Plants of the Week

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E.g., 11/02/2025
E.g., 11/02/2025

Gloriosa rigidifolia

Gloriosa rigidifolia
Common names: Waterberg bells, butter lily, yellow lily (Eng.); geelklokkies (Afr.)
Family: Colchicaceae

Waterberg bells is a strict endemic from the Waterberg Plateau and not known in cultivation. It usually grows in rocky situations in full sun or dappled...

30 / 12 / 2024 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Marasmodes defoliata

Marasmodes defoliata capitula
Common names: shedding autumn-aster
Family: Asteraceae

The long, narrow, leaves of Marasmodes defoliata are shed at an early stage (caducous) exposing its slender stems, leaving them bare. Its bell-shaped,...

06 / 01 / 2025 | Naomi Mdayi | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Helichrysum pedunculatum

Helichrysum pedunculatum
Common names: pedunculate helichrysum (Eng.), isicwe (isiXhosa & isiZulu)
Family: Asteraceae

Helichrysum pedunculatum is a perennial herb that is distinguished by its large flower heads and aromatic, bicoloured leaves that are glossy above and...

06 / 01 / 2025 | Mashudu Tshitereke | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Selago corymbosa

Selago corymbosa flowers
Common names: bitter bush, poverty bush (Eng.); bitterblombos, bitterblombossie, blombos, blombossie (Afr.); iyeza lamaqakuva (isiXhosa)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Selago corymbosa is an unassuming, dainty, herbaceous perennial with white flowers in summer, a great addition to any home garden....

13 / 01 / 2025 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gladiolus phoenix

Gladiolus phoenix
Common names: ash lady (Eng.)
Family: Iridaceae

A Critically Rare, highly localized endemic from the Bain’s Kloof Mountains. It produces bright pink flowers only in the first year after a fire,...

13 / 01 / 2025 | Nokukhanya Nozipho Mhlongo | TSP
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Plectranthus mzimvubuensis

Plectranthus mzimvubensis
Common names: Mzimvubu spurflower, Mzimvubu plectranthus (Eng.); Mzimbuvu-spoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

The Mzimvubu spurflower, has striking, aromatic foliage, and pink flowers borne on long, reddish stalks in late summer and autumn, giving it a pleasing...

20 / 01 / 2025 | Athi Sigcau | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea aurea subsp. aurea

Protea aurea subsp. aurea
Common names: shuttlecock sugarbush, common shuttlecock sugarbush, long-bud sugarbush, candles (Eng.), geelsuikerbos, geelsuikerkan, langsuikerkan, langknopsuikerbo
Family: Proteaceae

A tall, upright shrub with iconic cream or pink flower heads in summer and autumn, that resemble candles when in bud and look like a shuttlecock when open....

20 / 01 / 2025 | Asanda Mlungwana | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Kalanchoe alticola

Kalanchoe alticola
Common names: coin kalanchoe, coin-leaved kalanchoe (Eng.), panniekalanchoe (Afr)
Family: Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe alticola is a small shrubby succulent with rounded leaves and striking yellow flowers in autumn and winter, growing at high altitudes near Barberton...

20 / 01 / 2025 | Ziphezinhle Madonsela | Lowveld NBG
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Acmadenia tetragona

Acmadenia tetragona
Common names: pagoda flower, Outeniqua porcelain flower (Eng.)
Family: Rutaceae

A hardy aromatic shrub that captures attention in spring, with its delicate, light pink flowers with pink nectar guides clearly visible in the centre of...

27 / 01 / 2025 | Phophi Ceri Thovhakale | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erica ampullacea

Erica ampullacea
Common names: flask heath, bottle heath, heath sissie (Eng.); sissieheide, flessieheide, bottelheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

...

03 / 02 / 2025 | Samkelisiwe Mathonsi | Compton Herbarium
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Hibiscus waterbergensis

Hibiscus waterbergensis
Common names: Waterberg hibiscus (Eng.); Waterberg hibiscus (Afr.).
Family: Malvaceae

As a neat, upright, little-branched shrub of about 1.5 m tall, with its greyish-green appearance and vibrant scarlet-red flowers in summer, Hibiscus waterbergensis...

03 / 02 / 2025 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Serruria hirsuta

Serruria hirsuta
Common names: Swartkops spiderhead, hairy spiderhead (Eng.) Swartkop-spinnekopbossie (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A splendid specimen that shapes itself into a rounded form, showcasing its beautiful flower heads and pink flowers, which attract bees and other insects,...

10 / 02 / 2025 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Vigna unguiculata

Vigna unguiculata
Common names: cowpea, black- eyed pea, southern pea (Eng.); akkerbone, boontjie, koertjie (Afr.); isikhwali, indumba, isihlumaya, umcwasibe (isiZulu); dinawa (Sotho
Family: Fabaceae

Urbanization has led to the decline of traditional plant-based diets, impacting health. Vigna unguiculata, rich in protein, helps fill this gap with its...

10 / 02 / 2025 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Ficus bubu

Ficus bubu
Common names: bubu fig, sulphur-barked fig, Swazi fig (Eng.); bubuvy, Swazi-vy (Afr.); intfombi (Siswati)
Family: Moraceae

Ficus bubu is a stunning tree that captivates with its lovely yellow-green bark, glossy dark green foliage, thorny branches, strong construction and interesting...

17 / 02 / 2025 | Anelisa Nomaqhiza | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Crassula sladenii

Crassula sladenii growing on a dolomite cliff on the Hunsberg
Common names: Hunsberg cliff-crassula (Eng.), Hunsberg-sosatie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Crassula sladenii is a rare, sparingly branched, scrambling succulent shrublet, becoming a cliff-hanger with stems up to 400 mm long. The leaves are greyish-green,...

17 / 02 / 2025 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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