Plants of the Week

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E.g., 01/12/2024
E.g., 01/12/2024

Trochomeria macrocarpa

Ripe fruit
Common names: bobbejaankomkommer (Afr.)
Family: Cucurbitaceae

The bright red, juicy fruits of this climber will attract birds to your garden....

20 / 03 / 2006 | M Welman | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Mimetes hirtus

Inflorescence - Mimetes hirtus
Common names: marsh pagoda, red and yellow bottlebrush, tall pagoda, hairy mimetes, pineapple bush ( Eng. ); kreupelboom, vleistompie, rooistompie, pynappelstompie
Family: Proteaceae

Sima Eliovson, author of Proteas for pleasure, referred to Mimetes hirtus as 'the most magnificent species of Mimetes, the...

13 / 03 / 2006 | Von Witt C | CREW
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Gasteria batesiana

Flowers of Gasteria batesiana
Common names: wart-leaf gasteria (Eng.); knoppies-beestong (Afr.); indvololwane (siSwati)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Gasteria batesiana is a small charming species bearing rough tuberculata brittle leaves. It is ideal for containers in a shady spot. It is at once...

13 / 03 / 2006 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ocotea bullata

Ocotea bullata leaves. Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: stinkwood, black stinkwood, Cape laurel, (Eng), stinkhout, swartstinkhout, laurelhout (Afr), umnukani (Zulu), umhlungulu (Xhosa)
Family: Lauraceae

The black stinkwood, or stinkwood as it is commonly known, is a large evergreen tree suitable for large gardens and parks. Along with yellowood, its timber...

06 / 03 / 2006 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Bolboschoenus maritimus

Bolboschoenus maritimus
Common names: alkali bullrush (Eng.); snygras, snyruigte (Afr.)
Family: Cyperaceae

...

06 / 03 / 2006 | Victoria Wilman | Working For Wetlands
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Pelargonium triste

Pelargonium triste flowers
Common names: night-scented pelargonium ( Eng. ); kaneeltjie, rooiwortel (Afr.); wit n/eitjie (Khoi)
Family: Geraniaceae

This night-scented pelargonium, with its attractive carrot-like leaves, makes an interesting addition to collections of Cape plants....

27 / 02 / 2006 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Juncus kraussii

Juncus kraussii
Common names: dune slack rush, matting rush (Eng.); Incema (Zulu)
Family: Juncaceae

The great physical strength and versatility of this rush make it an asset in wetlands. Juncus kraussii prevents erosion and also make a perfect fibre for...

27 / 02 / 2006 | M Goge | Working For Wetlands
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Dissotis princeps

Dissotis princeps
Common names: purple dissotis, royal dissotis, wild tibouchina, purple wild tibouchina (Eng.); kalwerbossie (Afr.); sichobochobo, umpongamponga (Swazi)
Family: Melastomataceae

Dissotis princeps is an outstanding garden plant with magnificent flowers and decorative foliage. It is easy to grow, and is ideal for the water or vlei...

20 / 02 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Codon royenii

Codon royenii
Common names: honey bush (Eng.); heuningbos, suikerkelk (Afr.)
Family: Boraginaceae

...

20 / 02 / 2006 | Elizabeth Retief | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Bauhinia natalensis

Flowers
Common names: Natal bauhinia (Eng.); Natalsebeesklou (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

 This is a versatile, dainty shrub with butterfly-shaped leaves and pretty, white, maroon-striped flowers....

13 / 02 / 2006 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Asystasia varia

Asystsia varia
Common names: Asystasia
Family: Acanthaceae

This lovely garden plant grows very well in shady gardens, as well as in containers (hanging baskets), which is probably the most innovative way to optimize...

13 / 02 / 2006 | T Mukoma | Lowveld NBG
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Arctotis venusta

Arctotis venusta
Common names: Karoo marigold (Eng.); Karoo gousblom (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Arctotis venusta is one of the few indigenous annuals that are easy to grow and provide a reliable, colourful display in summer....

06 / 02 / 2006 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe albida

Aloe albida inflorescence
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe albida is a dwarf aloe with small white flowers. This species likes misty mountain grassland habitats and thrives in crevices amongst mossy rocks...

06 / 02 / 2006 | Leigh Potter | TSP
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Streptocarpus lilliputana

Flowering in habitat
Family: Gesneriaceae

This is a recently discovered Streptocarpus, found in only a few locations in Pondoland that are under threat....

30 / 01 / 2006 | F Daniels | TSP
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Olinia ventosa

Flowers
Common names: hard pear ( Eng. ); hardepeer (Afr.); umNgenalahla, iNgobamakhosi, iNqudu, umNonono (Xhosa)
Family: Oliniaceae

This beautiful tree makes a striking impression in spring when it is in full flower and is a good choice for a shade tree or focal point in a garden with...

30 / 01 / 2006 | Penny Jaffe | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Orbea

Orbea hardyi
Common names: carrion flower ( Eng. ); aasblom, bokhoring (Afr.)
Family: Apocynaceae

Stapeliads are one of the most interesting groups of succulents — the diversity in shape, colour, size and smell make them an enticing group to collect...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Stoffel Petrus Pieter Bester | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Carpobrotus edulis

Fresh and old pinkish flower
Common names: sour fig, Cape fig, Hottentots fig (Eng.); ghaukum, ghoenavy, Hottentotsvy, Kaapsevy, perdevy, rankvy, suurvy, vyerank, (Afr.); ikhambi-lamabulawo, um
Family: Aizoaceae

Carpobrotus edulis is an easy-to-grow succulent groundcover, ideal for low-maintenance and water-wise gardens. It is also a useful first-aid plant...

23 / 01 / 2006 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Colchicum

Colchicum asteroides
Common names: cup and a saucer, men-in-a-boat (Eng.); bobbejaanskoen (Afr.)
Family: Colchicaceae

Members of the genus Colchicum are low, short-stemmed to stemless perennials with leaves spreading on the ground. The most noticeable characteristic of...

16 / 01 / 2006 | E T Rampho | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Agapanthus praecox subsp. minimus 'Adelaide'

Agapanthus 'Adelaide'
Common names: Adelaide agapanthus
Family: Agapanthaceae

This floriferous dwarf agapanthus is the first to start flowering and one of the last to finish, a star performer in full sun or semi-shade....

16 / 01 / 2006 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Watsonia canaliculata

Watsonia canaliculata growing in KZN Botanical Garden
Family: Iridaceae

Watsonia canaliculata is a lovely small, purplish-pink flowering Watsonia with unusual erect, grooved leaves. Rare and restricted to the...

09 / 01 / 2006 | S Khanyile | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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