Plants of the Week

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E.g., 13/12/2024
E.g., 13/12/2024

Brunia stokoei

See Berzelia stokoei...

06 / 08 / 2007 | |
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Selago canescens

In flower
Common names: canescent selago, bitter bush ( Eng. ); blouaarbossie (Afr.)
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Selago canescens bursts into flower in early spring when most plants in the garden are still recovering after the cold winter. An added attraction is the...

13 / 08 / 2007 | Liesl Van der Walt | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Struthiola argentea

Flowering stem
Common names: roemenaggie, aandgonna, slapgonna, slapaand (Afr.)
Family: Thymelaeaceae

Struthiola argentea is a slender sun-loving shrublet with yellow to reddish-orange flowers. It is dramatic when massed, especially if planted close to...

13 / 08 / 2007 | Phakamani Xaba | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Diospyros mespiliformis

Green fruits
Common names: African ebony, jackal-berry (Eng.); jakkalsbessie (Afr.); Musuma (Tshivenda); Mgula (Tsonga)
Family: Ebenaceae

Diospyros mespiliformis has a fantastic mutualism and symbiotic network with many living organisms, from human beings to small insects. There is a complex...

20 / 08 / 2007 | Thompson T Mutshinyalo | Walter Sisulu NBG
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Pelargonium inquinans

Flower head
Common names: scarlet pelargonium ( Eng. ); wildemalva (Afr.), ibhosisi (Xho.)
Family: Geraniaceae

Pelargonium inquinans with its striking flowers will bring colour to your garden throughout the year....

20 / 08 / 2007 | Trevor Adams | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Acmadenia macropetala

Plant in flower
Common names: large-petal acmadenia
Family: Rutaceae

...

27 / 08 / 2007 | Norma Jodamus | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Typha capensis

Typha capensis
Common names: bulrush ( Eng.); papkuil, matjiesriet (Afr.); ibhuma (Zulu, Swazi); ingcongolo (Xhosa); motsitla (Sesotho)
Family: Typhaceae

Typha capensis is synonymous with most large as well as small freshwater bodies. These perennial, leafy aquatic plants with their distinctive velvety-brown...

27 / 08 / 2007 | Werner Voigt | Harold Porter NBG
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Roridula dentata

Flower of Roridula dentata
Common names: flycatcher bush, bug plant, fly bush (Eng.); vliëebos (Afr.)
Family: Roridulaceae

Roridula dentata is a tentacle-leaved shrub that has a unique symbiotic relationship with the assassin bug, Pameridea marlothii. Although commonly known...

03 / 09 / 2007 | C Cowell | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Senecio exuberans

Inflorescence © Peter Wragg
Common names: none recorded
Family: Asteraceae

When Senecio exuberans was described in 1943 it was said to be 'one of the most characteristic features' of the grasslands around Pietermaritzburg...

03 / 09 / 2007 | Lize Agenbag | TSP
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Haplocarpha scaposa

Haplocarpha scaposa
Common names: false gerbera (Eng.); melktou (Afr.); khutsana (Southern Sotho); isikhali (Xhosa)
Family: Asteraceae

...

10 / 09 / 2007 | E Lithudzha | Pretoria NBG
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Protea compacta

Protea compacta
Common names: Bot River protea, Bot River sugarbush, Compacta ( Eng. ); duinesuikerbos, suikerkan, Botrivier-protea (Afr.)
Family: Proteaceae

The Bot River sugarbush is ideally suited to the larger coastal fynbos gardens where, if planted en masse , it will provide a pink or white splash...

10 / 09 / 2007 | Roger Oliver | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Khaya anthotheca

Khaya anthotheca
Common names: African Mahogany, East African Mahogany, Nyasaland Mahogany, Red Mahogany (Eng.); Oos-Afrikaanse mahonie (Afr.); Acaujo (French)
Family: Meliaceae

This  fairly fast growing tree — up to 1.5 m per year — is neat and decorative for larger gardens and parks in warm areas and is ideal...

17 / 09 / 2007 | Alec Naidoo | Pretoria NBG
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Podalyria sericea

Podalyria sericea
Common names: silver sweet pea bush, silky podalyria, cape satin bush ( Eng. ); silwer keurtjie (Afr.)
Family: Fabaceae

...

17 / 09 / 2007 | Cherise Viljoen | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Spiloxene

Spiloxene capensis.  Photo C. Paterson-Jones
Common names: golden star (Eng.); sterretjie (Afr.)
Family: Hypoxidaceae

...

24 / 09 / 2007 | D Snijman | Compton Herbarium
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Tarchonanthus trilobus var. trilobus

Leaves and male flowers
Common names: three-lobed tarchonanthus, three-lobed camphor bush, trident camphor bush ( Eng. ), drietandkanferbos (Afr.), isiMemela, iGqeba-lamatshe (Xhosa), isiD
Family: Asteraceae

Tarchonanthus trilobus var. trilobus is a shapely, small, evergreen tree with decorative, aromatic foliage, well-suited to today's smaller...

24 / 09 / 2007 | Alice Notten | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe challisii

Aloe challisii
Common names: Steenkampsberg cliff aloe
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe challisii is a charming new cliff-dwelling aloe from the Steenkampsberg in Mpumlanga Province. It is easily grown from cuttings and thrives as...

01 / 10 / 2007 | Ernst van Jaarsveld | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Wahlenbergia capensis

Wahlenbergia capensis Flower
Common names: Cape bluebell
Family: Campanulaceae

Wahlenbergia capensis, the Cape bluebell, is a member of the Campanulaceae (the bellflower family). Its showy flowers start appearing from early spring,...

01 / 10 / 2007 | C Cupido | Compton Herbarium
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Jamesbrittenia breviflora

In flower
Common names: There are no recorded common names for this species; other Jamesbrittenia species are sometimes known as verfblommetjies (little paint-flowers).
Family: Scrophulariaceae

Jamesbrittenia breviflora grows wild in the Drakensberg and has beautiful reddish-purple flowers with a bright lemon-yellow centre....

08 / 10 / 2007 | Nicola Bergh | Compton Herbarium
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Albuca nelsonii

Flowers of Albuca nelsonii. (Alice Notten)
Common names: candelabrum lily, Nelson's slime lily (Eng.), slymstok (Afr.), intelezi (Xhosa), umaphipha-intelezi (Zulu)
Family: Hyacinthaceae

Albuca nelsonii may be found in specialist collections but it is not often seen in gardens. Yet it has attractive flowers, and it is considered a good...

12 / 10 / 2007 | Giles Mbambezeli | Kirstenbosch NBG
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Aloe marlothii

Growing in Kirstenbosch
Common names: mountain aloe, flat-flowered aloe (Eng.); bergalwyn (Afr.); inhlaba, umhlaba (Zulu)
Family: Asphodelaceae

Aloe marlothii is a striking, robust, large, single-stemmed aloe with a majestic presence. The mountain aloe is without doubt one of southern Africa's...

15 / 10 / 2007 | P Emms | Kirstenbosch NBG
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