Plants of the Week

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E.g., 07/11/2024
E.g., 07/11/2024

Ledebouria galpinii

Ledebouria galpinii
Common names: Kaapsche-Hoop African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A very attractive, dwarf, bulbous Ledebouria species, with dark purplish green, glossy leaves, which are pitted on the upper surface. This species is popular...

26 / 11 / 2018 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Alsophila dregei

Alsophila dregei
Common names: grassland tree fern, common tree fern, (Eng.); grasveldboomvaring, gewone boomvaring, (Afr.); isihihi (Xho.); isikhomakhoma, umphanga (Zul.)
Family: Cyatheaceae

A handsome form plant, with a head of dark green fronds atop a stout trunk, for full sun or light shade. This plant is also known as Cyathea dregei....

19 / 11 / 2018 | Nonhlanhla Masinga | KwaZulu-Natal NBG
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Pelargonium incarnatum

Pelargonium incarnatum
Common names: ring stork’s-bill (Eng.); horlosie, vrouebossie (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

This unusual pelargonium definitely has the all the hallmarks of becoming an ornamental hit in fynbos and succulent gardens. It doesn’t need plenty...

19 / 11 / 2018 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ficus cordata

Ficus cordata
Common names: Namaqua rock fig, Namaqua fig (Eng.); namakwarotsvy, namakwavy, melkboom (Afr.)
Family: Moraceae

The Namaqua rock fig represents the largest and tallest indigenous tree from Namaqualand. It is an ascending, rock-splitting tree confined to rock outcrops,...

12 / 11 / 2018 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Waltheria indica

Waltheria indica
Common names: meidebossie (Afrikaans); isikolanjiba (IsiNdebele); mokhutesela (Sepedi); lexutasela (Sesotho); seretwane (Setswana.); delelemukula (Tshivenda)
Family: Malvaceae

Waltheria indica with its soft little yellow flowers and zig-zag-edged leaves, can be pruned into an attractive, bushy and hardy pot plant....

12 / 11 / 2018 | Siyabonga Tibini | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Euphorbia tuberosa

Euphorbia tuberosa
Common names: milk-ball, wild charlock (Eng.); melkbol, wilderamenas (Afr.)
Family: Euphorbiaceae

A hardy, drought tolerant plant that is dormant in summer when conditions are harsh, by losing its wavy, grey-green leaves and leaving its succulent stem...

05 / 11 / 2018 | Shireen Harris | Karoo Desert NBG
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Tephrosia pondoensis

Tephrosia pondoensis (Geoff Nichols)
Common names: Pondo poison-pea (Eng.); pondogifertjie, basterkurkbos (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

...

05 / 11 / 2018 | Mpendulo Gabayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Eucomis comosa

Eucomis comosa var. comosa flowers. (Neil Crouch)
Common names: slender pineapple flower (Eng.); krulkoppie, pynappellelie (Afr.); ubuhlungu-becanti (Zul. and Xho.)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

This is one of the sweet-scented species in the genus Eucomis, which is one of the reasons why it is such a popular garden plant. Like other pineapple...

29 / 10 / 2018 | Dineo Dibakwane | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Scadoxus membranaceus

Scadoxus membranaceus
Common names: dwarf paintbrush, (Eng.); seeroogblom (Afr.); idumbi (Zul.)
Family: Amaryllidaceae

This beautiful, compact growing, evergreen Scadoxus has spirally arranged leaves and striking red flowerheads that resemble a paint brush, surrounded by...

29 / 10 / 2018 | Nomama Mei | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Ledebouria apertiflora

Ledebouria apertiflora
Common names: desert African hyacinth
Family: Hyacinthaceae

A medium-sized bulbous plant normally associated with arid areas. This species is widely distributed over a vast area of South Africa, most common in the...

22 / 10 / 2018 | Andrew Hankey | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Erica rhopalantha var. rhopalantha

Erica rhopalantha (Loretta Floors)
Common names: club-shaped erica (Eng.); maroenheide, pienkheide (Afr.)
Family: Ericaceae

...

15 / 10 / 2018 | Karen Wall | Harold Porter NBG
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Ursinia paleacea

Ursinia paleacea in habitat, visited by a monkey beetle.
Common names: long-stalk parachute daisy (Eng.); geelmagriet (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

This cheerful and resilient perennial is a must for any fynbos garden!...

15 / 10 / 2018 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Haworthiopsis

Different growth forms of Haworthiopsis. (S.D. Gildenhuys)
Family: Asphodelaceae

These very attractive, miniature leaf succulents vary from little star-like rosettes to stemmed plants with compactly arranged leaves, very often with...

08 / 10 / 2018 | Ronell R. Klopper | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Coleus tenuicaulis

Coleus tenuicaulis
Common names: Angolan blue coleus (Eng.); Angola blouspoorsalie (Afr.)
Family: Lamiaceae

Coleus tenuicaulis is an aromatic shrub with panicles of dark blue flowers in autumn and winter, from the southwestern highlands of Angola. Easily...

08 / 10 / 2018 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Euryops linifolius

Euryops linifolius
Common names: narrow-leaved resin bush (Eng.); smalblaarharpuisbos (Afr.)
Family: Asteraceae

Euryops linifolius is a lovely evergreen shrub with grey-green, needle-like foliage and bright yellow flowers in spring. Occurring naturally in the drier...

01 / 10 / 2018 | Sanele Nkosi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Pelargonium carnosum subsp. carnosum

Pelargonium carnosum
Common names: fleshy-stalk pelargonium (Eng.); vetplantmalva (Afr.)
Family: Geraniaceae

This attractive, drought-resistant, deciduous, succulent pelargonium is a winter grower that does not sprout after fire....

01 / 10 / 2018 | Samkelisiwe Ntuli | Karoo Desert NBG
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Rhynchosia albissima

Rhynchosia albissima
Common names: silver snoutbean
Family: Fabaceae

A bright yellow-flowered, robust and erect indigenous herb, velvety with silvery grey hairs. Its roots are used in traditional medicine to treat male impotence,...

24 / 09 / 2018 | M.S. Mothogoane | National Herbarium Pretoria
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Selago villicaulis ‘Purple Turtle’

Selago villicaulis 'Purple Turtle'
Common names: purple turtle selago
Family: Scrophulariaceae

This is a low growing perennial with striking lavender flowers, which appear twice in a year, in midwinter to spring and in midsummer, and sporadically...

24 / 09 / 2018 | Sinikeziwe Ncaphayi | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Barleria rigida var. rigida

Barleria rigida var. rigida
Common names: scorpion thistle (Eng.); skerpioendissel (Afr.)
Family: Acanthaceae

Your first choice plant for the sunny dry areas in your garden....

17 / 09 / 2018 | Willem Froneman | Lowveld NBG
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Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macrantha

Bauhinia petersiana subsp. macrantha
Common names: Kalahari bauhinia, Kalahari camel’s foot, coffee neat's foot (Eng.); kalaharibauhinia, kalaharibeesklou, koffiebeesklou (Afr.); motsantsa, mogotswe
Family: Fabaceae

This low-growing, evergreen tree or scrambler, boasts with large, pleasantly scented white flowers in midsummer....

17 / 09 / 2018 | Benjamin Festus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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