planted en...

03 / 08 / 2009 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ochna

Ochna pulchra
Common names: wild planes, mickey-mouse plants
Family: Ochnaceae

All species of Ochna have very attractive yellow flowers, with an unusual persistent calyx that enlarges when in fruit, becoming cream-coloured, pink...

03 / 08 / 2009 | M.S. Mothogoane | Pretoria NBG
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Protea obtusifolia

Protea obtusifolia
Common names: Bredasdorp protea, limestone protea, limestone sugarbush (Eng.); Bredasdorpsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea obtusifolia has shiny, richly coloured flower heads during winter, and it is one of the few proteas that thrive in alkaline or acidic soils,...

27 / 07 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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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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Hibiscus praeteritus

Hibiscus praeteritus
Common names: None
Family: Malvaceae

The colourful, floriferous and water-wise Hibiscus praeteritus is a spectacular shrub worthy of a special place in your garden....

20 / 07 / 2009 | Roger Oliver | Pretoria NBG
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Encephalartos caffer

Encephalartos caffer
Common names: Grahamstown cycad, Rhini cycad (Eng.); kafferkie (Afr.); uMphanga wase Rhini (Nguni)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos caffer is a relatively rare dwarf cycad in the sour grassveld of the Eastern Cape Province. It appears to be closely related to another grassland...

20 / 07 / 2009 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trichocladus grandiflorus

Trichocladus grandiflorus flower
Common names: honeysuckle tree; wild peach, green hazel, green witch-hazel (Eng.); rooihout, groenhaselaar (Afr.); ugabavu (Swazi)
Family: Hamamelidaceae

Trichocladus grandiflorus is a most handsome and easily cultivated ornamental tree, well deserving of a place in any garden, yet it remains as little...

13 / 07 / 2009 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Haworthia truncata var. truncata

Haworthia truncata var. truncat
Common names: horse teeth (Eng.); perdetande (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Haworthia truncata var. truncata is an attractive showy, miniature leaf succulent....

13 / 07 / 2009 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Lampranthus hoerleinianus

Lampranthus hoerleinianus flowers
Common names: purple vygie
Family: Aizoaceae

Lampranthus hoerleinianus, a tall mesemb with showy purple flowers, is found in northern Namaqualand, the Richtersveld and southern Namibia....

06 / 07 / 2009 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Felicia erigeroides

Felicia erigeroides flower heads
Common names: wild aster, wild Michaelmas daisy (Eng.); wilde-aster (Afr.); isithelelo, ixhaphozi (Zulu)
Family: Asteraceae

Felicia erigeroides has pretty, daisy-like flowers with yellow centres. The flowers cover the entire bush and bring colour to the garden. It is a good...

06 / 07 / 2009 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG
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