Plants of the Week

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E.g., 30/12/2024
E.g., 30/12/2024

Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. sanguinea

Sarcophyte sanguinea (Detlef Schnabel)
Common names: wolwekos (Afr.); ihlule, umavumbuka (isiZulu)
Family: Balanophoraceae

Sarcophyte sanguinea subsp. sanguinea is a parasitic plant that occurs on the roots of trees and shrubs, especially on African acacias (Vachellia species)....

25 / 09 / 2017 | Mduduzi Nkwanyana | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Sansevieria pearsonii

Sansevieria pearsonii
Common names: spiky mother-in-law’s-tongue, gemsbok horns, elephant’s toothpick (Eng.); bobbejaan-se-dood, gemsbokhoring (Afr.)
Family: Ruscaceae

Sansevieria pearsonii is a colony-forming, perennial succulent, with an upright fan of cylindrical leaves that end in a hard, sharp point. Easy to grow,...

03 / 10 / 2022 | Philisiwe Nonhlanhla Biyela | Pretoria NBG
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Sansevieria hyacinthoides

Inflorescence
Common names: mother-in-law’s tongue, piles root, bowstring hemp (Eng.); skoonma-se-tong, aambeiwortel, haasoor (Afr.); kai, ghaiwortel (Khoi); isikholokotho (Xho
Family: Ruscaceae

The mother-in-law’s tongue is an evergreen, perennial herb, with its handsome robust, flat, dark green and fibrous leaves that attact game. Its scented...

19 / 01 / 2015 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Sansevieria hallii

Sansevieria hallii
Common names: sickle-leaf mother-in-law’s-tongue (Eng.); sekelblaar-skoonma-se-tong (Afr.)
Family: Ruscaceae

Sansevieria hallii represents a rare succulent, with mottled, sickle-shaped leaves and beautiful white flowers. It is confined to the northeastern parts...

06 / 03 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Sandersonia aurantiaca

Flowers
Common names: Christmas bells (Eng.); geelklokkie (Afr.); ushayabhici (Zulu); ihlamvu (Zulu)
Family: Colchicaceae

Seldom seen in cultivation in southern Africa, the highly ornamental, lantern-like flowers of Sandersonia aurantiaca are universally admired,...

25 / 12 / 2006 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Samolus porosus

Samolus porosus
Common names: water-pimpernel
Family: Theophrastaceae

Samolus porosus is a very adaptable herbaceous plant found growing in a variety of moist or wet habitats and often under harsh coastal conditions....

19 / 03 / 2012 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia thermarum

Flowers
Common names: Goudini sage (Eng.)
Family: Lamiaceae

S. thermarum (also sometimes mistakenly called S. thermara), with its pale red flowers and red bracts, makes a beautiful garden specimen. An added bonus...

03 / 01 / 2005 | De La Cruz P | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia schlechteri

Salvia schlechteri
Common names: Xobo Valley sage
Family: Lamiaceae

Little is known about Salvia schlechteri, but with its unusual foliage and pale blue flowers, it deserves a place amid a herbaceous border or summer...

02 / 12 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia scabra

Salvia scabra
Common names: coast blue sage (Eng.); kuskruipsalie (Afr.); usikiki (isiXhosa)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia scabra is a dainty sage which is adorned with mauve flowers between spring and autumn, with its peak flowering in summer. Being water-wise and its...

12 / 09 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia repens

Salvia repens
Common names: creeping sage (Eng.); kruipsalie (Afr.); usikiki (Xho.)
Family: Lamiaceae

As another member of the interesting sage family, this creeping sage with its aromatic leaves and abundance of flowers in summer, is a perennial worth...

24 / 11 / 2003 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia namaensis

Salvia namaensis shrub
Common names: Nama sage (Eng.)
Family: Lamiaceae

The petite pretty flowers and water-wise, hardy nature of Salvia namaensis will add herbaceous charm to any garden....

05 / 09 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia muirii

Salvia muirii
Common names: Muir's wild sage (Eng.), wildesalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

There are many fascinating plants in the sage family. As garden plants, some may be more interesting than beautiful, but Salvia muirii, with its large...

25 / 02 / 2002 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia lanceolata

Image of Salvia lanceolata flowers
Common names: rusty sage, lance-leaf sage (Eng.); rooisalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

A lovely grey-green aromatic shrub with rusty red flowers for most of the year; rewardingly easy to grow and water-wise....

01 / 09 / 2008 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia garipensis

Salvia garipensis shrub
Common names: Gariep sage (Eng.); Gariep salie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

This hardy sage, of medium height and neat appearance, will appeal to those concerned with border plantings or indigenous water-wise gardens....

03 / 10 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia dolomitica

Flowers of Salvia dolomitica
Common names: dolomite sage, pilgrim's rest pink sage (Eng.)
Family: Lamiaceae

The dolomite sage is the perfect, hardy, frost tolerant shrub for every garden which will reward its gardener with its long summer display and aromatic...

01 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia disermas

Salvia disermas shrub
Common names: wild giant sage, Transvaal sage Eng.; grootsalie, teesalie Afr.; mogasane (Tswana)
Family: Lamiaceae

Occurring in a variety of colors and growth forms, the petite, pretty flowers of Salvia disermas will add charm to any garden in need of a hardy,...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia dentata

Flowers and clayx which remains after flower falls
Common names: Toothed sage (Eng.); bergsalie, blousalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia dentata is a wonderful, aromatic, evergreen shrub with prolific flowers suitable for water-wise gardens....

29 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia chamelaeagnea

Salvia chamelaeagnea
Common names: Rough Blue Sage, Bloublomsalie
Family: Lamiaceae

Members of the sage family are known worldwide as excellent herbs and beautiful garden plants. Salvia chamelaeagnea, which grows wild in the south western...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia aurita var. aurita

Salvia aurita var. aurita
Common names: oogseerbossie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurita var. aurita is a fast-growing, herbaceous perennial that makes a fantastic groundcover in gardens that can offer a little...

24 / 10 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia aurea

Salvia aurea
Common names: golden sage, beach sage, dune sage, sand sage (Eng.); bruinsalie, sandsalie, strandsalie, geelblomsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurea is an aromatic hardy shrub with unusually coloured flowers borne over a long period. It is fairly fast-growing, up to 2 m, and very attractive...

15 / 07 / 2002 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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