Plants of the Week

Browse through all previous entries of Plants Of The Week

  • Sort by date added
  • Sort Alphabetically
Go to Plants of the Week Advanced Search
E.g., 24/11/2024
E.g., 24/11/2024

Cleome gynandra

Flowers
Common names: African cabbage, spider-wisp (Eng.); murudi (Venda); snotterbelletjie (Afr.); morotho (Northern Sotho)
Family: Capparaceae

African cabbage is of economic importance as it is among the herbs that are used as indigenous vegetables in rural areas of southern Africa. Analyses have...

03 / 10 / 2011 | Cathbert Makgakga |
Read More

Ursinia speciosa

Ursinia speciosa
Common names: Namaqua-ursinia (Eng.); Namakwa-ursinia (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Ursinia speciosa will brighten up any garden during late winter or early spring with its showy orange or yellow flowers....

26 / 09 / 2011 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Osyris lanceolata

Osyris lanceolata tree
Common names: rock tannin-bush, transvaal sumach (Eng.); bergbas, rotslooibas (Afr.); intshakasa, ingondotha-mpete (Zulu); umbulunyathi (Zulu/Xhosa); intekeza, utek
Family: Santalaceae

The evergreen, winter-flowering Osyris lanceolata is a blue-green hardy shrub or small tree. Its fleshy, yellowish green fruits become bright...

26 / 09 / 2011 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Encephalartos senticosus

Encephalartos senticosus
Common names: Lebombo, jozini cycad (Eng.); lebombobroodboom (Afr.); isigqiki-somkhovu, ujubane (Zulu); sijekwane (S)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos senticosus is a quick-growing, glossy dark green giant cycad for your ornamental garden. ...

19 / 09 / 2011 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Agathosma collina

Common names: dune buchu (Eng.); duineboegoe (Afr.)
Family: Rutaceae

The mildly aromatic Agathosma collina is a hardy shrublet suitable for strandveld or coastal areas where it will cheer up the garden with its bright yellow-green...

19 / 09 / 2011 | Tamzin Lakey | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Lachenalia pustulata

Lachenalia pustulata multicoloured form from Blaauwberg Hill
Common names: common viooltjie
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Lachenalia pustulata, with its vast array of flower colours, is a most rewarding Cape winter-growing bulb to cultivate....

12 / 09 / 2011 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Senegalia nigrescens

Senegalia nigrescens
Common names: knob thorn (Eng.); knoppiesdoring (Afr.); muunga (Tshivenda); mooka (Sepedi); umKhaya (Zulu)
Family: Fabaceae

Senegalia nigrescens is a deciduous, small to medium-sized tree which occurs in various savanna regions, often at low altitudes, and in rocky areas, on...

12 / 09 / 2011 | T.T. Masupa | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

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
Read More

Ozoroa obovata var. elliptica

Ozoroa obovata tree
Common names: broad-leaved resin tree (Eng.); breë blaarharpuisboom (Afr.)
Family: Anacardiaceae

The broad-leaved resin tree is a semi-deciduous to evergreen shrub or tree that is suitable for small gardens....

05 / 09 / 2011 | J K Baloyi | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Euryops muirii

Euryops muirii shrublet
Common names: limestone euryops (Eng.); strandharpuis (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Euryops muirii is a very special species that is restricted to the limestone in and around Still Bay. It has a very limited distribution and occurs...

29 / 08 / 2011 | Ismail Ebrahim | CREW
Read More

Serruria triternata

Serruria triternata flowerheads and foliage
Common names: Tulbagh spiderhead, dill-leaf serruria (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Tulbagh spiderhead is a charming fynbos shrub suited to an informal indigenous garden. It is rather nondescript when not flowering but in spring time...

22 / 08 / 2011 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Leysera gnaphalodes

Leysera gnaphalodes flower heads Photo H. Brisse
Common names: yellow daisy tea, dune tea bush (Eng.); geelblommetjietee, duinetee, hongertee, teebos, skilpadtee, teringtee (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Leysera gnaphalodes is a perennial aromatic shrublet with radiant yellow flowers that occurs in the winter rainfall parts of South Africa and Namibia....

22 / 08 / 2011 | B Busch | Compton Herbarium
Read More

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
Read More

Lobostemon montanus

Lobostemon montanus shrub
Common names: mountain lobostemon (Eng.); agtdaegeneesbos (Afr.)
Family: Boraginaceae

Lobostemon montanus is a shrub from the Borage family with unusually large leaves for the genus, which are complemented by a cluster of pale blue...

15 / 08 / 2011 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Encephalartos princeps

Encephalartos princeps
Common names: Kei cycad (Eng.); keibroodboom (Afr.); umguza, umphanga (Xho.)
Family: Zamiaceae

Encephalartos princeps is a lovely blue-leaved cycad that responds well to full sun and tolerates any soil type, provided that the soil is well drained...

08 / 08 / 2011 | K w Sepheka | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Nerine undulata

Nerine undulata
Common names: nerine (Eng.); seeroogblom, berglelie (Afr.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

Nerine undulata is native to the Eastern Cape Province. It is almost evergreen and produces very dainty, soft pink, spider-like flowers which can give...

01 / 08 / 2011 | Stemmer Ngalo | Free State NBG
Read More

Lobostemon belliformis

Lobostemon belliformis
Common names: Gouriqua lobostemon (Eng.); Gouriqua agtdaegeneesbos (Afr.)
Family: Boraginaceae

Lobostemon belliformis is an incredibly rare and fabulous shrub from the Borage family; it is spectacular in bloom with its clusters of red tubular...

01 / 08 / 2011 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Rauvolfia caffra

Rauvolfia caffra
Common names: quinine tree (Eng.); kinaboom (Afr.); umJelo, umThundisa (isiXhosa); umHlambamanzi, umKhadluvungu (isiZulu)
Family: Apocynaceae

A fine, fast-growing tree for sheltered gardens, easily grown from seed and an unusually decorative tree for larger gardens and parks....

25 / 07 / 2011 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
Read More

Eucomis schijffii

Eucomis schijffii
Common names: miniature eucomis
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Eucomis schijffii is an alpine bulb with a striking rosette of bluish-grey leaves and a short raceme of purplish-maroon, fetid blooms. It is frost-hardy...

25 / 07 / 2011 | Graham Duncan | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Serruria fucifolia

Serruria fucifolia shrub
Common names: northern spiderhead (Eng.); sandveldspinnekopbos (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

Serruria fucifolia is a charming medium-sized fynbos shrub. During late winter and early spring it is covered in sweetly-scented silver-pink flowers....

18 / 07 / 2011 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More