Plants of the Week

Dovyalis zeyheri

Cythna Letty illustration in Flowering Plants of Africa.

Common names: wild apricot (E), wilde-appelkoos (A), umNyazuma (Z), umQokokolo (X), morethema (NS)

Family: Salicaceae

This is a tree with a most unusual and apparently unexplained feature. At certain times of the year the leaves emit a smell resembling that of carrion....

22 / 04 / 2002 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Nerine sarniensis

Common names: Guernsey lily, red nerine (Eng.); berglelie, nerina (Afr.)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Nerine sarniensis is widely considered to be the most beautiful of all the nerines....

15 / 04 / 2002 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Cassinopsis ilicifolia

Common names: Lemon Thorn (English), Lemoentjiedoring (Afrikaans), iMamba eluhlaza (Zulu), iCegceya (Xhosa)

Family: Icacinaceae

15 / 04 / 2002 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG

Thamnochortus fraternus

Common names: dune thatching reed

Family: Restionaceae

This is a striking and attractive grass-like member of the large restio family. The plants are very uniform in height and the floral bracts are a rich...

08 / 04 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Rhamnus prinoides

Common names: African Dogwood, Camdeboo Stinkwood, Glossy-leaf (E), Blinkblaar, Camdeboostinkhout (A); umGlindi, Umlindi (X); umGilindi, uNyenye, umHlinye (Z); liNy

Family: Rhamnaceae

The African dogwood is a very attractive dense shrub or a small tree with glossy foliage and decorative red berries....

08 / 04 / 2002 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Vachellia xanthophloea

Common names: Fever tree (English), Koorsboom (Afrikaans), mooka-kwena (Northern Sotho), umHlosinga (Zulu), nkelenga (Tsonga), munzhelenga (Venda).

Family: Fabaceae

The fever tree is an attractive, semi-deciduous to deciduous tree approximately 15 to 25 meters tall and has an open, rounded to spreading or flattish...

01 / 04 / 2002 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Lithops optica

Common names: Lüderitz Living Stone, Lüderitz Stone Plant, Lüderitz Beeskloutjie

Family: Aizoaceae

Lithops are probably the most well known and popular member of the large succulent plant family, the Aizoaceae. They are commonly called living stones...

01 / 04 / 2002 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Clematis brachiata

Common names: traveller's joy, old man's beard, wild clematis; klimop, lemoenbloeisels (Afr.); ityolo (isiXhosa); morara (S); mogau (T); umdlonzo (isiZulu)

Family: Ranunculaceae

...

25 / 03 / 2002 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG

Blechnum tabulare

Common names: mountain deer fern, mountain blechnum, false tree fern (Eng.); valsboomvaring (Afr.)

Family: Blechnaceae

This is a large attractive fern for the shady garden....

25 / 03 / 2002 | Mhlonishwa D Dlamini | Walter Sisulu NBG

Plectranthus saccatus

Common names: stoep jacaranda, porch jacaranda (Eng.); stoepjakaranda, sak-spoorsalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

This is one of the more popular and well-known of the Plectranthus or spurflowers. It is known for its pretty flowers which are larger than those...

18 / 03 / 2002 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Cineraria saxifraga

Common names: wild cineraria; geelblom

Family: Asteraceae

Cineraria saxifraga, with its delicate foliage and bright yellow flowers, is a rewarding and versatile plant for the garden....

18 / 03 / 2002 | Ebrahim Lawrence | Kirstenbosch NBG

Siphonochilus aethiopicus

Common names: Natal ginger, Wild ginger (English); Wildegemmer (Afrikaans); indungulo, isiphephetho (Zulu)

Family: Zingiberaceae

...

11 / 03 / 2002 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Restio subverticillatus

Common names: broom restio (Eng.); besemriet (Afr.)

Family: Restionaceae

This is one of the most versatile plants of the large Cape Reed family. It can be planted in the garden but will also do well in a pot on a patio or on...

11 / 03 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG

Arctotheca calendula

Common names: Cape marigold, Cape weed, Cape dandelion (Eng.); botterblom, gousblom, soetgousblom, tonteldoekblom, Kaapse madeliefie (Afr.); isiqwashumbe (isiXhosa)

Family: Asteraceae

A weedy annual that can be planted as a showy ground cover or bedding plant for spring and early summer display....

04 / 03 / 2002 | Samson Moeketsi Letsela | Kirstenbosch NBG

Senecio macroglossus

Common names: flowering Ivy, madeliefie-klimop, Cape Ivy, Natal Ivy,

Family: Asteraceae

At first glance, Senecio macroglossus looks like a kind of ivy, but on closer inspection, the bright yellow daisy flowers amongst the foliage make it clear...

04 / 03 / 2002 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloe polyphylla

Common names: spiral aloe (English); kroonaalwyn (Afrikaans); lekhala kharatsa (seSotho)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe polyphylla is a rare and beautiful aloe from the high Maluti Mountains of Lesotho. It does not occur naturally anywhere outside Lesotho with the exception...

04 / 03 / 2002 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG

Salvia muirii

Common names: Muir's wild sage (Eng.), wildesalie (Afr.)

Family: Lamiaceae

There are many fascinating plants in the sage family. As garden plants, some may be more interesting than beautiful, but Salvia muirii, with its large...

25 / 02 / 2002 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG

Encephalartos ferox

Common names: Maputaland cycad, Zululand cycad, Tongaland cycad (Eng.), Maputalandbroodboom, Tongalandbroodboom (Afr.), umthobane, uthobani (Zulu), chihanga (Thonga

Family: Zamiaceae

A cycad with dark green, arching, holly-like leaves and striking red cones....

25 / 02 / 2002 | Sharon Turner | Walter Sisulu NBG