Plants of the Week

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E.g., 09/11/2024
E.g., 09/11/2024

Pelargonium paniculatum

Pelargonium paniculatum
Common names: no common names on record
Family: Geraniaceae

A robust, succulent shrub that is ideal for water-wise gardens or rockeries, in arid regions....

24 / 07 / 2017 | Sinikeziwe Ncaphayi | Karoo Desert NBG
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Diosma haelkraalensis

Diosma haelkraalensis
Common names: Hagelkraal bitter-buchu (Eng.); Hagelkraal bitterboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

This extremely hardy buchu thrives in both alkaline and acidic soils of the fynbos, and flowers for much of the year....

24 / 07 / 2017 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Senecio gerrardii

Capitula of Senecio gerrardii.
Common names: foma, leshwabe, moroborobo o monyenyane (Sesotho)
Family: Asteraceae

Visitors to wetland areas in Mpumalanga would be very familiar with this very characteristic species. It is particularly common in the Verlorenvlei area,...

17 / 07 / 2017 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Oftia africana

Oftia africana
Common names: lazy bush (Eng.); koekblommetjiesbos, sukkelbossie (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Rough to the touch, this shrublet has pretty white flowers that have a sweet, chocolaty fragrance....

17 / 07 / 2017 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria coriacea

Ledebouria coriacea, each plant produces several long inflorescences.
Common names: leather-leaved African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A rare Ledebouria, restricted to a small area around Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This relatively unknown species has attractively...

10 / 07 / 2017 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Albizia tanganyicensis subsp. tanganyicensis

Albizia tanganyicensis subsp. tanganyicensis
Common names: paperbark false-thorn, paperbark albizia, sneezewood (Eng.); papierbasvalsdoring (Afr.); ugudha-mfeni (isiXhosa); mulelu, munungufhefhe (Tshivenda)
Family: Fabaceae

A very attractive tree with white to ochre peeling bark and creamy white, sweetly scented flowers in early summer, suitable for any medium-sized garden;...

10 / 07 / 2017 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gymnanthemum corymbosum

Gymnanthemum corymbosum
Common names: mountain bitter-tea, mountain vernonia (Eng.); uhlunguhlungu (Zulu)
Family: Asteraceae

Gymnanthemum corymbosum is an attractive, fast-growing shrub, with interesting purple and white, daisy flowers in late summer and autumn, followed by fluffy...

03 / 07 / 2017 | Anthony R. Magee | Compton Herbarium
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Aloe rouxii

Aloe rouxii
Common names: Low's Creek grass aloe (Eng.); grasaalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe rouxii is a recently named, small grass aloe, only known from the Lows Creek region, near Barberton (Mpumalanga, South Africa), where it grows on...

03 / 07 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gladiolus ecklonii

Gladiolus ecklonii (Peter Warren)
Common names: sheathed gladiolus (Eng.); kxahla, litsoantsoang, makhabebe (SS); sidvwana (Sw)
Family: Iridaceae

A cormous plant with beautiful, variously spotted, pink, red or purple flowers on a white background, in summer....

26 / 06 / 2017 | Lungisani Zondi | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Liparia parva

Liparia parva
Common names: small mountain dahlia, yellow nodding-head (Eng.); kleinbergdahlia, kleingeelkoppie (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

This elusive shrublet is a localized species with a restricted natural habitat. Not too many people have seen this dainty plant, which makes it extremely...

26 / 06 / 2017 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Cichorium intybus

Cichorium intybus
Common names: blue dandelion, chicory (Eng.); sigorei (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Most people will only admire this pretty, blue-flowered weed along roads and in abandoned fields and not know its other useful properties. Although mostly...

19 / 06 / 2017 | Marinda Koekemoer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Melianthus major

Melianthus major
Common names: honey flower, melianthus, giant honey flower, touch-me-not (Eng.); kruidjie-roer-my-nie, heuningblom, klappers, krikkiebos (Afr.); ubuhlungubemamba, u
Family: Melianthaceae

With its decorative blue-green leaves and tall, dark rusty-red flower heads, this is a striking plant. On a sunny day the birds feast on the nectar dripping...

19 / 06 / 2017 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Adenium swazicum

Adenium swazicum (Karin van der Walt)
Common names: summer impala lily, Swazi lily (Eng.); somerimpalalelie, Swazi-lelie (Afr.); sisila-sempala (SiSwati)
Family: Apocynaceae

A dwarf, succulent shrub with pretty, lily-like, pink flowers borne on thick branches from late summer to autumn; a good rockery plant and a useful medicinal...

12 / 06 / 2017 | Mufhati Bulannga | Lowveld NBG
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Ursinia nana

Ursinia nana
Common names: small ursinia, yellow margaret (Eng.); kleinbergmargriet, geelmagriet (Afr.); sehalikane (SS)
Family: Asteraceae

An attractive, spreading, annual herb with yellow flowers, which blooms in the spring to early summer period. With its spreading habit and fine foliage,...

12 / 06 / 2017 | Ramadimetja Junia Maleka | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Breonadia salicina

Breonadia salicina
Common names: matumi, African teak, wild-oleander, Transvaal teak (Eng.); mingerhout, watermatoemie, waterboekenhout, basterkiaat (Afr.); mohlomê (Northern Sotho);
Family: Rubiaceae

A handsome, tall, evergreen tree, suitable for big gardens and parks, with a straight trunk and a dense, narrow crown, known to be an excellent wood for...

05 / 06 / 2017 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Melianthus villosus

Melianthus villosus
Common names: maroon honey flower, Drakensberg honey flower (Eng.); Drakensbergse kruidjie-roer-my-nie (Afr.); ibhonya (Zulu)
Family: Melianthaceae

A multi-stemmed, soft, evergreen shrub, with showy, serrated leaves that provide a beautiful tropical effect in the garden....

05 / 06 / 2017 | Samuel Lekhetho | Free State NBG
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Aloe reynoldsii

Aloe reynoldsii (Ernst van Jaarsveld)
Common names: yellow spineless aloe, Mbashe aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

...

29 / 05 / 2017 | Ntuthuko Mabuya | Pretoria NBG
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Pelargonium vanderwaltii

Pelargonium vanderwaltii
Common names: Otjihipa pelargonium (Eng.); Otjihipa malva (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

A rare, cliff-dwelling perennial, known only from sheer, south-facing cliffs of the Otjihipa Mountains in the Kaokoveld of northern Namibia. It is a cliff-squatter,...

29 / 05 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe vanbalenii

Aloe vanbalenii
Common names: van balen's aloe, crawling octopus (Eng.); van-balen-se-aalwyn (Afr.); icenalamatshe, icenandhlovu (isiZulu); lihala (siSwati)
Family: Asphodelaceae

This is one of the most beautiful and distinctive aloes, with its long, twisted and recurved leaves resembling an octopus....

22 / 05 / 2017 | Anelisiwe Nocwanya | Karoo Desert NBG
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Diastella divaricata subsp. montana

Diastella divaricata subsp. montana
Common names: mountain silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

...

22 / 05 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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