Plants of the Week

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

Crassula coccinea

Crassula coccinea
Common names: red crassula (Eng.), klipblom, suikerblom (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

When hiking up Table Mountain in midsummer to find the red disa, Disa uniflora, in flower, one is sure to also see the brilliant red crassula, Crassula...

05 / 02 / 2001 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Streptocarpus formosus

Streptocarpus in the Avenue at Kirstenbosch
Common names: Pondo streptocarpus
Family: Gesneriaceae

Walking down the Camphor Avenue at Kirstenbosch, one can not but stop to admire the clumps of Streptocarpus formosus flowering on the ground. Formosus...

29 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Wahlenbergia undulata

Wahlenbergia undulata
Common names: African bluebell, wavy-leaf bluebell, pale bluebell, African bellflower (Eng.); blouklokkie (Afr.); letoao, moepetsane, tenane (Sesotho); isibahane, u
Family: Campanulaceae

A special delight for the summer garden is Wahlenbergia undulata with its soft mauve bells dancing on long slender stems....

22 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ipomoea albivenia

Ipomoea albivenia
Common names: wild cotton (E), wildekatoen (A), imibuzana / umangfongo (Z)
Family: Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea albivenia is a vigorous perennial deciduous climber up to 10 m long, belonging to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae)....

22 / 01 / 2001 | Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Agapanthus inapertus subsp. pendulus 'Graskop'

Agapanthus 'Graskop' at Kirstenbosch
Common names: Graskop agapanthus
Family: Agapanthaceae

This striking agapanthus with its compact head of drooping, dark violet blue flowers is always commented on when first seen. The buds as they emerge seem...

15 / 01 / 2001 | Richard Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erythrina humeana

Erythrina humeana
Common names: dwarf coral tree (E), kleinkoraalboom (A), umsinsana, ikati (Z), umsintsane, umsintsi, utambuki (X), umdvumbula (S), mokhupye (NS)
Family: Fabaceae

The dwarf coral tree is an ideal tree or shrub for the small garden, especially for people who love the scarlet flowers of the common coral tree (Erythrina...

15 / 01 / 2001 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Thunbergia natalensis

Thunbergia natalensis
Common names: dwarf thunbergia, Natal blue thunbergia, Natal blue-bell (English); dwergthunbergia (Afrikaans); unohlonishwayo (Zulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

Thunbergia natalensis is a popular, fast growing garden plant. occurs naturally along forest margins, in bush and in grassland. It occurs in...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Salvia chamelaeagnea

Salvia chamelaeagnea
Common names: Rough Blue Sage, Bloublomsalie
Family: Lamiaceae

Members of the sage family are known worldwide as excellent herbs and beautiful garden plants. Salvia chamelaeagnea, which grows wild in the south western...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salix mucronata

Salix mucronata
Common names: Safsaf Willow, Cape Willow, (E) Safsaf-wilger, Kaapse Wilger, Wildewilgerboom (A), Munengeledzi (V), Mogokare (NS), Umngcunube (X), Umnyezane, Umzekan
Family: Salicaceae

A graceful tree that withstands both frost and drought....

01 / 01 / 2001 | Y Reynolds | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Peltophorum africanum

Peltophorum africanum in Kirstenbosch
Common names: Weeping Wattle, African Black Wattle, African Blackwood, African Wattle (E), Boerboon, Boerboontjie, Dopperkehatenhout, Dopperkiaat, Kajatenhout, Rooi
Family: Fabaceae

A semi-deciduous tree with acacia-like foliage and showy yellow flowers, it's also an excellent tree for bee-keepers....

01 / 01 / 2001 | Y Reynolds | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Orphium frutescens

Orphium frutescens
Common names: sea-rose, sticky flower (Eng.), teringbos (Afr.)
Family: Gentianaceae

Flowering in the heat of summer the glossy pink stars of Orphium frutescens always attract attention, especially with the surrounding vegetation going...

01 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Hesperantha coccinea

Hesperantha coccinea
Common names: scarlet river lily, crimson flag (Eng.); rooirivierlelie (Afr.); khahlana (Sesotho)
Family: Iridaceae

...

01 / 01 / 2001 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Geranium multisectum

Geranium multisectum
Common names: crane's bill
Family: Geraniaceae

 Like pelargoniums, this is a geranium which makes an interesting garden plant....

31 / 12 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | 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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Monopsis unidentata

Monopsis unidentata growing with  a diascia
Common names: wild violet
Family: Lobeliaceae

This lovely, dainty plant caught our attention and was collected growing wild with buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) around Nature's Valley....

18 / 12 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucadendron salignum

L.salignum
Common names: common sunshine conebush (Eng.); geelbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron salignum is the most widespread species of the family Proteaceae, occurring in a large part of South Africa. ...

11 / 12 / 2000 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Scabiosa africana

Scabiosa africana
Common names: Cape Scabious, Pincushion, Koringblom
Family: Dipsacaceae

Seeing Scabiosa africana on the mountain, the first thought is that it must have escaped from a garden nearby. With its big mauve flowers and soft leaves,...

04 / 12 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucospermum tottum

Leucospermum tottum
Common names: ribbon pincushion, elegant pincushion (Eng.); oranjerooi-speldekussing, vuurhoutjies (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucospermum tottum is a handsome, much branched shrub whose flowers are excellent for flower arranging....

27 / 11 / 2000 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium cucullatum

Pelargoinium cucullatum
Common names: hooded-leaf pelargonium, herba althaea (Eng.); wildemalva (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium cucullatum is the parent of many modern pelargonium hybrids.  It is a fast growing, tough shrub tolerant to coastal conditions,...

20 / 11 / 2000 | L May | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Lobelia valida

Lobelia valida
Common names: limestone lobelia, galjoen flower (Eng.); galjoenblom (Afr.)
Family: Lobeliaceae

True blue flowers are always special. Worldwide they are sought after, a rare colour to find in a flower. The colour is striking by itself, breathtaking...

06 / 11 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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