Plants of the Week

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E.g., 05/08/2026
E.g., 05/08/2026

Conophytum luckhoffii

Conophytum luckhoffii in flower
Common names: ornated dumpling, Olifants cone plant (Eng.), olifantsknopie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Conophytum luckhoffii is a dwarf, mat-forming to cushion-shaped, cliff-hugging summer-dormant succulent. The leaves are fused into a beautifully ornamented...

| Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Streptocarpus silvaticus

Streptocarpus silvaticus
Common names: silvan streptocarpus, silvan Cape primrose (Eng.); Kaapse-sleutelblom (Afr.); ihlamvu elimpofu lasenkangala (isiZulu)
Family: Gesneriaceae

In the cool, shaded forests of eastern South Africa grows a delicate flowering plant that many people walk past without noticing. Growing on moss-covered...

| Thamsanqa Msweli | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Euphorbia meloformis

Euphorbia meloformis in the Kirstenbosch Collections Nursery
Common names: melon spurge, donkey food (Eng), bobbejaankos, eselkos, eselpol, pol, skilpadkos (Afr)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia meloformis is a distinctive globose succulent plant endemic to the arid regions of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, recognized for its ribbed,...

| Mahlatse Michelle Malemone | Karoo Desert NBG
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Protea denticulata

Protea denticulata
Common names: tooth-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); tandjies (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A remarkable rocky outcrop species that belongs to the dwarf-tufted sugarbush group of proteas, which is a particularly special plant for fynbos enthusiasts....

| Mashudu Nndanduleni | Thohoyandou NBG
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Ficus burkei

Ficus burkei in Kirstenbosch NBG
Common names: common wild fig, strangler fig, Burke’s fig (Eng.); gewone wildevy, wurgvy (Afr.); uluzi, umthombe (isiXhosa); umbombe, umthombe (isiZulu); intenjan
Family: Moraceae

The fascinating Ficus burkei has an extraordinarily hidden life cycle. Its flowers are enclosed within the fig itself and instead of relying on wind or...

| Sibulele Jokazi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diclis reptans

Diclis reptans, a mat-forming herb
Common names: creeping koenana, dwarf snapdragon, toadflax (Eng.); isinama (isiZulu); koenana, ponye (Sesotho)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

A small, creeping, mat-forming herb from the family Scrophulariaceae that is valued for its ecological role in wetlands and grassland ecosystems....

| Gorven Mokgaditsi | Lowveld NBG
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Quercus robur

Quercus robur in summer
Common names: European oak, English oak, pedunculate oak, oak tree (Eng.); akkerboom, Engelse-eik (Afr.)
Family: Fagaceae

The European oak is a majestic, long-lived deciduous tree known for its large, rugged broad leaves, knotted trunk and broad, rounded, and irregular...

| Clara Sitoe | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Peperomia leptostachya

Peperomia leptostachya in habitat
Common names: large wild peperomia, slender peperomia (Eng.)
Family: Piperaceae

Peperomia leptostachya is a low growing fleshy plant that stores water in its leaves and stems and is characterized by slender stems almost hidden under...

| Sihle Nqentsu | Pretoria NBG
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Peperomia blanda

Common names: large wild peperomia, slender peperomia (Eng.)
Family: Piperaceae

See Peperomia leptostachya. This species was previously included in Peperomia blanda but this taxon has been split into a neotropical (American)...

| | Pretoria NBG
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Drosanthemum inornatum

Drosanthemum inornatum
Common names: cinderella vygie, inornate drosanthemum (Eng.), aspoestervygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Drosanthemum inornatum is a summer-deciduous shrublet with soft flaccid stems. The leaves are green, linear and softy succulent. The flowers are solitary,...

| Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Drimiopsis attwoodii

Inflorescence and flowers of Drimiopsis attwoodii
Common names: Attwood’s African hyacinth (Eng.).
Family: Asparagaceae

An attractive miniature bulbous plant with ornamental dark green leaves which are striped with red ridges, forming dense mats on rock sheets. This species...

| Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Astroloba foliolosa

Astroloba foliolosa
Common names: Camdeboo astroloba
Family: Asphodelaceae

If you're looking to add year-round greenery, interesting texture and vertical height to your garden, the Camdeboo astroloba is an excellent choice....

| Nomama Mei | Kwelera NBG
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Schinziophyton rautanenii

Schinziophyton rautanenii
Common names: feather-weight tree, manketti, manketti tree, mongongo (Eng.), manketti, mankettiboom, Transvaal-okkerneut, wilde-okkerneut (Afr.), mokongwa, mokôngw
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Schinziophyton rautanenii is a protected tree with socio-economic value due to the number of ecosystem services linked to it....

| Siphesihle Precious Sibiya | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Cyathula uncinulata

Cyathula uncinulata
Common names: globe cyathula, burweed (Eng.); rondeklits, klits, wolbossie (Afr.); maime (Sepedi); bohome (Sesotho)
Family: Amaranthaceae

If there is a plant that has mastered the art of dominance and hook-ups, its definitely the globe cyathula. A perennial plant capable of creating impenetrable...

| Lesiba Papo | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Calpurnia reflexa

Calpurnia reflexa leaf
Common names: Sotho laburnum, Free State golden-pea (Eng.); tlole (Sesotho); Sotho-geelkeur (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

Calpurnia reflexa, commonly known as Sotho laburnum or Free State golden pea, is a shrub to small tree bearing attractive bright yellow flowers in summer....

| Sharlotte Kwenaite | Free State NBG
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Coleus gibbosus

Coleus gibbosus
Common names: Karkloof hullwort, wild coleus (Eng.); Karkloofspoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Few indigenous plants combine understated beauty and resilience as effectively as Coleus gibbosus. This attractive aromatic perennial belongs to the mint...

| Thamsanqa Msweli | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Crassula swaziensis

Crassula swaziensis inflorescence and flowers
Common names: money stonecrop, Swati crassula (Eng.), Swazieplakkie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Crassula swaziensis is a slow growing, mat-forming, perennial succulent with rounded, succulent leaves and white flowers in flat-topped clusters that attract...

| Ziphezinhle Madonsela | Lowveld NBG
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Conophytum regale

Conophytum regale in flower at Kirstenbosch
Common names: royal dumpling (Eng.), ratelknopie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Conophytum regale is a dwarf cluster-forming to cliff-hugging, summer-dormant succulent with greyish-green succulent leaves fused into a 2-lobed body and...

| Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aponogeton distachyos

Waterblommetjies in Kirstenbosch
Common names: Cape pondweed, water onion, water asparagus (Eng.); waterblommetjie, vleikos, wateruintjie (Afr.)
Family: Aponogetonaceae

This is a well known local delicacy for the cold winter months. It has become so popular that many commercial plantings have been made in ponds around...

06 / 08 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Acmadenia heterophylla

Acmadenia heterophylla
Common names: variable-leaf acmadenia
Family: Rutaceae

This is a delicate looking shrub with starry pink flowers and a sweet lemony scent when touched. It belongs to the citrus family (Rutaceae) with most of...

14 / 08 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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