Plants of the Week

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E.g., 25/11/2024
E.g., 25/11/2024

Albuca deaconii

Albuca deaconii
Common names: yellow cliff albuca (Eng.); krans-slymstok (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Albuca deaconii is a solitary to cluster-forming, bulbous cliff-hanger from the southeastern Cape. The long, leek-like leaves and extended racemes, both...

14 / 03 / 2019 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium heterophyllum

Pelargonium heterophyllum
Common names: because of its rarity there are no recorded common names
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium heterophyllum is a rare species from the Renosterveld, and one of South Africa’s most endangered plants....

18 / 03 / 2019 | Joti Daya | CREW
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Grewia retinervis

Grewia retinervis
Common names: Kalahari raisin, false sandpaper raisin, Kalahari donkey berry, Kalahari grewia, Kalahari raisin bush, kalahari-sand grewia, kalahari sand raisin (Eng
Family: Malvaceae

Grewia retinervis is a hardy shrub with bright yellow flowers in summer and shiny, reddish brown edible fruits....

18 / 03 / 2019 | Cathbert Makgakga | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Cylindrophyllum comptonii

Cylindrophyllum comptonii
Common names: Little Karoo finger vygie (Eng.); vingervygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Cylindrophyllum comptonii is a tough, mat-forming, cushion-like, succulent plant and thrives in nutrient-poor soils. With its finger-like leaves, this...

25 / 03 / 2019 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG
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Eucomis pallidiflora subsp. pole-evansii

Eucomis pallidiflora subsp. pole-evansii
Common names: giant pineapple lily
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This is the largest of all pineapple lilies in the world. The tall flower spike together with its long leaves, are the reason why it is so popular....

25 / 03 / 2019 | Dineo Dibakwane | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Gladiolus aureus

Gladiolus aureus
Common names: golden gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae

Gladiolus aureus is a delicate, cormous plant, producing striking golden-yellow blooms in late winter and spring. Among South Africa’s many critically...

01 / 04 / 2019 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dyschoriste rogersii

Dyschoriste rogersii
Common names: bushveld ribbon flower (Eng.); blou-bosklapper (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

A small, evergreen shrub with a very long flowering season, best in semi-shade and with very few natural enemies....

01 / 04 / 2019 | Tumelo Mofokeng | Pretoria NBG
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Argyrolobium rupestre subsp. rupestre

Argyrolobium rupestre
Common names: none
Family: Fabaceae

A small, slender-stemmed, few-flowered, shortly ascending plant, that flourishes in spring and summer. It is a flowering plant in the legume family (Fabaceae),...

08 / 04 / 2019 | Robetta Kandawire | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Clematis brachiata x villosa ‘Silver Beard’

Clematis brachiata x villosa ‘Silver Beard’
Common names: silver beard clematis
Family: Ranunculaceae

A sweet, pretty, indigenous hybrid clematis, named in honour of its creator, renowned horticulturist and botanist, Rodney Saunders....

08 / 04 / 2019 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Entandrophragma caudatum

Entandrophragma caudatum
Common names: mountain mahogany, wooden-banana (Eng.); bergmahonie (Afr.); mophumêna (Tsw.); munzhounzhou (Ven.)
Family: Meliaceae

This is a semi-deciduous to deciduous tree, with pale green flowers and unusual banana-shaped, woody fruits. It is ideal for a medium to large-sized garden,...

15 / 04 / 2019 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Jamesbrittenia kraussiana

Jamesbrittenia kraussiana
Common names: kerriebos (Afr); usikisiki lwehlathi (Zul.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

An attractive herbaceous perennial with lush green foliage and white flowers occurring throughout the year, suitable for planting in full sun in small...

15 / 04 / 2019 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Bergbambos tessellata

Bergbambos tessellata  (= Thamnocalamus tessellatus)
Common names: Drakensberg bamboo, wild bamboo, African bamboo, southern mountain bamboo (Eng.); bergbamboes (Afr.); uduli, uqalo (Xho.)
Family: Poaceae

This is one of only two species of bamboo that are indigenous to South Africa. It is a small, tough bamboo that will tolerate wind and frost, preferring...

15 / 04 / 2019 | Samuel Lekhetho | Free State NBG
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Serruria candicans

Serruria candicans
Common names: shiny spiderhead (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

...

22 / 04 / 2019 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thilachium africanum

Thilachium africanum
Common names: cucumber bush (Eng.); komkommerbos (Afr.); nkobva (Tso.); isikonke (Zul.)
Family: Capparaceae

An awesome small tree with the most attractive flowers....

22 / 04 / 2019 | Sephatle Evans Molekoa | Lowveld NBG
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Cliffortia odorata

Cliffortia odorata
Common names: wild vine (Eng.); wildewingerd, wildevyerank (Afr.)
Family: Rosaceae

A hardy evergreen groundcover, with attractive, oval, green leaves, spreading vigorously in full sun or part shade....

29 / 04 / 2019 | Thembakazi Dyariwe | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Haworthiopsis coarctata

Haworthiopsis coarctata
Common names: crowded haworthiopsis
Family: Asphodelaceae

A delightful little succulent that makes a very attractive and singular, small house plant or groundcover in the garden....

29 / 04 / 2019 | Katlego Selemela | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Otholobium bracteolatum

Otholobium bracteolatum
Common names: strand dottypea (Eng.); skaapbostee, swawelbos (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

A resilient, beautiful, sprawling shrub, not easily missed because of its pretty mauve and white flowers, which are borne in dense rounded inflorescences...

06 / 05 / 2019 | Naomi Mdayi | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Combretum hereroense

Combretum hereroense
Common names: russet bushwillow, mouse-eared combretum (Eng.); kierieklapper (Afr.); mokabi (Northern Sotho); mugavhi (Venda); umhlalavane (Zulu)
Family: Combretaceae

Combretum hereroense is a valuable species that has interesting horticultural characters all year round; the leaves and seed pods turn coppery, and a touch...

06 / 05 / 2019 | Refilwe Maria Malatji | Pretoria NBG
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Carpanthea pomeridiana

Carpanthea pomeridiana
Common names: carpanthea (Eng.); vetkousie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Carpanthea pomeridiana is an easily propagated, fast-growing annual, endemic to the sandy coastal regions of the Western Cape. It has golden-yellow flowers...

13 / 05 / 2019 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Babiana sambucina subsp. sambucina

Babiana sambucina subsp. sambucina
Common names: fragrant babiana (Eng.); bobbejaantjie (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

Babiana sambucina subsp. sambucina is an attractive, dwarf, spring-flowering bulbous plant, which is drought tolerant and water-wise....

13 / 05 / 2019 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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