Plants of the Week

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E.g., 03/12/2024

Polytrichum commune

Polytrichum commune habit © J. K. Lindsey
Common names: common hair cap moss
Family: Polytrichaceae

Polytrichum commune is one of the largest mosses in southern Africa and can grow up to 25 cm high. Its stiff, narrow leaves are spirally arranged at right...

15 / 08 / 2011 | Nonkululo Phephu | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Polygala virgata

Polygala virgata
Common names: Purple Broom (Eng.); Persboom, Bloukappie (Afr.); Ea moru (Nd); Hlokoa leleue (Sotho); Ithethe (Z)
Family: Polygalaceae

This charming slender shrub, bearing spikes of bright purple magenta winged flowers is an eye-catcher in any garden. Polygala virgata is one of the beautiful...

20 / 12 / 2004 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Portulacaria afra

Portulacaria afra 'Aurea'
Common names: Porkbush, Elephant's Food (English); Spekboom. Olifantskos (Afrikaans); iNtelezi, isiDondwane, isAmbilane, iNdibili, isiCococo (isiZulu); iGqwanitsha
Family: Portulacaceae

Portulacaria afra or Porkbush is a popular succulent garden plant in use around the world and is often used for bonsai. It has now been shown to be effective...

14 / 01 / 2002 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Portulacaria armiana

Flower stalk
Common names: Whipstick-porkbush, large-leafed spekboom (Eng.); grootblaar-spekboom, sweepstok spekboom (Afr.)
Family: Portulacaceae

Portulacaria armiana is a large succulent-leafed shrub bearing grey-green leaves and long perennial whipstick-like branches with sprays of soft white flowers....

28 / 01 / 2013 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pouzolzia mixta

Leaves of Pouzolzia mixta
Common names: soap-nettle (Eng.); seepnetel, wildebraam (Afr.); isikukuku (IsiNdebele); nthadzwa (Setswana); muthanzwa, murovhadembe (Tshivenda); nthadzwa (Xitsonga
Family: Urticaceae

Pouzolzia mixta is a multi-stemmed shrub with conspicuously bicoloured (two coloured) leaves which are spirally arranged with smooth margins....

02 / 09 / 2013 | T.T. Masupa | Pretoria NBG
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Prionium serratum

Palmiet at Harold Porter NBG
Common names: palmiet (Eng.); palmiet, palmito, wildepalmiet, wilde palmit (Afr.); iNtsikane (Xhosa)
Family: Juncaceae

Palmiet is a robust shrub that plays an important role in mostly the Western Cape river ecology. This water-loving shrub is renowned for its practical...

05 / 09 / 2005 | Phakamani Xaba | Harold Porter NBG
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Protea angustata

Protea angustata
Common names: Kleinmond sugarbush
Family: Proteaceae

This is a protea you will be lucky to find when walking through the fynbos. Not only are there few plants, but they are also very cryptic. They are low-growing...

16 / 08 / 2010 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG
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Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis

Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis
Common names: Potberg sugarbush, Potberg shuttlecock protea (Eng.); Potberg-langknopsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea aurea subsp. potbergensis flowers in early winter when little else is flowering in the garden. The flowers are large and when planted en...

03 / 08 / 2009 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea burchellii

Protea burchellii
Common names: Burchell's sugarbush ( Eng. ); blinksuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea burchellii is a medium-sized, winter-flowering shrub and a delightful addition to any fynbos garden....

23 / 06 / 2008 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea caffra

Protea caffra
Common names: sugar bush (English); gewone suikerbos (Afrikaans); isiQalaba (Zulu, Xhosa)
Family: Proteaceae

The common sugar bush is one of three proteas which occur in the Witwatersrand area. ...

05 / 02 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Protea compacta

Protea compacta
Common names: Bot River protea, Bot River sugarbush, Compacta ( Eng. ); duinesuikerbos, suikerkan, Botrivier-protea (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Bot River sugarbush is ideally suited to the larger coastal fynbos gardens where, if planted en masse , it will provide a pink or white splash...

10 / 09 / 2007 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea cordata

Leaves and flowers: Photo Amida Johns
Common names: Heart-leaf sugarbush; hartblaarsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

This little protea is something of a Cinderella before the glass slipper came her way. The flower heads growing at ground level are unobtrusive, small...

15 / 07 / 2013 | Jane Forrester | Harold Porter NBG
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Protea coronata

Protea coronata flower head
Common names: green protea, green sugarbush (Eng.); groenhofiesuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea coronata has bright apple-green inflorescences hidden amongst its silvery foliage; it's not a showy garden shrub but the very attractive...

15 / 09 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea cynaroides

Protea cynaroides
Common names: King Protea, Giant Protea (Eng.), Reuse Protea, Koningprotea, Grootsuikerroos, Grootsuikerkan, Bergsuikerkan (Afr.), isiQwane esincinci (isiZhosa)
Family: Proteaceae

Surely the best known protea, prized worldwide as a magnificent cut flower and in South Africa honoured as the national flower....

09 / 07 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea eximia

Protea eximia flower head
Common names: broad-leaf sugarbush, duchess protea, (Eng.); breëblaarsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea eximia is a robust, easy-to-grow protea, presenting its showy, deep pink, purple-centred flower heads above greyish green foliage....

24 / 08 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea laetans

Protea laetans flowerhead and bud
Common names: Blyde protea, Blyde sugarbush (Eng.); Blydesuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Blyde protea is a small tree with bluish-green foliage and deep carmine flowerheads, and is one of the few proteas that are found in the summer-rainfall...

16 / 07 / 2012 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea lanceolata

Protea lanceolata flower head
Common names: lance-leaf protea, lance-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); smalblaarsuikerbos (Afr.); isiqalaba (Xho.)
Family: Proteaceae

With its neat shape, white flower heads and tolerance for coastal and alkaline conditions, Protea lanceolata makes a perfect windbreak for a...

07 / 09 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea laurifolia

Protea laurifolia flower head
Common names: laurel protea, laurel-leaf protea, grey-leaf sugarbush (Eng.); louriersuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Protea laurifolia is a bearded protea with large, pale pink or cream flower heads during the winter months. It is also frost hardy, water-wise and...

15 / 06 / 2009 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea lepidocarpodendron

Protea Lepidocarpodendron on St James Peak
Common names: Black-bearded Protea, Black-bearded Sugarbush, Black Protea ( Eng. ), Swartbaardsuikerbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Not as eye-catching as many of its relatives, this lovely protea has hairy, black and cream-white flowerheads that peek out through the dense foliage like...

10 / 07 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Protea magnifica

Protea magnifica
Common names: queen protea, queen sugarbush, bearded protea ( Eng. ); wolbaardsuikerbos ( Afr. )
Family: Proteaceae

Protea magnifica has the second largest flower head after P. cynaroides, the king protea. The queen protea is one of the most attractive and sought after...

27 / 01 / 2014 | Melissa Van der Burg | Kirstenbosch NBG
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