Plants of the Week

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E.g., 24/11/2024
E.g., 24/11/2024

Kalanchoe sexangularis

Kalanchoe sexangularis
Common names: bushveld kalanchoe, red-leaved kalanchoe (Eng.); bosveldplakkie, rooiblaarplakkie (Afr.)
Family: Crassulaceae

Kalanchoe sexangularis is a hardy and drought-resistant succulent, with decorative red foliage that’s a must-have for the rockery, garden or patio,...

05 / 09 / 2016 | Jermaine Christoffels | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Asparagus asparagoides

Asparagus asparagoides
Common names: Cape smilax, African asparagus smilax, baby smilax, bridal creeper, bridal veil creeper (Eng.); breȅblaarklimop, krulkransie, gnarboola, narbass (Afr
Family: Asparagaceae

A scrambling shrub with lovely glossy foliage, for shade or sun, in the garden or indoors, and excellent for flower arrangements, but take note that outside...

04 / 09 / 2016 | Samuel Lekhetho | Free State NBG
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Ajuga ophrydis

Ajuga ophrydis
Common names: bugle plant (Eng.); moonyane, se-nyarela (S. Sotho)
Family: Lamiaceae

A perennial herb that can grow 60–250 mm high, with beautiful mauve, white or blue flowers. It is usually distributed in grassland areas and...

29 / 08 / 2016 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Protea subvestita

Protea subvestita
Common names: waterlily sugarbush (Eng.); lippeblomsuikerbos (Afr); igwanishe, isiqane (isiXhosa); isiqalaba (isiZulu)
Family: Proteaceae

This is a protea from the summer rainfall region that makes a wonderful large shrub or small tree in the garden; it produces its flowerheads in summer...

29 / 08 / 2016 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Anchusa capensis

Anchusa capensis
Common names: Cape-forget-me-not, anchusa (Eng.); vergeetmynietjie, ystergras, koringblom, ossetongblaar (Afr.); petlekheme (Sesotho)
Family: Boraginaceae

The Cape-forget-me-not is easy to find flowering in the fields of daisies throughout Namaqualand in the spring, and, although it may be a bit weedy, its...

22 / 08 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Gladiolus loteniensis

Gladiolus loteniensis (Ansell Matcher)
Common names: Loteni gladiolus
Family: Iridaceae

The Critically Rare Gladiolus loteniensis blossoms into a delicate plant, with small mauve flowers....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Kaveesha Naicker | CREW
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Othonna arbuscula

Othonna arbuscula
Common names: bonsai othonna (Eng.); knolharpuis, knolrepuis,nu-nu, traap (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A small succulent shrub from the arid areas of southern Africa, which has the appearance of a small tree or bonsai....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG
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Stoeberia giftbergensis

Stoeberia giftbergensis
Common names: Gifberg tree-mesemb (Eng.); Gifberg-boomvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

A large, shrubby, leaf succulent with white to pink flowers in spring; it is a rare endemic of the Gifberg in the Western Cape....

15 / 08 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Searsia natalensis

Searsia natalensis (Geoff Nicholls)
Common names: dune karee, Natal karee, northern dune currant, northern dune currant-rhus (Eng.); duinekaree, natalkaree, noordelike duinekaree (Afr.); umgwele, ingw
Family: Anacardiaceae

An attractive hedge or garden tree that is also used medicinally for various ailments. It can be easily propagated from seed....

08 / 08 / 2016 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Euchaetis meridionalis

Euchaetis meridionalis
Common names: Agulhas bearded-buchu
Family: Rutaceae

This is an amazingly tough and hardy plant, a diehard that can last for years, and a very useful filling-type of shrub for the coastal fynbos garden....

08 / 08 / 2016 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloidendron

Forest of Aloidendron dichotomum near Nieuwoudtville
Common names: tree aloes (Eng.); boomaalwyne (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Tree aloes, with their striking, bold and often symmetrical architecture and drought tolerance, are sought after by gardeners and make perfect focus plants...

01 / 08 / 2016 | Ronell R. Klopper | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Crossyne guttata

Crossyne guttata (Hedi Stummer)
Common names: parasol lily, April fool lily (Eng.); sambreelblom (Afr.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This is a popular winter growing bulb, chosen mostly for its broad leaves that are fringed with brown hair-like bristles....

01 / 08 / 2016 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Asparagus microraphis

Asparagus microraphis (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: needles wild-asparagus (Eng.), katdoring (Afr.), lala-tau, lehonyeli, lelala-tau, leu-nyeli, mankoe (Sesotho)
Family: Asparagaceae

An evergreen shrub that is used medicinally by Sesotho speaking people for the treatment of venereal diseases....

25 / 07 / 2016 | Aluwani Tshiila | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
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Erica discolor

Erica discolor
Common names: two-colour heath
Family: Ericaceae

Erica discolor is a very common and variable species complex that used to consist of two well-known and widespread species namely, Erica discolor and Erica...

25 / 07 / 2016 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Klattia stokoei

Klattia stokoei
Common names: Stokoe's klattia, red klattia (Eng.); kwasblom, kwasbos (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

This woody irid, with its crimson-red inflorescences, is one of the unique and breathtaking plant species of the Cape Floristic Region; it is endemic to...

18 / 07 / 2016 | Ebraime Hull | Harold Porter NBG
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Vangueria esculenta

Vangueria esculenta
Common names: Chirinda wild-medlar, forest wild-medlar, (Eng.); Chirinda-wildemispel, bosmispel, blinkblaarmispel (Afr.); mobilo (Lobedu)
Family: Rubiaceae

Vangueria esculenta is an ideal tree or shrub for smaller gardens, with glossy foliage and an interesting shape, and its flowers release a pleasant sweet...

18 / 07 / 2016 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Blighia unijugata

Clusers of bright pink to red, leathery, pear-shaped capsules.
Common names: triangle-tops (Eng.); driehoektolletjies (Afr.); musadema (Shona); umdlaguva (isiZulu)
Family: Sapindaceae

A medium to large evergreen tree, with sweetly scented flowers that attract butterflies to the garden, followed by pink to red, pear-shaped fruit that...

11 / 07 / 2016 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
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Agathosma ciliaris

Agathosma ciliaris
Common names: mountain anise buchu (Eng.); bergboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

This is a hardy, easy-growing, aromatic shrublet, which is suitable for pots and the harsh coasts and mountains in the fynbos....

11 / 07 / 2016 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Jatropha zeyheri

Jatropha zeyheri (Brenden Pienaar)
Common names: verfbol (Afr.); sefapabadia (Sesotho); xidomeja (Xitsonga); mafuredonga (Tshivenda); ugodide (isiZulu)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A common medicinal plant used in women’s health care in many rural communities in southern Africa....

04 / 07 / 2016 | Lerato Hoveka | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Halleria elliptica

Halleria elliptica (Tony Rebelo, iSpot)
Common names: rock tree-fuchsia, bush honeysuckle, wild fuschia (Eng.); kinderbessie, bergnotsung, klipnotsung (Afr.)
Family: Stilbaceae

Pretty, orange, fuchsia-like flowers, burgeoning with nectar and irresistible to insects and birds, on a neat, shade-loving, versatile shrub or small tree,...

04 / 07 / 2016 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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