Plants of the Week

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E.g., 25/11/2024
E.g., 25/11/2024

Ruschia maxima

Ruschia maxima
Common names: giant mountain vygie (Eng.)
Family: Aizoaceae

Ruschia maxima is one of the largest species in its genus. It has characteristically larger leaves than most other vygies and is crowned as the giant...

02 / 01 / 2012 | Ricardo Riddles | Karoo Desert NBG
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Ruschia promontorii

Ruschia promontorii in habitat flowering in spring
Common names: Peninsula cliff ruschia (Eng.); Skiereiland-kransvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

The Peninsula cliff ruschia is a mat-forming leaf succulent which becomes pendent on cliffs. It is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, where it grows on sea-facing...

04 / 03 / 2024 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ruschia spinosa

Ruschia spinosa, with spines sticking out.
Common names: thorny vygie, spiny ruschia (Eng.); doringvygie (Afr.)
Family: Aizoaceae

If one is looking for a striking waterwise plant for a Karoo garden or a desert garden, look no further than this spinescent succulent shrub with beautiful...

18 / 08 / 2014 | Hannelie Snyman | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ruttya fruticosa

Ruttya fruticosa
Common names: jammy mouth, rabbit ears, bunny ears, hummingbird plant, orange bird, orange dragon, monkey face, African azalea (Eng.), jembekkie (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

An attractive, dense, evergreen shrub with glossy light to dark green leaves, covered with an abundance of red to dark orange or yellow, two-lipped, tubular...

15 / 07 / 2024 | Winfred Velephi Ngwenya | Lowveld NBG
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Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis

Ruby bulb scales of Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis in cultivation.
Common names: Mzimvubu-ruby (Eng.); kransrobyn (Afr.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Sagittanthera mzimvubuensis is a geophyte with decorative club-shaped, ruby-green bulb scales and pendent, terete leaves, growing on cliffs along the Mzimvubu...

04 / 01 / 2016 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salix mucronata

Salix mucronata
Common names: Safsaf Willow, Cape Willow, (E) Safsaf-wilger, Kaapse Wilger, Wildewilgerboom (A), Munengeledzi (V), Mogokare (NS), Umngcunube (X), Umnyezane, Umzekan
Family: Salicaceae

A graceful tree that withstands both frost and drought....

01 / 01 / 2001 | Y Reynolds | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salpinctium natalense

Salpinctium natalense (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: none
Family: Acanthaceae

Salpinctium natalense is a lovely and rare herbaceous perennial that is known from only one site in  KwaZulu-Natal; it is well suited to cool, shady...

18 / 01 / 2016 | Sisanda Alakhe Velembo-Mhlauli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Saltera sarcocolla

Flowers with ruptured pollen sacs
Common names: saltera, Cape fellwort, vlieëbos
Family: Penaeaceae

Saltera sarcocolla belongs to the Penaeaceae, which is a family confined to the fynbos region. Despite interesting variations in plant and flower...

28 / 10 / 2013 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia africana

In flower
Common names: blue African sage, blue sage, wild sage, African sage, purple sage (Eng.); blousalie, bloublomsalie, Afrikaansesalie, perdesalie, wildesalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia africana is a decorative, aromatic shrub with medicinal properties. Keep it neat and pruned and it will reward you with flowers almost all year...

07 / 01 / 2008 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia africana-caerulea

Common names: blue sage, wild sage, African sage, purple sage (Eng.); blousalie, bloublomsalie, Afrikaansesalie, perdesalie, wildesalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia africana-caerulea is now called Salvia africana....

27 / 02 / 2019 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia africana-lutea

Common names: golden sage, beach sage, dune sage, sand sage (Eng.); bruinsalie, sandsalie, strandsalie, geelblomsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia africana-lutea is now called Salvia aurea...

27 / 02 / 2019 | | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia albicaulis

Flowers
Common names: white-stemmed sage (Eng.); witstingelsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

A white stemmed shrub for sunny spots, which contrasts well with many other fynbos plants....

07 / 11 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia aurea

Salvia aurea
Common names: golden sage, beach sage, dune sage, sand sage (Eng.); bruinsalie, sandsalie, strandsalie, geelblomsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurea is an aromatic hardy shrub with unusually coloured flowers borne over a long period. It is fairly fast-growing, up to 2 m, and very attractive...

15 / 07 / 2002 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia aurita var. aurita

Salvia aurita var. aurita
Common names: oogseerbossie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia aurita var. aurita is a fast-growing, herbaceous perennial that makes a fantastic groundcover in gardens that can offer a little...

24 / 10 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia chamelaeagnea

Salvia chamelaeagnea
Common names: Rough Blue Sage, Bloublomsalie
Family: Lamiaceae

Members of the sage family are known worldwide as excellent herbs and beautiful garden plants. Salvia chamelaeagnea, which grows wild in the south western...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia dentata

Flowers and clayx which remains after flower falls
Common names: Toothed sage (Eng.); bergsalie, blousalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Salvia dentata is a wonderful, aromatic, evergreen shrub with prolific flowers suitable for water-wise gardens....

29 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia disermas

Salvia disermas shrub
Common names: wild giant sage, Transvaal sage Eng.; grootsalie, teesalie Afr.; mogasane (Tswana)
Family: Lamiaceae

Occurring in a variety of colors and growth forms, the petite, pretty flowers of Salvia disermas will add charm to any garden in need of a hardy,...

26 / 01 / 2009 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia dolomitica

Flowers of Salvia dolomitica
Common names: dolomite sage, pilgrim's rest pink sage (Eng.)
Family: Lamiaceae

The dolomite sage is the perfect, hardy, frost tolerant shrub for every garden which will reward its gardener with its long summer display and aromatic...

01 / 04 / 2013 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia garipensis

Salvia garipensis shrub
Common names: Gariep sage (Eng.); Gariep salie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

This hardy sage, of medium height and neat appearance, will appeal to those concerned with border plantings or indigenous water-wise gardens....

03 / 10 / 2011 | Monique Mcquillan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Salvia lanceolata

Image of Salvia lanceolata flowers
Common names: rusty sage, lance-leaf sage (Eng.); rooisalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

A lovely grey-green aromatic shrub with rusty red flowers for most of the year; rewardingly easy to grow and water-wise....

01 / 09 / 2008 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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