Plants of the Week

Browse through all previous entries of Plants Of The Week

  • Sort by date added
  • Sort Alphabetically
Go to Plants of the Week Advanced Search
E.g., 09/01/2025
E.g., 09/01/2025

Plectranthus reflexus

Plectranthus reflexus
Common names: ballerina spurflower; ballerina spoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

An attractive, unusual and rare shade plant for pots or shade gardens....

06 / 05 / 2014 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Aloe huntleyana

Aloe huntleyana
Common names: Huntley aloe (Eng.); Huntley-aalwyn (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe huntleyana is a small creeping aloe species with greyish green leaves ornamented at the base with white spots. It branches to form clusters of...

06 / 05 / 2014 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Trichilia emetica

Trichilia emtica fruits.Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: Natal mahogany; rooiessenhout (Afr.); mamba (Northern Sotho); umathunzini (isiZulu); umkuhlu (SiSwati); umkhuhlu (isiXhosa); nkulu (Xitsonga); mutuhu
Family: Meliaceae

The Natal mahogany is an evergreen tree with handsome dark green glossy leaves and a wide-spreading crown. Its sweet-scented flowers will attract bees...

28 / 04 / 2014 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Senecio inornatus

Flowerheads
Common names: tall marsh senecio (Eng.); groot vlei-senecio (Afr.); Inkanga, Uhlabo (isiZulu); Lehlongoana-le-leholo (Southern Sotho).
Family: Asteraceae

Senecio inornatus is a tall robust plant that does not go unnoticed in any grassland or wetland. These solitary plants are often much taller than the...

21 / 04 / 2014 | Cynthia Mikateko Baloyi | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Plectranthus strigosus

Great in a hanging basket
Common names: dwarf spurflower; dwerg spoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

A dainty and delicate ground cover for shade gardens or hanging baskets....

21 / 04 / 2014 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Eulophia ensata

This plant is now listed as Orthochilus ensatus....

14 / 04 / 2014 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Orthochilus ensatus

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
Read More

Erica croceovirens

Erica croceovirens
Common names: Doringrivier heath, saffron-&-green heath (Eng.) doringrivierheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica croceovirens is a newly described species which is closely related to other tubular southern Cape species such as E. versicolor, E....

14 / 04 / 2014 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Plectranthus swynnertonii

Plant in flower
Common names: Swynnerton's spur flower, cress spur flower; Debengeni spoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Plectranthus swynnertonii is an attractive, fast growing late summer to winter flowering herbaceous perennial that will thrive in a moist frost-free...

07 / 04 / 2014 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Barleria dolomiticola

Barleria dolomiticola flower and buds
Common names: Wolkberg bush violet
Family: Acanthaceae

Plant a Red Listed barleria in your garden and support the conservation of the species....

07 / 04 / 2014 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Chaetacanthus setiger

Theis plant is now  known as Dyschoriste setigera...

31 / 03 / 2014 | | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Dyschoriste setigera

In flower
Common names: Fairy Stars
Family: Acanthaceae

This is a delightful low-growing groundcover up to 150-300mm high that requires little or no maintenance and is particularly suitable for water-wise gardens...

31 / 03 / 2014 | Zoleka Maphanga | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Barleria randii

Flowers and leaves B.randii
Common names: Matopos apricot barleria
Family: Acanthaceae

This barleria with its orange/yellow flowers and white leaf margins will be an attractive addition to a rock garden....

31 / 03 / 2014 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Streptocarpus montigena

Flowers
Common names: Cape primrose, wild gloxinia
Family: Gesneriaceae

An unusual small pot plant for indoors, with rough, hairy slightly sticky leaves. This is quite a difficult species to grow — providing the discerning...

24 / 03 / 2014 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Metarungia galpinii

Flower spike and leaves © Tony Dold
Common names: southern orange-lips
Family: Acanthaceae

Metarungia galpinii is a very rare and attractive garden plant that occurs mainly in the East London area in the Eastern Cape....

17 / 03 / 2014 | Vathiswa Zikishe | CREW
Read More

Geranium drakensbergensis

Geranium drakensbergensis
Common names: Drakensberg cranesbill
Family: Geraniaceae

An attractive, floriferous and vigorous herbaceous perennial that makes a wonderful addition to a summer perennial border....

17 / 03 / 2014 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Hyobanche fulleri

Flowers
Common names: Cat nails
Family: Orobanchaceae

Hybanche fulleri is a striking parasitic plant with pale to bright pink flowers found only in dune scrub....

10 / 03 / 2014 | Hlengiwe Mtshali | CREW
Read More

Anthocleista grandiflora

Flowers
Common names: forest fever tree, big-leaf fever tree, big leaf, forest big-leaf, cabbage tree, tobacco tree (Eng.); grootblaarboom, koorsboom, wildetabakboom (Afr.)
Family: Gentianaceae

Anthocleista grandiflora is a striking tree with a tall straight trunk topped with a crown of huge leaves. It needs a warm, sunny garden with plenty of...

10 / 03 / 2014 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Othonna retrofracta

Seedheads
Common names: none known
Family: Asteraceae

Othonna retrofracta, with its bonsai-like appearance, is suitable for water-wise gardens in arid areas....

03 / 03 / 2014 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Crassula spathulata

Crassula spathulata
Common names: spatula-leaf crassula (Eng.); uguwe (isiXhosa)
Family: Crassulaceae

...

03 / 03 / 2014 | Kuphumla Zenze | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More