Plants of the Week

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E.g., 12/10/2024
E.g., 12/10/2024

Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis

Mature adult bush with many upright branches
Common names: rhinoceros bush, rhenoster bush (Eng.); renosterbos, rhenosterbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Although renosterbos is not showy or beautiful, it is an interesting and important component of our indigenous flora. It is the dominant member and the...

25 / 09 / 2006 | Nicola Bergh | Compton Herbarium
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Dewinteria petrophila

Dewinteria petrophila
Common names: Kaokoveld klipblom (Afr.)
Family: Pedaliaceae

Dewinteria petrophila is remarkable for its amazing reproduction on cliff faces. Apart from producing normal leaves, fruits and wind-dispersed seed,...

22 / 01 / 2007 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dimorphotheca jucunda 'White Moon'

Dimorphotheca jucunda 'White Moon'
Common names: White Moon Daisy (Eng.); Bergbietou, Bloubietou (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

This striking groundcover is a delightful perennial with masses of large white daisy flowers throughout summer....

07 / 01 / 2002 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diospyros scabrida var. cordata

Foliage showing red new growth
Common names: Hard-leaved monkey plum; blinkblaar,hardeblaartolbos (Afr.)
Family: Ebenaceae

This lovely little tree has three outstanding features to recommend it; its compact growth habit, its gorgeous glossy foliage and its unusual balloon fruit...

22 / 09 / 2014 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Drimia filifolia

Flowers of Drimiaf filifolia
Common names: thread-leaf drimia (Eng.); gifbol (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Drimia filifolia is an attractive plant, flowering in spring up to early summer and is an asset to any garden. This article will provide some insight into...

10 / 11 / 2014 | James Deacon | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Delosperma tradescantioides

Delosperma tradescantioides
Common names: Kei-delosperma (Engl.); Keivygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

The Kei-delosperma is a cliff-hanger, mat-forming plant endemic to the Kei River and its tributaries, in the Eastern Cape. It has large, flat, hairy to...

12 / 01 / 2015 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dracaena transvaalensis

Dracaena transvaalensis in flower at Botanical Society Conservatory Kirstenbosch
Common names: Wolkberg dragon tree (Engl.); Wolkbergdrakeboom, dolomiet-drakeboom (Afr.)
Family: Ruscaceae

Dracaena transvaalensis is a medium-sized, aloe-like tree. It has large, elongated, ascending leaves arranged in central rosettes. The large inflorescence...

16 / 02 / 2015 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dombeya cymosa

Flowers of Dombeya cymosa. Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: small-flowered dombeya, smooth wild pear, Natal dombeya, Natal wild pear, hairless dombeya (Eng.); gladdeblompeer, Nataldrolpeer, gladdedrolpeer (Afr.
Family: Malvaceae

Dombeya cymosa is an ornamental, deciduous, small tree that bears showy, drooping, white, sweet-scented flowers....

27 / 04 / 2015 | Nonkululo Phephu | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. meridiana

 Diastella thymelaeoides subsp. meridiana. Photo: Carina Lochner
Common names: Hangklip silkypuff (Eng.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Hangklip silkypuff  is a rare gem, endemic to the Kogelberg, Hangklip and Betty’s Bay area. Its pretty star-like flowers, present for most...

07 / 07 / 2015 | Victoria Wilman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dumasia villosa var. villosa

Dumasia villosa var. villosa pods and seeds
Common names: black bean (Eng.); ukhalimele (isiZulu)
Family: Fabaceae

The beautiful blue seeds of dumasia are what caught my eyes and immediately I thought people should know about this beautiful plant. Also, its linear,...

03 / 08 / 2015 | Tandiwe Nkonki | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Diastella fraterna

Diastella fraterna
Common names: Palmiet silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

The Palmiet silkypuff is a decorative shrublet with a sprinkling of pretty puffy white flowers almost all year round....

16 / 11 / 2015 | Nosiphelele Patricia Mapukata | Harold Porter NBG
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Dicliptera cernua

Dicliptera cernua foliage, slightly hairy.
Common names: false buck-weed (Eng.)
Family: Acanthaceae

Dicliptera cernua is a vigorous and versatile winter-flowering groundcover, suitable for sunny or shady areas....

15 / 02 / 2016 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dyschoriste thunbergiiflora

Dyschoriste thunbergiflora
Common names: purple bells (Eng.); persklokkies (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

A versatile, evergreen shrub for semi-shade, with attractive dark green foliage and eye-catching, large, blue-purple, trumpet-shaped flowers, occurring...

04 / 04 / 2016 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dalbergia armata

Dalbergia armata (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: thorny-rope, flat-bean, Hluhluwe climber (Eng.); doringtou (Afr.); umhluhluwe, uthathawe (isiZulu); omqokolo, ubobo, umzungulu (isiXhosa); sehlokootsw
Family: Fabaceae

Dalbergia armata has attractive acacia-like leaves and makes an excellent bonsai tree. It is a rather distinct climber, with stout thorns and it is a member...

04 / 06 / 2018 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dombeya tiliacea

Dombeya tiliacea
Common names: forest wild pear, forest dombeya, little-dog-rose (Eng.); bosblompeer, bosdrolpeer (Afr.), ibunda (isiZulu), utyibo (isiXhosa)
Family: Malvaceae

A pretty shrub or small tree, with white flowers in late summer to autumn, suitable for sun or semi-shade....

06 / 08 / 2018 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Delosperma abbottii

Delosperma abbottii
Common names: Pondoland cliff-delosperma (Eng.); Pondokransvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

A cliff-dwelling, mat-forming, mesemb with yellow to magenta flowers in summer, known only from sandstone cliffs in the Pondoland region, in the Eastern...

03 / 10 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dimorphotheca tragus

Dimorphotheca tragus
Common names: ox-eye daisy, Cape marigold, Namaqualand daisy, African daisy (Eng.); jakkalsbossie (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

A perennial herb, with thinly scattered, toothed leaves and bright daisy flowers, which create an attractive sight in spring....

31 / 10 / 2016 | Ramadimetja Junia Maleka | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diastella parilis

Diastella parilis
Common names: Worcester silkypuff
Family: Proteaceae

A rounded, fynbos shrublet, with pleasant pink flowers for more than six months, that is suitable for cultivation in containers....

06 / 02 / 2017 | Mashudu Nndanduleni | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Dietes flavida

Dietes flavida (John Manning)
Common names: wood iris, wild iris (Eng.)
Family: Iridaceae

An irid with attractive leaves that is a rewarding garden plant. It has fans of long, narrow and very erect, bluish-green leaves and occasional flowers...

27 / 02 / 2017 | Nomama Mei | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Drimia loedolffiae

Drima loedolffiae
Common names: Kei drimia (Eng.); dassiekweek (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A small bulb which grows in dense clusters on riverine cliffs in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Easily grown from division and great for hanging baskets...

17 / 04 / 2017 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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