Plants of the Week

Cryptocarya myrtifolia

Common names: myrtle quince, myrtle-leaved wild-quince, camphor wild-quince, wild camphor tree, camphor laurel (Eng.); mirtekweper, wildekanferboom (Afr.); umgqebe,

Family: Lauraceae

Amongst the seven species of Cryptocarya in South Africa, Cryptocarya myrtifolia is one of the rarest. It is an attractive and distinctive, evergreen tree...

| Mfundo Mkungo | Kirstenbosch NBG

Combretum afrum

Common names: Eastern Cape bushwillow (Eng.); Kaapse vaderlandswilg (Afr.); umdubu (isiXhosa); umdubu (isiZulu)

Family: Combretaceae

A graceful, spreading tree, known for its attractive willow-like foliage, distinctive 4-winged reddish-brown fruits, and adaptability to a range of ecological...

| Clara Sitoe | Kirstenbosch NBG

Rothmannia genus

Common names: wild gardenias, false gardenias (Eng.); wildekatjiepiering, valskatjiepiering (Afr.)

Family: Rubiaceae

Wild gardenias feature solitary, widely bell-shaped, sweetly scented flowers that are creamy-white with maroon streaks or speckles....

| Mulweli Maswoliedza | National Herbarium Pretoria

Alepidea macowanii

Common names: Amathole alepidea, MacOwan’s alepidea (Eng.); kalmoes (Afr.); ikhatazo (isiZulu); inkatazo, iqwili (isiXhosa)

Family: Apiaceae

Alepidea macowanii is a robust, perennial herb known for its hollow, grooved, branched stem and thick, aromatic rootstock. It has basal leaves arranged...

| Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG

Uvaria afra

Common names: small-fruited cluster-pear, small cluster pear, (Eng.), kleinvrugtrospeer, kleintrospeer (Afr.), idwaba (isiXhosa), inkonjane, umazwenda omnyama, umaz

Family: Annonaceae

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| Umpha Pharamela | National Herbarium Pretoria

Scabiosa genus

Common names: scabious, scabiosa, pincushion

Family: Dipsacaceae

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| Mulweli Maswoliedza | National Herbarium Pretoria

Carpobrotus deliciosus

Common names: delicious sour fig, sweet sour fig (Eng.); suurvy, perdevy, gaukum (Afr.); igcuthuma (Xho.)

Family: Aizoaceae

A flat-growing, rapidly spreading, evergreen, succulent-leaved perennial with large, purple-pink flowers in spring and edible fruits, Carpobrotus deliciosus...

| Anam Cimi | Kirstenbosch NBG

Grewia afra

Common names: climbing raisin, yellow starflower (Eng.); rankrosyntjie (Afr); ilalanyathi, umunyumunu, iphata, iklolo, isaka, isilandula (isiZulu); likholo, (siSwat

Family: Malvaceae

A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a climbing habit, often seen sprawling into nearby plants for support. It bears striking, yellow, star-like flowers...

| Robert Jooste | Kirstenbosch NBG

Freesia grandiflora

Common names: forest freesia, forest kammetjie (Eng.)

Family: Iridaceae

A beautiful, red-flowered bulbous plant that deserves more horticultural attention. It is perfect for woodland gardens or as a pot plant and performs well...

| Natasha Lombard | National Herbarium Pretoria

Ximenia americana var. microphylla

Common names: small blue sourplum (Eng.); kleinblousuurpruim (Afr.); ukolotshane, umtunduluka-omncane, umkholotshwana (Zul.);umtfundvuluka, umthunduluka (Swa.); nt

Family: Olacaceae

A spiny shrub of African savannas that bears brightly coloured, edible fruits, and has a long history of medicinal value for traditional healers and western...

| Mpho Mathalauga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Berkheya setifera

Common names: buffalo-tongue thistle (Eng.); rasperdissel, rasperdisseldoring (Afr); ikhakhasi, ulimi-lwenkomo, ulimi-lwenyathi (isiZulu); indlebe-lenkomo (isiXhosa

Family: Asteraceae

A robust perennial, with profuse, bright yellow flowers and bristly leaves; one of the 71 species that are found in South Africa out of the 75 species...

| Bathabile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Sansevieria hallii

Common names: sickle-leaf mother-in-law’s-tongue (Eng.); sekelblaar-skoonma-se-tong (Afr.)

Family: Ruscaceae

Sansevieria hallii represents a rare succulent, with mottled, sickle-shaped leaves and beautiful white flowers. It is confined to the northeastern parts...

| Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG