Plants of the Week

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E.g., 13/12/2024
E.g., 13/12/2024

Aristea capitata

Aristea capitata
Common names: blue sceptre (Eng.); blousuurkanol (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

The Cape is well known for its wealth of beautiful bulbs. If you go walking on Lion's Head above Cape Town in early summer, one of the most striking...

01 / 11 / 2000 | Liesl Van der Walt | 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 | Walter Sisulu 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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