Plants of the Week

Crassula rubricaulis

Common names: red-stem crassula (Eng.); rooistingelplakkie (Afr.)

Family: Crassulaceae

A lovely succulent perennial with attractive red-edged leaves and abundant white flowers in mid to late summer, perfect for rockeries, pots and water-wise...

01 / 02 / 2010 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Arctopus echinatus

A. echinatus female plant Photo A. Magee

Common names: flat-thorn (Eng.); platdoring, pokkiesdoring, sieketroos (Afr.)

Family: Apiaceae

Arctopus echinatus is an easily recognizable, flat-growing, spiny-leaved geophyte. It is an important South African medicinal plant with a long history...

08 / 02 / 2010 | Anthony R. Magee | Compton Herbarium

Euclea natalensis

Common names: Natal guarri, Natal ebony, large-leaved guarri (Eng.); Natalghwarrie, berggwarrie, swartbasboom (Afr.); umTshekisani, umKhasa (Xhosa); iDungamuzi, iCh

Family: Ebenaceae

Euclea natalensis is an adaptable, easy-to-grow tree with a neat, dense, rounded crown of dark green foliage, decorative pale, gold-tinged new growth,...

08 / 02 / 2010 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Liparia angustifolia

Common names: none recorded

Family: Fabaceae

Liparia angustifolia is an elusive little fynbos shrub growing in the understorey of lowland fynbos vegetation. It is beautiful thanks to bright yellow...

15 / 02 / 2010 | C Cowell | Kirstenbosch NBG

Moraea ciliata

Common names: growweuintjie (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

Moraea ciliata is a stemless geophyte (a deciduous perennial with underground renewal buds) with 3or 4 narrow and channelled leaves. The flowers are white,...

15 / 02 / 2010 | Colleen Rust | Hantam NBG

Aloe brevifolia var brevifolia

Common names: short-leaved aloe (Eng.); kleinaalwyn (Afr.)

Family: Asphodelaceae

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22 / 02 / 2010 | Vathiswa Zikishe | CREW

Jamesbrittenia bergae

Common names: crimson phlox

Family: Scrophulariaceae

This fairly unknown unique, crimson-flowered, herbaceous perennial from the foxglove family rivals many pelargoniums for its intense luminous colour and...

22 / 02 / 2010 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Brunia noduliflora

Common names: common brunia (Eng.); knopbos, knoppies, fonteinbos, stompies, volstruisies (Afr.)

Family: Bruniaceae

Brunia noduliflora is an unusual fynbos shrub and a Cape endemic; it has clusters of fluffy white pompon-like flower heads in winter and knobby fruits...

01 / 03 / 2010 | Zoleka Maphanga | Kirstenbosch NBG

Dimorphotheca cuneata

Common names: rain flower, white bietou, Karoo bietou (Eng.); reënblom, witbietou, karoobietou (Afr.)

Family: Asteraceae

Dimorphotheca cuneata is a hardy, mainly winter-rainfall perennial producing masses of showy, white flowers in early spring....

01 / 03 / 2010 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Gasteria vlokii

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

Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria vlokii is one of the more or less 23 known Gasteria species endemic to southern Africa. It is easily propagated from leaf cuttings...

08 / 03 / 2010 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG

Moraea villosa

Common names: peacock moraea (Eng.); uiltjie (Afr.) Two subspecies are recognized: subsp. villosa and subsp. elandsmontana Goldblatt

Family: Iridaceae

The peacock moraea previously occurred in great abundance in the mass spring-flower displays of the Cape lowlands. Sadly, this attractive flower has lost...

08 / 03 / 2010 | Lize Von Staden | TSP

Asparagus scandens

Common names: climbing asparagus (Eng.); krulkransie (Afr.)

Family: Asparagaceae

Asparagus scandens is a delicate-looking yet sturdy forest-dwelling climbing perennial, ideal for a trellis in a small garden or as a groundcover under...

15 / 03 / 2010 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG

Babiana praemorsa

Common names: stompstertbobbejaantjie, perskussing (Afr.)

Family: Iridaceae

The flowers of Babiana praemorsa are beautiful — trumpet-shaped, deep purple, with striking white marks on the lower tepals....

15 / 03 / 2010 | Colleen Rust | Hantam NBG

Glottiphyllum regium

Common names: tongue-leaved mesemb (Eng.); tongblaarvygie, skilpadkos (Afr.)

Family: Aizoaceae

Glottiphyllum regium is a hardy, clump-forming succulent that produces masses of showy, large, yellow flowers from mid-winter until early summer....

22 / 03 / 2010 | Ian Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG

Ursinia abrotanifolia

Common names: lace-leaf ursinia (Eng.); fynkruie, lammetjieskruie (Afr.) [= Sphenogyne abrotanifolia R.Br.(Prassler 1967)]

Family: Asteraceae

An extremely easy-to-grow and showy summer display bedding plant with charm and versatility underutilized by home gardeners....

22 / 03 / 2010 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG

Hypoestes aristata

Common names: ribbon bush (Eng.); seeroogblommetjie (Afr.); uhladlwana olukhulu, uhlonyane, uhlalwane (Zulu)

Family: Acanthaceae

The ribbon bush with its attractive lilac pink flowers is an excellent garden subject....

29 / 03 / 2010 | Patrick Mtsweni | Lowveld NBG

Rafnia triflora

Common names: three-flower rafnia

Family: Fabaceae

Rafnia triflora is a little known but striking fynbos shrub, with blue green leaves and bright yellow flowers in summer....

29 / 03 / 2010 | Musawenkosi Ndlovu | Kirstenbosch NBG

Aloiampelos commixta

Common names: Peninsula rambling aloe

Family: Asphodelaceae

Offering a rich variety of growth forms, making excellent accent plants, suited to almost any climate and producing a flowering display of vibrant colours...

05 / 04 / 2010 | Julia Dabush | Kirstenbosch NBG