Plants of the Week

Gonialoe variegata

Common names: partridge breast aloe (Eng.); kanniedood, bontalwyn (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

This plant was previously called Aloe variegata. Gonialoe variegata is one of the best known, and most distinctive of the South African aloes. The characteristic...

30 / 06 / 2008 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG

Galpinia transvaalica

Common names: wild pride of India (Eng.); knoppieblaar (Afr.); UmDlampangele ( Zulu)

Family: Lythraceae

This tree is part of a small family of herbs, small trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions. Its attractive flowerheads and coloured...

22 / 11 / 2004 | Linette Ferreira | Pretoria NBG

Garcinia gerrardii

Common names: forest garcinia, forest mangosteen (Eng.); bosgeelmelkhout (Afr.); umbande, umbindi (Xhosa); isibinda, isikhwelamfene, umbinda (Zulu); sikhwelamkhala

Family: Clusiaceae

Related to the mangosteen from India, the forest garcinia is not a well-known garden ornamental, but it could be. It has fragrant flowers in early summer,...

27 / 02 / 2012 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Garcinia livingstonei

Common names: African mangosteen (Eng.); Afrika-geelmelkhout (Afr.); umPhimbi, uGobandlovu (isiZulu); mmimbi (xiTsonga); mokongono, mokononga (siPedi)

Family: Clusiaceae

From time to time one reads of individualists doing strange things and calling it 'living art'. Here is a tree which produces very tasty fruit,...

02 / 04 / 2007 | Hugh Glen | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium

Gardenia cornuta

Common names: Tonga gardenia, Natal gardenia, horned gardenia (Eng.); wilde-appel, Tongakatjiepiering, Natalkatjiepiering (Afr.); umhlahle, unomphumela, umvalasangw

Family: Rubiaceae

The spectacular, large white and yellow flowers with their sweet scent, attracts passersby from a distance to this small, much-branched tree. The smooth,...

13 / 06 / 2005 | Mkhipheni Ngwenya | KwaZulu-Natal NBG

Gardenia volkensii

Common names: bushveld gardenia, Transvaal gardenia (Eng.); Transvaalkatjiepiering, bosveldkatjiepiering, kannetjieboom, stompdoring (Afr.); morala (Northern-Sotho,

Family: Rubiaceae

The bushveld gardenia is a small, relatively slow-growing tree, ideal as a focus plant in summer rainfall gardens or on patios....

23 / 08 / 2010 | Hester Steyn | National Herbarium Pretoria

Gardenia thunbergia

Common names: white gardenia, forest gardenia, wild gardenia (Eng.), witkatjiepiering, buffelsbal, kannetjieboom (Afr.), umKhangazi (Xhosa), umValasangweni, umKhwak

Family: Rubiaceae

...

17 / 02 / 2003 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Garuleum bipinnatum

Common names: gifhoutjie, slanghoutjie (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Garuleum bipinnatum flowers come in several colours and have bright yellow centres....

30 / 08 / 2010 | N Swelankomo | National Herbarium Pretoria

Gasteria acinacifolia

Common names: coast ox-tongue (Eng.); kus-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria acinacifolia is the largest of all Gasteria species, strictly coastal and ideal for coastal gardens. It is at once recognized by its large rosette...

30 / 05 / 2005 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria batesiana

Common names: wart-leaf gasteria (Eng.); knoppies-beestong (Afr.); indvololwane (siSwati)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria batesiana is a small charming species bearing rough tuberculata brittle leaves. It is ideal for containers in a shady spot. It is at once...

13 / 03 / 2006 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria croucheri

Common names: forest gasteria, forest ox-tongue, Natal gasteria (Eng.); bosaalwee, oukossies, Natal beestong (Afr.); impundu, iqhomololo (isiZulu)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria are popular indoor, succulent, aloe-like plants and are easily grown. They are mainly from South Africa (one species just entering southern...

21 / 06 / 2004 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria glomerata

Common names: Kouga gasteria (Eng.); Kouga-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria glomerata is a very attractive, dwarf species, bearing rounded clusters of grey-green, slightly rough (tuberculate) leaves. It is ideal for...

03 / 04 / 2006 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria armstrongii

Common names: flat-leaf gasteria (Eng.); platblaar-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria armstrongii is a dwarf aloe-like, succulent-leaved stone plant, endemic to the Renosterveld flats between Jeffreys Bay and the Gamtoos River...

30 / 05 / 2011 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria baylissiana

Common names: Suurberg ox-tongue (Eng.); Suurberg-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria baylissiana is a beautiful, dwarf, aloe-like, succulent-leaved perennial, endemic to the rocky Wittetrivier Gorge (Suurberg) in the northwestern...

27 / 05 / 2013 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana

Common names: dwarf ox-tongue, lilliput gasteria (Eng.), klein-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria bicolor var. liliputana is a rare, dwarf succulent perennial with leaves in a rosette. It is one of the smallest of the gasterias,...

09 / 09 / 2002 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria brachyphylla

Gasteria brachypylla growin near Oudtshoorn

Common names: Klein Karoo ox-tongue (Eng.); Klein Karoo-beestong, boesmanrys (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria brachyphylla is a medium-sized aloe-like, succulent-leaved plant with smooth leaves in two opposite rows and an elongated raceme with pinkish...

27 / 08 / 2012 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria carinata

Common names: Keeled ox-tongue, Bredasdorp gasteria (Eng.); Bredasdorp-beestong (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria carinata is a small to medium-sized aloe-like plant bearing triangular, mottled, channelled leaves and racemes of pinkish flowers during...

09 / 04 / 2012 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria disticha

Common names: Great Karoo ox-tongue (Eng.); grootkaroo-beestong, boesmanrys (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria disticha is a small aloe-like, succulent-leaved plant with leaves in two opposite rows and an elongated raceme with pinkish flowers, endemic...

30 / 07 / 2012 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria doreeniae

Common names: Doreen's gasteria (Eng); Swartwaterspoort-beestong (Afr)

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria doreeniae is a dwarf aloe-like, succulent-leaved, cliff-dwelling plant (cliff hugger) endemic to the Swartwaterspoort of the Eastern Cape...

04 / 04 / 2011 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Gasteria ellaphieae

Common names: Ellaphie's gasteria

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria ellaphieae is a dwarf aloe-like, succulent-leaved plant (rock crevice plant) endemic to the Kouga Dam region of the Eastern Cape Province....

18 / 04 / 2011 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

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