Plants of the Week

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E.g., 25/11/2024

Thespesia acutiloba

Thespesia acutiloba, lemon yellow hibiscus-like flowers in late summer. (Photo Geoff Nichols)
Common names: small-leaved portia tree, wild tulip tree, small-leaved tulip tree (Eng.); kleinblaarportiaboom, kleinblaartulpboom, wildetulpboom (Afr.); umthombe (i
Family: Malvaceae

An attractive tree with handsome foliage, showy lemon-yellow flowers in summer and decorative red fruits. This tree is not well known among the general...

02 / 01 / 2017 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thilachium africanum

Thilachium africanum
Common names: cucumber bush (Eng.); komkommerbos (Afr.); nkobva (Tso.); isikonke (Zul.)
Family: Capparaceae

An awesome small tree with the most attractive flowers....

22 / 04 / 2019 | Sephatle Evans Molekoa | Lowveld NBG
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Thorncroftia longiflora

Shrub in flower
Common names: None found
Family: Lamiaceae

Thorncroftia longiflora is both rare and remarkable. It is a versatile and attractive semi-succulent shrub which makes an excellent and showy garden...

13 / 05 / 2013 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thorncroftia succulenta

Thorncroftia succulenta shrub
Common names: rock sage (Eng.) ; klipsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Thorncroftia succulenta is a versatile and attractive semi-succulent shrub which makes an excellent and showy garden subject, well suited for hot...

02 / 07 / 2012 | Adam Harrower | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thunbergia alata

Thunbergia alata
Common names: black-eyed susan (Eng.); swartoognooi (Afr.) ; isiPhondo (Zulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

In much of the warmer world, Thunbergia alata, or black-eyed susan, is well known as a fast-growing, long-flowering, friendly creeper. In South Africa...

15 / 01 / 2007 | S Smithies | Pretoria NBG
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Thunbergia atriplicifolia

Thunbergia atriplicifolia
Common names: Natal primrose (Eng.) isiphondo esincane (isiZulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

Thunbergia atriplicifolia is a softly hairy herbaceous shrublet with several stems that grow from a woody rootstock and beautiful creamy yellow flowers...

15 / 01 / 2024 | Mashudu Tshitereke | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Thunbergia natalensis

Thunbergia natalensis
Common names: dwarf thunbergia, Natal blue thunbergia, Natal blue-bell (English); dwergthunbergia (Afrikaans); unohlonishwayo (Zulu)
Family: Acanthaceae

Thunbergia natalensis is a popular, fast growing garden plant. occurs naturally along forest margins, in bush and in grassland. It occurs in...

08 / 01 / 2001 | Alice Aubrey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Tinnea barbata

Tinnea barbata
Common names: bush violet, blue tinnea
Family: Lamiaceae

This superb little shrub is related to salvias. The delicate deep purple-blue flowers dangling from erect branches like little ornaments are this shrub's...

19 / 05 / 2003 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Tinospora fragosa

Tinospora fragosa
Common names: Aaron's rod, wonder plant (Eng.); Aaron-se-staf, wonderplant (Afr.)
Family: Menispermaceae

Tinospora fragosa is an amazing and peculiar succulent-stemmed twiner with attractive heart-shaped leaves and red fruits. It is easily grown and thrives...

21 / 04 / 2003 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Toddalia asiatica

Fruits of Toddalia asiatica
Common names: orange climber (Eng); ranklemoentjie (Afr); gwambadzi (Venda)
Family: Rutaceae

Did you know that we have an indigenous orange in South Africa? This plant,Toddalia asiatica, is a woody vine (a liana) and bears fruit which, although...

17 / 01 / 2005 | Jean Meyer | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Trachyandra ciliata

Trachyandra ciliata flowering stalks
Common names: hotnotskool, veldkool, wildeblomkool (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Trachyandra ciliata is a common, seasonal herb that is best known for its edible flower buds....

24 / 08 / 2009 | S Boatwright | Compton Herbarium
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Trachyandra falcata

Veldkool (Tralchyandra falcata) plant flowering in its native habitat near Langebaan, Western Cape.
Common names: Namaqua wild cabbage (Eng.); namakwakool, veldkool, bokkool (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Trachyandra falcata is a fast-growing, summer-dormant, perennial geophyte, easily propagated from seed. The young inflorescences are harvested in winter...

27 / 05 / 2019 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trachyandra tabularis

Trachyandra tabularis
Common names: Table Mountain cliff trachyandra (Eng.); kranskool (Afr.)
Family: Asphodelaceae

An obligatory cliff-dweller, forming clusters of rosettes of firm, green, linear, succulent leaves that hang from the south-facing sandstone cliffs of...

24 / 06 / 2021 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trema orientalis

Trema orientalis
Common names: trema, pigeon wood (Eng.); hophout (Afr.); umVumvu, umVangazi, uPhakane (Xhosa); umSekeseke, umBhangabhanga, ifamu, iphubane, isikhwelamfene, ubathini
Family: Cannabaceae

Trema orientalis is a fast-growing shade tree with soft foliage, best suited to gardens and streets in the warmer and wetter regions of southern Africa...

18 / 04 / 2005 | Christien Malan | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trianoptiles

Trianoptiles solitaria leaves.  Photo Dr M. Muasya
Common names: sedges (Eng.); biesies (Afr.)
Family: Cyperaceae

Trianoptiles is a tiny genus of three species, two of which are highly threatened in their natural habitat. Despite being on the brink of extinction...

07 / 07 / 2008 | Caitlin Von Witt | CREW
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Tribolium uniolae

Tribolium uniolae fresh and dried inflorescence
Common names: hare grass (Eng.); haasgras, koringgras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

A small, tufted, perennial grass with attractive inflorescences that are used in flower arranging....

28 / 08 / 2023 | Laura Dineo Selepe | Karoo Desert NBG
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Trichilia dregeana

Large specimen of Trichilia dregeana, with dark foliage
Common names: forest mahogany, forest Natal-mahogany, Cape mahogany, thunder tree, Christmas bells, red ash (Eng.); rooiessenhout, bosrooiessenhout, basteressenhout
Family: Meliaceae

Trichilia dregeana is a lovely large tree that inhabits evergreen forests in high rainfall areas. It is a highly ornamental species with considerable cultural...

13 / 12 / 2004 | Jan-Hakon Burring | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trichilia emetica

Trichilia emtica fruits.Photo Geoff Nichols
Common names: Natal mahogany; rooiessenhout (Afr.); mamba (Northern Sotho); umathunzini (isiZulu); umkuhlu (SiSwati); umkhuhlu (isiXhosa); nkulu (Xitsonga); mutuhu
Family: Meliaceae

The Natal mahogany is an evergreen tree with handsome dark green glossy leaves and a wide-spreading crown. Its sweet-scented flowers will attract bees...

28 / 04 / 2014 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Trichocephalus stipularis

Trichocephalus stipularis flowerheads
Common names: dogface (Eng.); hondegesiggie (Afr.)
Family: Rhamnaceae

A hardy, rounded shrublet, with evergreen dark foliage, starry pink flowers in white-woolly, rounded flowerheads in autumn and winter followed by reddish,...

20 / 06 / 2016 | Ramadimetja Junia Maleka | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Trichocladus grandiflorus

Trichocladus grandiflorus flower
Common names: honeysuckle tree; wild peach, green hazel, green witch-hazel (Eng.); rooihout, groenhaselaar (Afr.); ugabavu (Swazi)
Family: Hamamelidaceae

Trichocladus grandiflorus is a most handsome and easily cultivated ornamental tree, well deserving of a place in any garden, yet it remains as little...

13 / 07 / 2009 | Anthony Hitchcock | Kirstenbosch NBG
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