Plants of the Week

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E.g., 10/12/2024

Eulophia welwitschii

Eulophia welwitschii inflorescence
Common names: umlunge (Zulu)
Family: Orchidaceae

This attractive orchid makes a striking display in summer with its bright yellow inflorescence, especially when occurring in dense stands. It is often...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Beate Hölscher | Pretoria NBG
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Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. conocarpodendron

Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. conocarpodendron flower head
Common names: grey tree pincushion (Eng.); vaalkreupelhout, goudsboom (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The grey tree pincushion is endemic to the Cape Peninsula where it is a conspicuous feature of the northern and western mountainsides. It makes a decorative...

19 / 01 / 2009 | Enrico January | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Karomia speciosa

Karomia speciosa flower cluster
Common names: southern chinese hats, wild parasol flower (Eng); sambreelboom (Afr). (= Holmskioldia speciosa )
Family: Lamiaceae

This shrub to small tree with its two-tone dark and light green leaves produces the most interesting profusion of paper-like flowers with a pink and purple...

19 / 01 / 2009 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Osteospermum oppositifolium

Osteospermum oppositifolium flower
Common names: stinkskaapbos, skaapbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

The golden, orange or yellow flowers of Osteospermum oppositifolium make a stunning show in spring....

12 / 01 / 2009 | S Nonkululeko | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Tripteris oppositifolia

Tripteris oppositifolia flower head
Common names: stinkskaapbos, skaapbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

This species is now known as Osteospermum oppositifolium. ...

12 / 01 / 2009 | | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Erica mammosa

Eerica mammosa pink-white, Malmesbury
Common names: nine-pin heath (Eng.); rooiklossieheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica mammosa is one of the few Erica species that has a spectacular range of flower colours, from white to pink, purple, orange and red....

12 / 01 / 2009 | Etienne Arendse | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aptenia cordifolia

Aptenia cordifolia
Common names: baby sun rose, red aptenia (Eng.); rooi brakvygie, brakvygie (Afr.); Ibohlololo, uncolozi omncane (Zulu)
Family: Aizoaceae

The glossy succulent leaves and bright magenta pink flowers are distinctive characteristics of Aptenia cordifolia. It is a well-known groundcover or creeping...

05 / 01 / 2009 | Norma Lucas | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus

Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus pods
Common names: bead vine, coral bead plant, coral bean, crabs eye, licorice vine, love bean, lucky bean creeper, prayer beads, prayer bean, precatory pea, red bead v
Family: Fabaceae

The shiny red and black seeds of Abrus precatorius subsp. africanus make it a sought-after climber in tropical and subtropical areas....

05 / 01 / 2009 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria NBG
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Xysmalobium undulatum

Xysmalobium undulatum flowers
Common names: milk bush, milkwort, uzura, wild cotton, wave-leaved xysmalobium (Eng.); bitterhout, bitterwortel, bitterhoutwortel, melkbos (Afr.); leshokoa, poho-tÂ
Family: Apocynaceae

The wave-leaved xysmalobium is a well-known feature of the verges of most of the highways in the grassland biome during November and December. Initially...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Pearsonia sessilifolia

Pearsonia sessilifolia
Common names: silwerertjietee, vaalertjietee (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

The sulphur-yellow flowers of Pearsonia sessilifolia, once pollinated, turn bright organge, signalling to their pollinators to reserve their resources...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Alicia Grobler | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Leucadendron loeriense

Leucadendron loeriense female cones in flower
Common names: loerie conebush (Eng.); loerietolbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Leucadendron loeriense is one of the few members of the protea family that flower in mid-summer, producing its lovely star-shaped flowerheads and...

29 / 12 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Erica plukenetii

Erica plukenetii shrub
Common names: Plukenet's heath (Eng.); hangertjie (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica plukenetii is a common species that is found on mountain slopes throughout most of the Cape Floristic Region....

29 / 12 / 2008 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Justicia odora

Justicia odora
Common names: bushveld justicia (Eng.), bosveldjusticia (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

If you need a shrub for those difficult sunny areas in your garden, the attractive yellow flowering Justicia odora is just the plant that you are looking...

22 / 12 / 2008 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Erica hirtiflora

Erica hirtiflora flowers
Common names: hairy-flower heath, rough-flowered heath (Eng.)
Family: Ericaceae

Erica hirtiflora is a beautiful shrub with masses of purple-pink flowers in summer and autumn; it adds an elegant touch to the garden....

22 / 12 / 2008 | Natacha Williams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dianthus albens

Dianthus albens plants
Common names: wild pink
Family: Caryophyllaceae

Many people think of Dianthus or carnations as cut flowers from places in Europe and very little is known about our very own indigenous species. Although...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Gary Shanks | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Chaenostoma cordatum

Chaenostoma cordatum flower
Common names: Trailing phlox (Eng.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Chaenostoma cordatum is the ideal groundcover for that garden spot with varying microclimates. Performing equally well in full sun to shady conditions...

15 / 12 / 2008 | Roger Oliver | Pretoria NBG
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Strychnos madagascariensis

Strychnos madagascariensis tree
Common names: black monkey orange (Eng.); swartklapper, botterklapper (Afr.); Morapa (N Sotho); Nkwaka (Tsonga); Mogorwagorwana (Tswana); Mukwakwa (Venda); umGluguz
Family: Loganiaceae

Very often confused with Strychnos spinosa, S. madagascariensis is a single- or multi-stemmed tree with a spreading, irregular, angular canopy. It grows...

08 / 12 / 2008 | Marcini Govender | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Streptocarpus rexii

Streptocarpus rexii
Common names: wild gloxinia, twin sisters
Family: Gesneriaceae

Streptocarpus rexii is a neat, compact perennial herb with attractive white to blue/pale violet flowers, and makes a perfect indoor or shade plant. It...

08 / 12 / 2008 | Etienne Arendse | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Strychnos decussata

Strychnos decussata growing in Kirstenbosch NBG
Common names: Cape teak (Eng.); Kaapse kiaat (Afr.); umhlamahlala, umkhangele (Xhosa); umkhombazulu, umlahlankosi, umphatha-wenkosi (Zulu)
Family: Loganiaceae

Strychnos decussata is a handsome tree for the garden with an attractive shape....

01 / 12 / 2008 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Sphenostylis angustifolia

Sphenostylis angustifolia showing handedness
Common names: wild sweet-pea (Eng.); wilde-ertjie (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

Sphenostylis angustifolia, or the wild sweet-pea, is a lovely green perennial shrublet with an extensive woody rootstock that decorates the Highveld with...

01 / 12 / 2008 | Alicia Grobler | National Herbarium Pretoria
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