Plants of the Week

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E.g., 15/01/2025

Pelargonium inquinans

Flower head
Common names: scarlet pelargonium ( Eng. ); wildemalva (Afr.), ibhosisi (Xho.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium inquinans with its striking flowers will bring colour to your garden throughout the year....

20 / 08 / 2007 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diospyros mespiliformis

Green fruits
Common names: African ebony, jackal-berry (Eng.); jakkalsbessie (Afr.); Musuma (Tshivenda); Mgula (Tsonga)
Family: Ebenaceae

Diospyros mespiliformis has a fantastic mutualism and symbiotic network with many living organisms, from human beings to small insects. There is a complex...

20 / 08 / 2007 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Struthiola argentea

Flowering stem
Common names: roemenaggie, aandgonna, slapgonna, slapaand (Afr.)
Family: Thymelaeaceae

Struthiola argentea is a slender sun-loving shrublet with yellow to reddish-orange flowers. It is dramatic when massed, especially if planted close to...

13 / 08 / 2007 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Selago canescens

In flower
Common names: canescent selago, bitter bush ( Eng. ); blouaarbossie (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Selago canescens bursts into flower in early spring when most plants in the garden are still recovering after the cold winter. An added attraction is the...

13 / 08 / 2007 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Brunia stokoei

See Berzelia stokoei...

06 / 08 / 2007 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Berzelia stokoei

Flowers of Berzelia stokoei
Common names: red kolkol (Eng.); rooistompie (Afr.)
Family: Bruniaceae

The striking red flowers of Berzelia stokoei are a sight to behold when walking in the tranquil mountains of the Overberg region. This plant was previously...

06 / 08 / 2007 | Berenice Carolus | Harold Porter NBG
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Aloe speciosa

Aloe speciosa flower heads
Common names: tilt-head aloe (Eng.); spaansaalwyn, slaphoringaalwyn (Afr.); ikhala (Xhosa)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe speciosa is a handsome plant having decorative blue-green leaves with deep pink to pale red, serrated leaf margins, and dense cylindrical flower...

06 / 08 / 2007 | Lusindiso Xulubana | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Leucospermum reflexum

Common names: var. reflexum : rocket pincushion, sky-rocket pincushion (Eng. ); perdekop (Afr.). var. luteum : yellow rocket pincushion (Eng.); geel perdekop (Afr
Family: Proteaceae

A fireworks display in your garden during the day time is quite possible if you plant the magnificent rocket pincushions! These lovely, tall, upright pincushion...

30 / 07 / 2007 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG
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Coleonema calycinum

Bush in flower
Common names: confetti bush, broom buchu (Eng.); boegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

...

30 / 07 / 2007 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Phygelius aequalis

Phygelius aequalis
Common names: river bell, wild fuchsia (Eng.); foksia, rivierklokkie (Afr.); metsi-matso (Southern Sotho)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

A beautiful, lush, fast-growing, evergreen perennial, with spikes of showy trumpet-shaped, red or yellow flowers and a long blooming season....

23 / 07 / 2007 | Karen Wall | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Cyrtanthus herrei

Cyrthanthus herrei
Common names: Richtersveld cyrtanthus
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This striking bulb comes from arid parts of southern Africa....

23 / 07 / 2007 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Pelargonium magenteum

Pelargonium magenteum in habitat
Common names: magenta-flowered pelargonium
Family: Geraniaceae

With its stunning dispay of usually magenta/pink flowers in spring, Pelargonium magenteum is ideal for the water-wise garden....

16 / 07 / 2007 | Roger Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
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Leucadendron xanthoconus

Cones
Common names: sickle-leaf conebush ( Eng. ); blinkblaartolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

A versatile fynbos shrub, with a silvery shine to its foliage, Leucadendron xanthoconus deserves a second glance....

16 / 07 / 2007 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Cephalophyllum alstonii

Cephallophyllum alsotonii
Common names: rankvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Cephallophyllum alstonii is a creeping perennial succulent, ideal as a ground cover, or as a pot plant on a patio. The spectacular, brightly coloured...

09 / 07 / 2007 | Shireen Harris | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Bersama lucens

Fruits of Bersama lucens. Photograph G Nichols
Common names: glossy white ash (Eng.); blinkblaarwitessenhout (Afr.); isindiyandiya (Xhosa); undiyaza (Zulu)
Family: Melianthaceae

Bersama lucens is not a common garden plant, rather a specialist specimen that still needs to be promoted in the garden fraternity....

09 / 07 / 2007 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Clivia robusta

Clivia robusta
Common names: swamp bush lily, swamp clivia
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Clivia robusta is probably one of the tallest members of the genus as it can grow to a height of 1.6 m in ideal conditions. It is a strong grower and...

02 / 07 / 2007 | John Winter | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe greatheadii var. davyana

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana
Common names: spotted aloe (Eng.); Transvaalaalwyn, grasaalwyn (Afr.); kgopane (Tswana)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe greatheadii var. davyana is a drab and uninteresting plant, but when it flowers in winter, it is spectacular. It is a plant that will...

02 / 07 / 2007 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Aspalathus linearis

Bush in flower
Common names: rooibos tea (Eng.), rooibostee, bossietee (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

Aspalathus linearis, the source of rooibos tea, is a shrub found in the western mountainous parts of the Western Cape. Rooibos tea is a most popular drink...

25 / 06 / 2007 | Marcini Govender | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Aloe melanacantha

Aloe melanacantha
Common names: black-thorn aloe, small mountain aloe (Eng.); swartdoringaalywn kleinbergaalwyn, goree (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

The true beauty of Aloe melanacantha can only be appreciated when seen flowering in the veld. Its formidable black thorns add an exquisite dimension when...

25 / 06 / 2007 | Werner Voigt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea nitida

Protea nitida in cultivation
Common names: wagon tree ( English); waboom, blousuikerbos, bobbejaansuikerbos, brandhout. (Afrikaans)
Family: Proteaceae

With its long history and good looks, Protea nitida is a gem in the fynbos world. It is the only species of Protea to form large trees yielding...

18 / 06 / 2007 | Monique Twine | Kirstenbosch NBG
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