Plants of the Week

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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 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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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Thesium viridifolium

Thesium viridifolium
Common names: green root-thug
Family: Santalaceae

A much-branched, densely leafy shrub bearing attractive, small, white flowers that are crowded in dense rounded heads at the tips of the branches....

25 / 11 / 2019 | Naomi Mdayi | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Thereianthus bulbiferus

Thereianthus bulbiferus, patent flowers
Common names: bulb-bearing summer pipes (Eng.); somerpypie (Afr.)
Family: Iridaceae

An attractive plant with moderately dense spikes of light to mid-blue flowers that blossom in abundance in burnt veld, which makes it difficult to miss....

25 / 07 / 2022 | Naomi Mdayi | Millennium Seed Bank Partnership
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Themeda triandra

Rooigras grasslands
Common names: red grass (Eng.); rooigras (Afr.)
Family: Poaceae

This is a lovely green to blue-green tufted grass that is often flushed with pink and turns red with age. Some forms have bright yellow culms (stems)....

12 / 04 / 2004 | L Fish | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Thamnochortus spicigerus

Thamnochortus spicigerus
Common names: large thatching reed (Engl.); duineriet, olifantsriet, dekriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

Thamnochortus spicigerus is a striking, tufted- or tussock-forming perennial that will make a lovely feature in your garden. The dark brown spikelets will...

20 / 04 / 2015 | Phumza Bavuma | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus lucens

Thamnochortus lucens male
Common names: jackal-tail restio (Eng.); jakkalsstert (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This perennial dwarf restio is a plant that will add some dazzle to your garden. The inflorescences are a shiny bronze colour, guaranteed to catch your...

02 / 03 / 2009 | Louise Nurrish | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus insignis

Thamnochortus insignis, male plant.
Common names: Albertinia thatching reed (Eng.); dekriet, mannetjiesriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

A stunning accent plant with its slender stems tipped with small, golden-brown inflorescences in late summer, and water-wise too!...

16 / 04 / 2001 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus fraternus

Thamnochortus fratenus
Common names: dune thatching reed
Family: Restionaceae

This is a striking and attractive grass-like member of the large restio family. The plants are very uniform in height and the floral bracts are a rich...

08 / 04 / 2002 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Thamnochortus cinereus

Female plant in flower
Common names: silver restio (Eng.); silwerriet (Afr.)
Family: Restionaceae

This is a medium to tall plant, which can be used equally well in a border or as an accent plant. The plants are very decorative with silvery foliage like...

31 / 05 / 2004 | Hanneke Jamieson | Kirstenbosch NBG
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