Plants of the Week

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E.g., 11/03/2025
E.g., 11/03/2025

Combretum bracteosum

Combretum bracteosum
Common names: hiccough-nut, hiccup nut, hiccough creeper (Eng.); hikklimop (Afr.); uQotha (Xhosa)
Family: Combretaceae

The Combretum bracteosum is unique amongst our bushwillows in that it does not have the characteristic, papery, four-winged fruit which is familiar...

14 / 06 / 2004 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Rhoicissus tomentosa

Fruits of Rhoicissus tomentosa
Common names: wild grape, bush grape, African grape, forest Grape, monkey rope, wild vine (Eng.); Bosdruif, Wildedruif, Bostou, Bobbejaantou (Afrikaans), isaQoni, i
Family: Vitaceae

...

07 / 06 / 2004 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pappea capensis

Pappea capensis fruit
Common names: jacket plum, Indaba tree, bushveld cherry (Eng.); doppruim (Afr.); umqhokwane, umvuna, indaba (Zulu); ilitye, umgqalutye (Xhosa); mongatane, mopsinyug
Family: Sapindaceae

The red fruit of this tree is a tasty treat for humans and a firm favourite with birds and animals. A fine oil is extracted from the seeds. The jacket...

07 / 06 / 2004 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Elaeodendron croceum

Fruit of E. croceum
Common names: saffron; saffron wood, forest saffron (Eng.); saffraan, bossafraan (Afr.)
Family: Celastraceae

Elaeodendron croceum is an attractive, evergreen tree with a neat, upright shape which can with care be cultivated in gardens large and small....

07 / 06 / 2004 | Robert Archer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Thamnochortus cinereus

Female plant in flower
Common names: silver restio (Eng.); silwerriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This is a medium to tall plant, which can be used equally well in a border or as an accent plant. The plants are very decorative with silvery foliage like...

31 / 05 / 2004 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Coleus neochilus

Coleus neochilus
Common names: smelly coleus, blue coleus, lobster flower (Eng.); rotstuinsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

This is a hardy, versatile, aromatic herbaceous perennial, which forms an attractive groundcover even when the plant is not in flower and is suitable both...

31 / 05 / 2004 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG
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Cyperus prolifer

Inflorescence of C .prolifer
Common names: miniature papyrus
Family: Cyperaceae

Cyperus prolifer is an attractive, medium-sized member of the sedge family, suitable for waterside planting. Although much smaller, the plant bears a superficial...

31 / 05 / 2004 | Clare Archer | Pretoria NBG
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Lippia javanica

Flowers. Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: fever tea, lemon bush (English); koorsbossie, beukesbossie, lemoenbossie (Afrikaans); mutswane, umsutane (Swati); inzinziniba (Xhosa); umsuzwane, umsw
Family: Verbenaceae

For the avid herb gardener with an interest in medicinal plants Lippia javanica with its dense creamy white, flower heads and aromatic leaves...

24 / 05 / 2004 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Cyperus papyrus

Young culms of Cyperus papyrus
Common names: papyrus (Eng.); papirus (Afr.); the bulrush of the Bible
Family: Cyperaceae

Cyperus papyrus is a stately aquatic member of the sedge family. The plants are easily cultivated and suitable for medium to large water features, especially...

24 / 05 / 2004 | Clare Archer | Pretoria NBG
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Aloe arborescens

Common names: krantz aloe (English), kransaalwyn (Afrikaans), ikalene (Xhosa), inkalane or umhlabana (Zulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

The krantz aloe is a valuable garden asset, it has large beautiful flowers, attractive foliage, decorative form, and it is easy to grow. It is also a 'must-have'...

24 / 05 / 2004 | Andrew Hankey | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium tongaense

Pelargonium tongaense
Common names: Tonga pelargonium (Eng.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Most adaptable in cultivation, the Tonga pelargonium, is a free flowering garden and container plant....

17 / 05 / 2004 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG
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Iridaceae

Romulea sabulosa
Common names: Iris
Family: Iridaceae

This is a large family of deciduous or evergreen perennials, many with brightly coloured flowers, which is well represented in South Africa....

17 / 05 / 2004 | John Manning | Compton Herbarium
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Agapanthus africanus

Agapanthus africanus subsp. africanus
Common names: Cape agapanthus, fynbos agapanthus (Eng.); kleinbloulelei (Afr.)
Family: Agapanthaceae

Agapanthus are one of South Africa's best known garden plants and are grown in most countries in the world. Their strap-like leaves and striking blue...

17 / 05 / 2004 | Richard Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Nerine gibsonii

Nerine gibsonii
Common names: Gibson's nerine
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This attractive, autumn- and winter-flowering bulb from the Eastern Cape is one of twenty-five Nerine species, all of which are endemic to southern...

10 / 05 / 2004 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Kirkia wilmsii

Kirkia wilmsii
Common names: mountain kirkia, wild pepper tree, mountain seringa (Eng.); bergsering, wildepeperboom (Afr.); Modumela (Northern Sotho)
Family: Kirkiaceae

This medium to large tree has a spreading, irregular canopy that presents a spectacular sight when in full, bright red autumn colours. Any gardener with...

10 / 05 / 2004 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Amaryllidaceae

Amaryllis belladonna: Photo C Paterson-Jones
Common names: amaryllis or daffodil family
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Consisting mostly of bulbous plants, this family occurs naturally throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions of the world. Many species have extravagantly...

10 / 05 / 2004 | D Snijman | Compton Herbarium
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Kirkia acuminata

Kirkia acuminata trunk
Common names: white seringa (Eng.); witsering (Afr.); mvumayila (Tsonga); modumela (Tswana ); mubvumala (Venda)
Family: Kirkiaceae

This splendid tree does not yet enjoy the fame it deserves, but it is a good choice for those gardeners who prefer something different. It was selected...

03 / 05 / 2004 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ceropegia ampliata

Ceropegia ampliata
Common names: Bushman's Pipe (Eng.); Boesmanspyp (Afr.)
Family: Apocynaceae

Members of the genus Ceropegia are characterized by tubular flowers specially adapted for the temporary capture of insects for pollination purposes. The...

03 / 05 / 2004 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Cadaba aphylla

Cadaba aphylla Photo © Rod Saunders
Common names: leafless cadaba, leafless wormbush, black storm, desert spray (Eng.); swartstorm, bobbejaanarm, bloustam, doubos, douwurmbos, gifhoutjie, rooistorm, s
Family: Brassicaceae

...

03 / 05 / 2004 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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Nerine humilis

Nerine humilis
Common names: dwarf nerine (Eng.); seeroogblom, berglelie (Afr.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Nerine humilis is a very floriferous, bulbous plant. The flower colour varies from almost white to deep pink, and the petals have distinctive,...

26 / 04 / 2004 | Werner Voigt | Karoo Desert NBG
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