Plants of the Week

Ocimum obovatum

Common names: cat's whiskers ( Eng. ); katsnor (Afr.); Idada, Iziba, Ufukuzela, Umathanjane (Zulu)

Family: Lamiaceae

Erect and sometimes spreading, low-growing perennial herb, this plant is an excellent link between lawn and a shrubby border. It is a good candidate for...

04 / 07 / 2005 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG

Osteospermum moniliferum

Common names: bietou, boneseed, tickberry, brother berry, bush-tickberry (Eng.) bietou, boetabessie, bosluisbessie, bokbessie, weskusbietou, skilpadkos (Afr.), inku

Family: Asteraceae

A fast growing shrub with bright yellow daisies in autumn and winter followed by edible berries; a useful pioneer, screening plant and popular with birds...

07 / 05 / 2001 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Orthochilus ensatus

Common names: imphamba lentaba (isiZulu

Family: Orchidaceae

This is an attractive orchid that can be grown as a container subject and was previously known as Eulophia ensata....

14 / 04 / 2014 | T Lukoto | Free State NBG

Ornithogalum candicans

Common names: berg lily, summer hyacinth, Cape hyacinth (Eng.); berglelie, Kaapse hiasint (Afr.); isidwa esimhlope (Zulu)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

The summer hyacinth, with its fragrant bell-shaped flowers, is an ideal accent plant in a mixed bed and is also very suitable for cut flowers. It was previously...

21 / 11 / 2005 | Ronell R. Klopper | Pretoria NBG

Ochna

Common names: wild planes, mickey-mouse plants

Family: Ochnaceae

All species of Ochna have very attractive yellow flowers, with an unusual persistent calyx that enlarges when in fruit, becoming cream-coloured, pink...

03 / 08 / 2009 | M.S. Mothogoane | Pretoria NBG

Ochna pretoriensis

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Common names: Magalies plane ( Eng. ); Magalies-rooihout (Afr.)

Family: Ochnaceae

Ochna pretoriensis is one of the magnificent evergreen shrubs in South Africa, especially in the warm northern regions of South Africa. It flowers...

28 / 04 / 2008 | A Mothapo | National Herbarium Pretoria

Ochna pulchra

Common names: peeling plane, peeling-bark ochna (Eng.); lekkerbreek (Afr.); monyelewyele (Tswana); monamane, mopha (Northern Sotho); musuma, murambo, tshithothonya

Family: Ochnaceae

This species is better known by its Afrikaans name, lekkerbreek. This is most probably one of South Africa 's most beautiful trees, but also one of...

27 / 06 / 2005 | K Behr | Pretoria NBG

Ochna serrulata

Common names: Mickey Mouse bush, small-leaved plane, carnival bush (Eng.); fynblaarrooihout (Afr.); Umbomvane (Zulu); iliTye (Xhosa)

Family: Ochnaceae

This is certainly a shrub that every gardener should have in their garden, not only because of its beautiful yellow flowers, but also because of its attractive...

02 / 12 / 2002 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ocotea bullata

Common names: stinkwood, black stinkwood, Cape laurel, (Eng), stinkhout, swartstinkhout, laurelhout (Afr), umnukani (Zulu), umhlungulu (Xhosa)

Family: Lauraceae

The black stinkwood, or stinkwood as it is commonly known, is a large evergreen tree suitable for large gardens and parks. Along with yellowood, its timber...

06 / 03 / 2006 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG

Oldenburgia grandis

Common names: Suurberg cushion bush, mountain hunchback, rabbit's ears, lamb's ears, donkey's ears (Eng.); Suurbergkussingbos, Suurbergse dikblaarlepelboom, basters

Family: Asteraceae

Oldenburgia grandis is a remarkable, small, thick-set, tree similar in appearance to some tree proteas, but this strange plant's thistle-like flowers...

02 / 02 / 2004 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG

Olea capensis

Common names: (subsp. capensis ) small ironwood , black ironwood, buchuwood, buckutree, false ironwood (Eng.); kleinysterhout , basterswartysterhout, basterysterhou

Family: Oleaceae

Happy the grandchild who inherits a garden shaded by a black ironwood tree, for they have grandparents of great foresight and intelligence. These trees...

09 / 12 / 2013 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

Olinia emarginata

Common names: mountain hard pear (Eng.); berghardpeer (Afr.)

Family: Oliniaceae

Olinia emarginata is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, with attractive flowers and berries which makes for an attractive garden ornamental,...

04 / 06 / 2001 | Berenice Carolus | Kirstenbosch NBG

Olinia ventosa

Common names: hard pear ( Eng. ); hardepeer (Afr.); umNgenalahla, iNgobamakhosi, iNqudu, umNonono (Xhosa)

Family: Oliniaceae

This beautiful tree makes a striking impression in spring when it is in full flower and is a good choice for a shade tree or focal point in a garden with...

30 / 01 / 2006 | Penny Jaffe | Kirstenbosch NBG

Oncoba spinosa

Common names: snuff-box tree (Eng.); snuifkalbassie (Afr.)

Family: Salicaceae

This spiny shrub or small tree with pretty white flowers is known for the snuff boxes that can be made from its hard-shelled fruit....

29 / 11 / 2004 | K Behr | Pretoria NBG

Oncosiphon suffructicosum

Common names: stinkingweed (Eng.); stinkkruid, wurmkruid, wurmbos, miskruid (Afr.); Calomba daisy (Australia), shrubby mayweed (USA).

Family: Asteraceae

Oncosiphon suffruticosum is an aromatic annual with masses of bright yellow flower heads, and is an important Cape herbal medicine....

07 / 11 / 2011 | Anthony R. Magee | Compton Herbarium

Oplismenus hirtellus

Common names: basket grass

Family: Poaceae

An outstanding groundcover for those difficult shady areas under trees, the grass Oplismenus hirtellus makes an interesting textured carpet of deep green...

31 / 01 / 2005 | Isabel Johnson | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Orbea

Common names: carrion flower ( Eng. ); aasblom, bokhoring (Afr.)

Family: Apocynaceae

Stapeliads are one of the most interesting groups of succulents — the diversity in shape, colour, size and smell make them an enticing group to collect...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria

Orbea lutea

Common names: yellow carrion flower (Eng.); geelaasblom, ghaap, gwaap, aasblom, kopseerblom, slang-gwaap (Afr.).

Family: Apocynaceae

...

11 / 01 / 2010 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria

Ornithogalum dubium

Common names: yellow chincherinchee (Eng.); geeltjienkerientjee, geeltjienk (Afr.); itsweletswele lasethafeni (Xhosa)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Ornithogalum dubium is a long-blooming, showy plant with beautiful large flowers, ideal for growing in pots, and as a cut flower....

09 / 01 / 2012 | Olivia Tyambetyu | Kirstenbosch NBG

Ornithogalum saundersiae

Common names: giant chincherinchee ( Eng. ); reuse tjienkerientjee (Afr.)

Family: Hyacinthaceae

The giant chincherinchee is an attractive, easily cultivated garden plant and produces eye-catching, long-lasting flowers that are very suitable for use...

05 / 09 / 2005 | Ronell R. Klopper | National Herbarium Pretoria

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