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

Euphorbia stellispina

E.stellispina
Common names: sterretjie-noors, noorsdoring (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia stellispina is a stunning architectural plant and a true survivor in the harsh landscape of the central Karoo and parts of Namaqualand....

01 / 08 / 2005 | Roger Oliver | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Euphorbia sekukuniensis

Euphorbia sekukuniensis
Common names: Sekhukhune candelabra-tree, Sekhukhune euphorbia (Eng.); sekhukhunenaboom (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A rare, small, succulent tree that is endemic in Sekhukhuneland, in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, where it occurs in a specialized habitat....

27 / 11 / 2017 | Ntuthuko Mabuya | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Euphorbia schinzii

Euphorbia schinzii
Common names: rock-milkbush, northern noors, Schinz’s spurge (Eng.); klipmelkbossie (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia schinzii is a small spiny plant with succulent stems, that enable it to store water, giving it resilience and allowing it to thrive in its harsh,...

29 / 04 / 2024 | Rofhiwa Ratshibvumo | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Euphorbia pseudoglobosa

Euphorbia pseudoglobosa
Common names: false milkballs, false globosa, false globose spurge, false globose euphorbia (Eng.);
Family: Euphorbiaceae

This dwarf succulent has a nearly geophytic habit, with the stems and branches almost entirely subterranean. It flowers in autumn, when it is adorned  with...

10 / 07 / 2023 | Nokukhanya Nozipho Mhlongo | TSP
Read More

Euphorbia obesa

Euphorbia obesa
Common names: Sea Urchin, Baseball, Vetmensie
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia obesa is a peculiar, almost ball shaped dwarf succulent plant that resembles a stone....

18 / 02 / 2002 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More

Euphorbia nesemannii

Euphorbia nesemannii (Werner Voigt)
Common names: Nesemann's euphorbia (Eng.); melkpol (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A spiny, tuberous rooted species with a nearly cylindrical body, most of which is below the ground....

13 / 08 / 2018 | Sinikeziwe Ncaphayi | Karoo Desert NBG
Read More

Euphorbia mauritanica

Euphorbia mauritanica
Common names: yellow milk bush, golden spurge (Eng.); geelmelkbos, beesmelkbos, gifmelkbos, kaalmelkbos, kleinmelkbos (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A tall succulent shrub with bright yellow flowers eminently suitable for a rock garden....

07 / 04 / 2008 | Allen Gcina Nene | Walter Sisulu NBG
Read More

Euphorbia ingens

E. ingens tree
Common names: common tree Euphorbia (Eng.); naboom, gewone naboom (Afr.); mohlohlokgomo, mokgoto (Northern Sotho); unHlonhlo (Sw); Nkondze, Nkonde (Tswana)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

If you are looking for a low maintenance addition to a rock or suulent garden this large cactus-like tree is ideal. It is well suited to dry areas and...

05 / 07 / 2004 | Lou-nita LeRoux | Lowveld NBG
Read More

Euphorbia groenewaldii

Euphorbia groenewaldii (Seloba Chuene)
Common names: none
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia groenewaldii is a rare and endemic succulent from the Limpopo Province....

30 / 05 / 2016 | Lerato Hoveka | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Euphorbia grandidens

Euphorbia grandidens. Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: valleybush euphorbia, large-toothed euphorbia (Eng.); valleibosnaboom, groottandnaboom (Afr.); umhlontlo (isiXhosa); umhlonhlo wehlathi (isiZulu)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia grandidens is many branched shrub or tree, up to 16 m tall or more, with one to several, main succulent trunks....

31 / 08 / 2015 | Sifiso Mnxati | KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium
Read More

Euphorbia globosa

Euphorbia globosa
Common names: globose euphorbia, globose spurge (Eng.); eierpol, knopmelkbol, langbeentjie (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

The Eastern Cape Province is home to the charming and spineless Euphorbia globosa. This dwarf succulent, from a near distance, appears as an arrangement...

13 / 02 / 2017 | Tandiwe Nkonki | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Euphorbia flanaganii

Euphorbia flanaganii
Common names: Transkei medusa’s head, Flanagan’s euphorbia (Eng.); vingerpol (Afr.); nhlehle, isihlehle (Zul.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

...

04 / 03 / 2019 | Ntuthuko Mabuya | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Euphorbia cupularis

Euphorbia cupularis leaves.  Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: dead-man’s tree, crying tree (Eng.); dooiemansboom, gifboom (Afr.); umdlebe, umdletshane (isiZulu); sidlejane (isiSwati); mulamba-noni (Tshivenda)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia cupularis is a compact succulent shrub or small tree characterized by multiple stems and a rounded growth habit. Its striking emerald-green foliage...

11 / 09 / 2023 | Nthabiseng Lucia Masetla | Walter Sisulu NBG
Read More

Euphorbia cooperi

Fruiting branches image ©Geoff Nichols
Common names: bushveld candelabra tree (Eng.); norsdoring (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia cooperi is a succulent tree up to 7 m tall, with conspicuous candelabra-like branches. This plant has milky latex highly poisonous to humans...

28 / 02 / 2005 | J K Baloyi | Pretoria NBG
Read More

Euphorbia clivicola

Family: Euphorbiaceae

This is a critically endangered, low-growing succulent perennial endemic to the Limpopo Province. It has short, spiny, 4-angled branches arising from an...

30 / 04 / 2012 | Lerato Hoveka | CREW
Read More

Euphorbia clavarioides

Euphorbia clavarioides
Common names: lion’s spoor (Eng.), grootvingerpol, slangpol, melkpol (Afr.), isihlekehleke, isantilele (isiZulu), sehlehle, sehloko, thethebale (Sesotho)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia clavarioides is a succulent perennial that forms neat, cushion-like clumps of tightly packed stems, just above ground level, with beautiful yellow...

20 / 09 / 2021 | Bathabile Ndlovu | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
Read More

Euphorbia bupleurifolia

Euphorbia bupleurifolia
Common names: cycad spurge, pine cone plant (Eng.); melkbol (Afr.); intsele, insema (Xho.); inkamamasane, insema (Zul.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Resembling a pine cone, pineapple or, some may say, a cycad, Euphorbia bupleurifolia is one interesting Euphorbia....

20 / 05 / 2019 | Sibahle Gumede | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
Read More

Euphorbia barnardii

Euphorbia barnardii
Common names: mokgwakgwatha (Pedi)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia barnardii is an unusual succulent shrub endemic to the Limpopo Province....

26 / 05 / 2008 | Pethole Manyama | CREW
Read More

Euphorbia

Euphorbia mauritanica in flower
Common names: spurges, euphorbias
Family: Euphorbiaceae

The great charm of the South African euphorbias lies in their varied appeal. They offer something for every taste. A collection may comprise a few selected...

11 / 04 / 2005 | Robert Archer | National Herbarium Pretoria
Read More

Eumorphia prostrata

Eumorphia prostrata
Common names: silver cloud
Family: Asteraceae

...

09 / 11 / 2015 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
Read More